Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-03-12

She went back to her home with pain in
her heart, and feeling years older than when
she had left a fortnight ago. Mrs. Erskine
manifested no interest in the visit to Bourne
mouth. She merely hoped that Beatrice had
spent pleasant time
The girl felt very miserable; a kind Of
dread, which she vainly strove to thrust
away, hung over her She needed sympathy,
needed a confldant Such secret as hers
was too great for one breast. SO she told her
maid Sarah what had happened. The woman's
slave like worship and dog-like fidelity assured
her silence
Mrs Miller who, in spite of her religious
pecularities, knew the world, and knew also
what such marriage as this meant, sup
pressed the grief she felt. But to endeavor
to ease her mind, she made such inquiries as
she could respecting Mr.. Maurice Hervey. She
even watched him, waited for him, tracked
him in his goings out and comings in She
told Beatrice nothing of this self-instituted
inquiry. To do the woman justice had she
found Hervey up to the standard of her re-
qlirements for Beatrice, she would have Of
fered up thanks to heaven more fervently
than she had ever done in her life
One day when Beatrice was paying visit
to her husband, he turned to her suddenly.
81 must have money" he said there's no
good beating about the bush"
Have you no money! asked Beatrice
81 have twenty pounds, the remnant of a
large sum borrowed
Beatrice had expected an appeal of this
sort. Although Hervey had again and again
told her that by the drudgery of teaching he
could make good income, so that i'll marry
ing, money was a secondary consideration,
this had been part of the dread hanging over
her. An appeal of this sort would give her
fears stronger foundation. She said moth
ing. but taking out her purse, shook its con-
tents on the table The man laughed scorn-
fully.
at is no driblet like that want. I must
have a thousand pounds by this day fort
night"
"Whv tell me so! | cannot get it," She
could not help the growing GOODNESS of her
voice.
Eyes you can, if you will. Win you do
sog'
She looked at him steadily. "You are my
husband" she said. "lf can, l will"
II knew it. he said, with a nervous laugh
"All you will have to do is to sign an under
taking promising to repay the money and
interest out of your income within certain
number of years. You will do thiss"
Eyes, l will do this. You are my hus-
band"
1T is also necessary" he went on, with a
covert glance at her, Ito make declaration
"a mere matter of form. You must declare
yourself to be twenty -one years of age
The truth is Mr.. Hervey had been to thd
money-lenders, and without mentioning
names had endeavored to negotiate a loan
upon such security as Beatrice's fortune
offered Some of the usurers laughed in his
face, but he soon found one whose business
it was never to refuse to lend money on a
| forged bill or n false declaration provided the
| friends of the forger or the perjurer were of
| the stamp who would pay money to avoid
criminal proceedings.
Il do not quite UNDERSTAND" said Beatrice.
She would not understand.
ITS mere matter of form, my dear girl,
it can do no harm. 1t is only to swear YOU
are twcnty-one. I'm sure no one would doubt
it,
Beatrice covered her face with her hands,
and the tears trickled through her fingers
Hervey attempted to cares her. Sadly but
firmly she pushed his arm away
81 cannot do it, she said.
His brow grew black. Damn i'll you
must!n he said.
She rose II will not, she said in accents
| WHICH lbltl MIN size llcdnl WlllU she Sau.
will do this much l have some jewelry; it
shall be placed in your hands. The only
favor | ask is that money may be raised on il
in such a way that same day | can get it
back. Part of it was my mothel's.'
Hervey knew that her jewelry would not
help him. SO he pressed her to make the
false declaration. First, he commanded
secondly he reasoned, thirdly he besouGht in
an abiect way. And with his groveling en-
treaties for money, every atom of love fol
him went out of the girls heart. Love may
survive ill-u>ag', faithlessness and wicked
nes--meanness kills il. She turned AMI left
him before he could stop her,
She did rs she had promised That even
ing Mrs. Miller brought him the packet OF
iewelry. There were some valuable articles
in it, as Sir Maingay, who had great faitf
in his daughters discretion, and who per
haps had feared that if not given at once
they would never be given, had intrusted he
with some diamonds which had belonged t,
her late mother. So it was that Hervey wa
able to raise some two hundred pounds OF
the trinliets. 70 his credit be it said that III
sent certain mysterious tickets to Beatric
which, upon inquiry, she found would enabl
, her to redeem the things of which she hat
deprived herself.
iHltt NdSS III Ter lHlS odran 1llluB q ulS
: covery, or rather completed her inquiry int.
Heryey's real nature BY pertinacity il
tracking and watching; by questions aske
= in certain houses in a neighborhood to whicl
, she had followed him, she found the ma
; had for some space of time, and was eve
now, pursuing a low intrigue with girl
With flashing eyes Mrs. Miller went t
Beatrice and told her this
5 Beatrice heard her in silence. Then sh
I spoke coldly and gravely. Events were fas
making a woman Of her Sarah" sh
said, Il will see Mr.. Hervey, and if needfu
l you will see him, Bear in mind that if you
= charges against him are false, you leave m
r at once
She took Sarah with her. told her to wal
| in the street and then entered her husband
9 room. She told HIM coldly and without az
e parent emotion what she had learned. Sh
f gave the name of street, and the humble
1 Of house.
e Hervey Of course denied it. Beatrice the
1 said she would fetch his hbeler, who shoul