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

blood ran cold. Horace was not addicted to
the use Of canting colloquialisn,s but the
words were spoken in such way that Frank
believed not here must inevitably be
followed by but gone above He was
immensely relieved when the speaker stoned
short
Not here he said Gone out, YOU
mean My greetings must watt
The brothers eyes sought counsel Of one
another.
Beatrice went to London Yesterday
said Horace. Frank seemed much aston
ished.
ITO London. She left London only a few
days ago. Is she gone back to her father'sf,
lie was already framing excuses for leaving
Hazlewood House and returning to town
An ominous silence followed his question.
What is the matterl Is anything wronsf'
he asked in great agitation.
My dear Frank said Horace, some
thing strange has happened, bu. 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 sarv-
!ce to us
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
Il have another right 10 knows stronger
right STILL" said Carruthers, who was on
thorns of suspense. There is no reason
why should make a secret of it, l have
loved Beatrice since the day we met. NV
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 loyemak-
ing. Good heavens, FrankI' calculated
Horace
Yes; l asked her to marry me before l
left here last autumn. She refused; was
now going to repeat my offer"
''She refused youn asked Horace.
Eyes" said Frank, sadly. But what is
the matter! For Heavens sake tell me-"
Herbert" said Horace, Il believe this
gives us the clue to the mystery Herbert
nodded.
What clue? What mystery' Ny good
fellows, don't you see you are driving me
madF 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.
dslOHISuiutlt HtStl uOl bt utSCilUtt.
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, 1--WE do not wish to misjudge you,
but the fact of Beatrices having refused you,
and of your coming down to renew the Offer
makes us think that she must have fed to
avoid you. We know little about such mat
tiers ourselves, but we have heard of young
girls flying to get out of the way of distaste-
ful-ahem, what shall l say -
Persecution, put in Horace.
mo, the word is too strong-diStastefu
advances Frank. This is, of course, mat
ter entirely between yourself and your con-
science
As the Grafton proceeded Frank stared
from one to the other. Then he burst into
short peal of laughter. In spite of his anx-
iety 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 l
look like a man who would subject a woman
to distasteful persecution9 Hang it! L 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 togetherH
They remembered that Beatrice had told
them this, and at once saw the folly of their
new theory. They apologized humbly to
Frank Nomen 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
LIZ
by the wagonette came round to the door
You must excuse our not having sent to
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 Z"
1--WE are going to make round of calls"
Frank marveled, and thought that under
the circumstances this social amenity might
have been postponed
at is painful, a most painful duty" said
Horace, "but we feel it must be done. We
must go round and indirectly give our friends
to understand that Beatrice has left us under
everyday circumstances to pay long pro-
missed visit in London. We can seq no other
way of arresting inquiry and scandal"
1t was after hearing this that Frank under
stood how truly great was Horace's nature.
The brothers drove off. So far as time would
allow they called upon every one they could
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 upon
the rector's wife; upon the Purtons upon
the Fletchers, upon many aristocratic and
few simply opulent persons. Being such
universal favorites with the ladies they had
no scruple in continuing their calls even to
the very latest moment allowed by society.
Then they drove home feeling they had done
all they could to throw curtain over
Beatrice's extraordinary indiscretion.
CHAPTER XIV.