Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-02-19
CHAPTER XIV.
A DISPUTED CLAIM.


During the last three months Of the year
Hazlewood House did not belle It's reputation
for calm regularity of its domestic concerns
and immunity from the many petty ills and
annoyances which affiict less methodically
conducted establishments. So far as could
be seen all promised well for quiet, placid
and uncventful winter Horace and Her.
bert employed themselves as was their wont
They were men who could spread out a little
occupation over a large slice of time, SO
never found the hours hang YEARLY. Beatrice
seemed fairly happy with her briEht-haired
boy. The little fellow was now beginning to
pratte merrily, and his manner towards the
Talberts was more audacious and familiar
than ever. Altogether it looked as if moth
ing would occur to disturb the even tenor of
life at Hardwood House. until the budding
hedges once more brought round the usual
spring cleaning.
But, all undreamt Of by the brothers
storms We're brewing which were to shake
their house to the foundations.
Christmas came. Now Christmas Day was
a day on which tie Talberts made great
sacrifices for the good of their fellow-crea-
lures. Syivanus Mordle, who believed that
these in poverty were as much entitled to
c~Caturc-cOmforts as to spiritual consola-
tins, always sent the hat round at Christ
mas, and collected special fund for the
purpose of giving all his poor people a hearty
dinner At this dinner the Talberts were his
henchmen. No one who knew thor fastidi-
Gus tastes could have sen them carving huge
joints of notwithstanding beef or Serving
out sticky segments Of p,um-pudding without
feeling sure that, at heart they were thor
oughly good fellows Herbert did once
plaintively ask Mordle if the meat need be
rod No, 10, 81 :.
wasn't rcd, they'd say twas American, and
leave il ;" lie an,w red. 1t is to be feared
that experience Lad taught Mordle that
charity is often looked upon n right to be
demanded, not u bounty for which to be
than,:ful
1t was no doubt the terrible sights Of the
forenoon which made the Talbcrts rigidlv
taboo, SO far their own table was con-
cerned, all con entional Christmas fare As
Horace gravoly said, there is, to educated
minds, some, hing savoring of vulgarity in
supposing that the celebration OF a certain
holy-day must be attended by the cons,Imp-
ton Of a certain class of comestibles So
their dinner consisted of clear soup, fish,
brace Of birls and an omelet.
1--WE never thought Of Beatrice" said Her.
bert peni entity Beatrice might have liked
roast beef and plum pudding"
mas diet. Moreover, her thoughts were far
away from eating and drinking. Indeed,
during TIE last three months the girl had
been, even for her, strangely quiet and
thougl .ful. AS for little while longer we
must 30 contentod to regard her from the
outside only, her musings cannot be divul ,ed.
TO-da,-, no doubt, she was thinking great
deal q out an impending visit to her fathers
hou2 ..
Hc:ace and Herbert had urged it earnestly.
Not, IS they h.Ddly and truthfully told her,
tho, they wis,od to lose her for even a day,
but il was well that the worll should think
th. the Clausons ve.ea united fairly 1t is
ious what a sialp.etol most people think
tl-a world, and low easily they fancy il can
~ taken i'll.
Beatrice consented to be guided by her
IL C,e' alice. So Oh the day Il tor Chyi..-
ms SO left Oallbury. S.r Mai gay and his
f., gro wiltCriLg il !. MON. 1t is sur
ufi ing tho number Of To- pectable families
who DO winter in London.
Sr ria.nGly met her at Paddin~ton. The
bercn.t luo.cd u little rcIuder AID n Little
more cOil.Aonplace than when last she saw
him. Hegrccted his daughter a:fect.Ona ely
lint told her she looked i'll and carcwoIn
Then he inquired for Horace and Herbert
As from the very frs day they had kept Sir
NANCY in his proper place, he locked upon
them with the greatest respect. rs it true
they have adopted a childf' he asked. Some
parbled version of the affair hadreached him
ono said Beatrice II have"
'rYo,i, my dearl Adopt a child Why, it is
time YOU thought of the possibility Of having
children Of your own. Ihave for months
been hoping to hear you were engaged to be
married"
~ shall never marry, " said Beatrice, rather
coldly.
depend upon it, it is the bet state, " said
Sir Maingay eagerly. Then he started or on
the subject of the precocity which Beatrice's
little half-brothers displayed How the elder
said this yesterday and the younger did that
the day before--a record of individual but
not general interest.
But just before they reached his house Sir
Maingay made more notable remark. ~
made the acquaintance this weAt of /" v""""