Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-02-12
AN OUTRAGE ON WHITAKER.

Carruthers when Horace and Herbert
went forth at the call of duty, had asked
that Beatrice's letter mig ht be left with him.
As he had fully proved his right to be
admitted to the family council his request
was readily granted With the letter in his
band he went into the library and pondered
what had happened. The question he had
to solve was what motive could have been
strong enough to force Beatrice to take such
a step!
He had heard from Horace ell about the
claim made upon the child, and this had ex-
planned matter which had for some days
been troubling him greatly, namely, Bea-
trice's abrupt departure from London But
here he could see no strong motive. The
claim was abandoned, or at least lay quies-
cent. Besides, Beatrice, as he judged her,
was far more likely to fight than to fly.
He dismissed anything to do with the boy,
or at least put it aside to be inquired into
collaterally
Herbert. too, had limited his idea about an
attachment. Frank having ascertained
that no shadow of suspicion of such thing
hung over Beatrice, sternly put it out of
sight. Besides, there were one or two recol-
lections which he carried always with him
and which rendered such vulgac, unworthy
explanation something not far short of
sacrilege.
He reckoned Beatrice woman of superior
abilities, logical and perfectly able to foresee
consciousness He felt that she would not
have acted as she had acted without care
fully considering wnat it entailed. No ro-
mantle, girlish impulse had hurried her
away; no eccentricity u character had led
her to shape such a coCrsa. the reason,
whatever it might be, was to her mind am
ply sufficient
She was unhappy. Her own words said
so. Did some danger overhang heri Did
some evil threaten herr What dangeri
What evill Why could not he, Frank Car
ruthers, be at her side to shield and aid :
Heaven knows he would do it and seek no
reward.
He groaned. He was very miserable and
cast down. 1t was in this very room he had
bemoaned his first sorrow. He had recovered
from that and had encouraged himself to
hope that the woman he loved would, after
all. be his And now to come and find her
gone-gone without wcrd-gone no one
knew whither-no one knew why. To feel
that she was flying from some menacing evil
and yet not know what. He was very I'M
happy
He had come dowh with such news for her
news which even as q friend she would
have been glad to hear. He had breathed no
word Of it TO her in London; had resolved TO
say nothing about it until al was settled,
At last he saw his way to giving up the
drudgery of teaching what he bitterly called
fools He had for years been a thrifty man,
and the money be had saved was not a small
SUM- For years he had dreamed Of literature
as profession, and now he saw his way to a
realization Of that dream His political
articles had attracted attention He had
been offered an important journalistic post.
A manuscript from which he expected great
things was in the printers hands He saw q
certain amount Of renown if not fortune
waiting for him. All this he bad come down
to tel Beatrice before be went back to Ok
ford, wound up his affairs, and babe the
classic town farewell
It seemed as If, whenever be counted on
draining the cup Of JOY, it was struck from
his GFsi
He must find BeAtrioe. Sacred as her wish
not to be traced might be 70 Horace and
Herbert, Frank felt that il did not affect
him He would not Of course stoop TO cali
ing In detective aid, but the utmost be could
do to solve the mystery should be done. To
Frank, Beatxice's fight appeared in q FAR
more serious light than Il did to her unclok
TO gE coyTysrEp-