Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-04-23

.
Compas5es." He TOOK haat of zach of his
friend,.
Sorry for one thiag-oaly oae That /
diin't join thase hanis. woald have given
wor!ds-eay thing-yone 70 Munich on pur-
poe. l nsean't tell either e you why
wished TO do it"
The last words wera spoken with genuine
feeling. Mr.. and Mrs. Carruthers pressed
the cdrats's haais and thanked him for his
cool wishes when they lest him Sylvanus
called for his tricycle. and propelled himself
ten miles out AMI ten miles home again He
did so, he told himself. to keep his wind up
TO sermon marx tie was unwilling 10 CON
TESS that the need for such violent bodily
exercise was brought about by the sight OF
Beatrice as q bride.
That night at Hazlewooi House the table
was as tastefully laid, the napery as smooth
and spotless, the glass as lustrous, the wines
as unimpsachable, tho crocsery as perfect
as over. Frank did nearly all the talking
lie spoke OF his future plans. of the life be
and Beatrice meant TO lead. rs coollv as il
oil her friends hal been at her we'd 1g.
Beatrice said very little She was simply,
quietly happy Horace thought the yourg
couple behaved very we'll. As he remarked
to Herbert afterward, There were none OF
those embarrassing little familiarities which
so often make the company of n bride and
bridegroom-well undesirable
Beatrice left the men and strolled through
the garden. Horace aud Herbert then filled
their glasses, ami in a courtly way wished
Frank every happiness. Not" said Hor-
ace, THAT We can honestly say we approve
ofyour having been married in this clandes-
tine way. But you may, of course, have
had good reasons for it,
We had good reasons said Frank
I'VE think, however we have a right 10
ask for an explanation of Beatrica's strange
conduct-her flight and concealmentn
Certainly said Herbert, most certain,
ly.n
SO Frank told them ell. As he had the
command Of language and spoke in earnest
tones, as he had the skill to make certain
shadows look lighter, and TO bringout strong
points in his clients favor most strongly; as
he could speak Of what she had endured, and
so invoke pity rs well as mercy. Beatrice
could scarcely have found better advo-
cate
But Horace! Herbertl A line of notes of
, exclamation would not properly express
| their surprise With eyes fixed on the
| speaker they listened like persons under a
spell. Even when Frank had said his say
| they continued TO gaze at him. Horace
was the first to speak. rs this truel" he
| gasped.
Every word of it-poor girlr said Frank.
Then" said Horace, with his no appeal
manner, I'VE can never forgive her-never
| see her again. Neverw
He glanced at Herbert, as if expecting the
usual echo. Bat it did not coms. Frank rose
Very well; then there's nothing more to
| be said. I'll go and tell my wife to put her
things on. Which is tho best Blacktowu
hotelf'
This was a staggering shot 1t was a
cruel shot. Carruthers was right when he
| said it would take great deal to make the
TalbertS turn even dog away.
Give us a few minutes to talk it oyer,r
said Herbert. Let us leave You here for
awhile
mo. I'll so into the garden. l can't
give you moro than twenty minutes, because
most of our things are unpacked, and it is
growing late
| Before he left them he spoke again; this
time with all his former earnestness-
Horace, Herbert" he said, turning from
one to the other In talk ing this over. re-
member, that if you cauuot forgive her we
must be strangers hereafter. By casting her
off you give the world right to say what
1t chooses. Remember, also, she is my wife
that she loves yOu-that she is even now
| on thorns OF suspense awaiting Your de-
| csiou.n
| With this lie lest them, went into the gar
den, and, out of sight of the house. walked
| with his arm around Beatrice and baCle her
| be of good cheer.
Before the twenty minutes had expired,
J Whitaker came to inform them that Mr.
Talbert desired him to say that tea was
waiting i'll the drawing room. Frank
| smiled, drew Beatrices trembling arm,
with mud lNI /
soon as Whitaker had withdrawn after
| handing round the tea Horace spoke He
| was standing up, his cup in his hand and
his calm eyes seemed to be gazing at nothing.
MY dear Beatrice" he said very gravelV.
II think if you and Frank could manage TO
prolong your stay till tomorrow week we
| might ask few friends to meet YOU at din
| ner. The invitation will be a short one but
under the circumstances will no doubt be
| excused
Carruthers turned away to hide smile
| Yet he felt that, considering who the
speaker was, no words could have been bet
| ter, more judiciouSly or more delicately
| chosen to express the fact that Horace and
| Herbert had decided to forgive the culprit,
| and not only TO say no more about her mis-
| deeds, but, also it necessary, show the
world that they took her part. 1t was a
| triumph.
| No more was said but Beatrice could not
refrain from letting few tears of gratitude
| bedew Horace's immaculate shirt front, or
from sitting for little while with Herberts
| hand in hers.
| Sir Maingay had, of course, to be told all
This was painful task, as telling Sir Main
gay meant telling Lady Clauson Her lady
| ship had her revenge by being able to say
the girl had, after all, dome something dis
| graceful" but as she thinks a great deal
about the honor of her husbands family,
she will not proclaim the correctness Of
| her estimate Of Beatrice's character
| And others will have to be told. The
| Oakbury people will hear a great deal
| They will shake their heads and gossip
But fortunately, or unfortunately, Mr..
| and Mrs. Carruthers' future life will not
| be spent among these families of position
50 such gossip will matter little to them
| They will live in the great world of Lon
don, and Frank Carruthers may or may
not become famous man. At any rate he
will be happy one.
| And Beatrice Beatrice will make a
| circle of friends. No secret will be made of
the facts that she has been twice married,
| and that little Harry is her child by her first
| husband. And if some day it should be
whispered in that circle that for some rea-
| sons only known to herself she passed for
! years as single woman when she was a
wife-what will it matter Better that than
passing as a wife when a woman is single
The world is like a cat, pleasant and
sweet when rubbed the right way. Frank
and Beatrice are rich-the trustees raised no
question on account of the first marriage
they are hospitable, kind-hearted, clever,
| young and good looking, and Frank seems
| likely to rise to eminence. In such cases
friends are very good natured and trouble
themselves very little about idle reports.
Indeed, all who care to inquire into Mrs
Carruthers' history may know all there is to
| be known.
No-not all. Not the means by which
happiness was brought within their grasp.
That is known only to a wild-eyed, white
faced woman whose gaunt features grow
every day more ,saunt, who, day by day.
| this victim to the dreariest religious creed
the world has vet Internationally dreary
because ii is illogical and unanswerab!e-