Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-03-19

Inc brothers eyes sought counsel OF one
another.
Beatrice went to London yesterday"
said Horace. Frank seemed much aston
ishcd
"To Londonl She left London only few
days ago. Is she gone back to her fathcr.li
He was already framing excuses for leaving
Hazlewood House and returning to town.
An ominous silence followed his question.
What is the niatterl Is anything wrongf
he asked in great agitation.
my dear Frank" said Horace, "some.
thing strange has happened, but it is SO
strictly family affair that we are consider
ing whether we ought to mention it to you
Not but what your advice might be of serv-
ice to U.S."
Frank grew seriously alarmed. "But
am one of the family" he said hastily The
Talberts shook their heads doubtfully. They
were not sure about it. The family con
sisted of two, or, counting in Beatrice three
at the outside.
81 have another right to know-a stronger
right still" said Carruthers, who was on
thorns of suspense. "There is no reason
why l should make secret of it. l have
loved Beatrice since the day we met My
one hope is to make her my wife, / claim
the right to know anything that concerns
her."
The establishment depicted on the brothers
faces spoke volumes in favor Of their trust
full natures or Franks circumspect lovemak
ing. Good heavens, Frankl' CALCULATED
Horace.
YES; asked her to marry me before /
left here last autumn. She refused; l was
now going to repeat my offer"
"She refused your asked Horace
YES" said Frank, sadly. but what If
the matterl For Heavens sake tell me-"
Herbert" said Horace, 81 believe this
gives us the clue to the mystery" Herbert
nodded.
"what cluei What mysterya NY good
fellows, don't you see you are driving me
madT' said Carruthers.
Beatrice left us yesterday. This morn
ing we received this letter" The letter was
handed to Frank, and whilst he read it the
brothers drew aside and talked in whispers
Franks establishment need not be described.
Like his cousins, he could only calculate,
| "What does it meanf'
Horace and Herbert came forward. Her
bert spoke. As the romantic side of the
question had again turned up, it was felt
right for him to be spokesman. Frank, "
he said, "we do not wish to misjudge you,
but the fact of Beatrice's having refused you,
and Of your coming down to renew the offer,
makes us think that she must have fled to
avoid you We know little about such mat
,ers ourselves. but we have heard of young
girls flying to get out of the way of distaste-
ful-ahem, what shall | say2-"
Persecution" put in Horace.
NO the word is too strong-distasteful
advances, Frank. This is, Of course, mat
ter entirely between yourself and your con-
science"
As the grafton proceeded Frank stared
from ono to the other. Then he burst into a
short peal of laughter. In spite of his anx-
ietv about Beatrice, the situation over
powered him.
''There is nothing to laugh at Frank" said
Horace.
There is madness, sheer madness in the
air, my good men," said Carruthers. do
look like a man who would subject a woman
to distasteful persecution Hang It'll / am
prouder than you are. / had Beatrice's per-
mission to come Perhaps you may know
that it was arranged that we should travel
down together"
They remembered that Beatrice had told
them this, and at once saw the folly of their
new theory. They apologized humbly to
Frank No men in this world could apologize
more gracefully than our friends. Then they
talked the whole matter over again, without
any result Frank did not say much. He
wanted solitude and quiet thought. By and
by the wagonette came round to the door.
You must excuse our not having sent tc
meet YOU" said Horace THE truth is the
roads are dirty and we could not have had
the wagonette cleaned in time to take Us
out"
"Where are you going for drive 7"
olyn Of On He
Frank marveled, and thought that under
the circumstances this social amenity might
have been postponed.
at is a painful, most painful duty" sale
Horace, but we feel it must be done, We
must go round and indirectly give our friend:
to understand that Beatrice has left us under
everyday circumstances to pay lohg pro
missed visit in London We can sea no Other
way of arresting inquiry and scandal"
Itwas after hearing this that Frank under
stood how truly great was Horace's nature
The brothers drove off. So far as time woulc
allow they called upon every one they coulo
think of. They called upon Lady Bowker
who had known them from boys they called
upon Mrs. Catesby, the stately, yet affable
well-dowered and better connected widow
who loved artistic society they called upor
the rectors wife upon the Purtons, upoI
the Fletchers, upon many arlstocratic and {
few simply opulent persons. Being sucl
universal favorites with the ladies they hat
no scruple in continuing their calls even t.
the very latest moment allowed by society
Then they drove home feeling they had dom
all they could to throw a curtain owe
Beatrices extraordinary indiscretion.
CrIApTEp yyJV