Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-01-29
CHAPTER Xxx.
WHAT SHE LOOKED BACK UPON

WHAT SHE LOOKED BACK UPON.
AS the story of Beatrice's past is made up
of things she knew, things she guessed and
things Of which she knew nothing, it will be
better to learn it in its veracious entirety
than to CLEAN it from the saddened musings
that winters afternoon.
After the.battle royal between Lady Clau-
son and her stopdaughter, and when Sir
Maingay weakly and for the sake of peace
left his daughter at home, whilst he fed to
the Continent with that newly acquired
treasure, his beautiful wife, Beatrice settled
down to the dullest of dull lives, or what
certainly promised to be so unless the girl
could brighten it by drawing on her own re-
sources for amusement. On one point, how
ever. she had nothing to complain of. A
childless widow with large income could
not have enjoyed more freedom of action.
Mrs. Erskine, the aunt in whose care she was
nouinally placed, was old, wrapped up in
her own varied ailments, and SO selfish as to
keep herself clear of suspecting people, be-
cause suspicion brought trouble and worry.
Beatrice was free to spend her hours as it
best suited her: to come and 90 as she chose,
and generally to do what pleased herself.
By this Arrangement Mrs. Erskine saved her
self much trouble and responsibilities things
which are extremely injurious to an old gen.
tlewoman in feeble health.
But Beatrice, who was in magnificent
health, as all young girls of eighteen should
be, soon found that to render life at Mrs
Erskine's worth living she must find occupa-
ton for her lonely hours Perhaps there
were times when the ideal pleasure and joy
with which an untraveled mind invests a
foreign tour made her repent of her hastiness
in disdaining to occupy a secondary place In
her fathers heart. But If 1t was so, her
pride forbade any proposals Of surrender.
Nevertheless, something had to be done to
make life tolerable. She cared little or
nothing for general society, and even had she
done so the fact Of her possessing few friends
anywhere. and none in London, would have
rendered her going out into The world mat
ter of difficulty.
So that Miss Clauson, who was young
lady of no mean abilities, and who had some
how inbibed the modern notion that, if
! rightly directed, woman's brain-power is
equal TO mans in acquiring knowledge, de-
/ cided that the most satisfactory method By
which time could be killed was by continu-
! ing her studies from the point at which she
/ laid them down when she left the fashionable
I finishing school.
! Being also rather troubled By the feeling
/ that she ought to do something for suffering
/ humanity, she organized a little charitable
I scheme She had plenty Of pocket money.
( Sir Maingsy, who, since old Talberts death,
had received considerable sum per aEnum,
paid out Of the trust, for his daughters main
/ tsuauce and education, behaved most gener-
ously in this respect. There is no salve TO
/ the conscience 80 eficacious as a money sac
rificei
/ Beatrice, then, did what good SIC could on
/ Ter own account. As piteous tale always
! opened her purse, rev1ers Of undetermined
! alrsgiving may think little OF her efforts.
4 Perhaps they bore 10 fruit save in enc note
worthy instance.
Charity brought her IA contact with q
/ woman. vino, from q variety OF circzIri-
stances. bad been reduced from the state Of q
! superior domestic servant to abject poverty.
/ and who was lying almost at deaths door
| Beatrice heard her history, relieved her
wants, had her doceored and 5cured. and bJ
these acts made tie wnnau heE slave Tor life.