Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-01

After while Sir Malngay almost forgot
he had daughter. The Clausons settled
down to continental life for an indefinite
time. Lady Clauson knew she was improv-
ing herself and moreover, that Sir Maingay
was saving enough money to refurnish the
town house from top to bottom whenever
they did return to England. In the course of
the four years spent abroad, Lady Clauson
rectiiicd her predecessors sins of omission,
and gave her devoted husband two fine boy
babies In the revived delights Of paternity
"a paternity which is SO especially dear to
middle age-Sir MainGay thought little of
the troublesome, obstinate girl he had left in
England. His wife and his boys all but
turned her out of his heart. So here was
Beatrice i'll the extraordinary position of
being n baronet's daughter with scarcely q
a friend in the world.
At last the ClausOns returned to England.
Whether her ladyship wrote her book or not
is u matter of uncertainty; anyway, it was
never published. Beatrice made no objection
to rejoning the family circle Her father
and his wife found her greatly changed. She
was queter, more reserved, more amenable
to reason. 1t seemed to Sir Maingay that she
had passed her time at Mrs. Erskine in study.
The learning she had acquired almost fright
ened the baronct; but he was glad to see she
he felt quite proud of his neglected daughter
and hoped that things would for the future
run smoothly.
His hopes were vain. This time there was
no doubt as to with whom the fault lay. A
beauty like Lady ClausOn could not endure
the constant presence of n younger fresher
and even more beautiful beauty. She was
also jealous at the way i'll which her own chill
dren took to Beatrice Besides, she had never
forgiven the girl. Relations soon grew
strained, and towards the end of the year
Beatrice wrote to her uncles, and asked if
they would give her home.
She was now nearly twenty Having
when she came Of age succeeded to her late
mothers third of old Talbert possessions she
was independent both by age and by income
She was willing to live at Lakewood House, if
her uncles would take her If not, she re-
solved to start an establishment of her own
She was still in her former anomalous posi-
tion-a baronet's daughter who had never
made n proper entrance into society. AS Lady
Clauson said, she must have been wrong
minded young woman, this omission
seemed to trouble her very little
The Talbcrts who liked the little they had
seen of their niece went into solemn conclave
on the request. They decided, i'll the event of
| Sir Mangay giving his cOnsCut-on that point
they were most exacting-shc might come to
them. Sir Maingay raised no objections, so
! Beatrice Clauson came to Lakewood House,
| where since her arrival, about a week ago,
she had lived in a state of amused wonder as
/ the amiable peculiarities of the Tables
gradually revealed themselves to her.
She had, of course, intended to make herself
useful to her uncles. 1t may have been the
want of some occupation other than study
1
House and the two bachelors. She was nc
| longer a schoolgirl, SO at once broadly limited
that she was willing to regulate their house
hold matters The silent horror with which
the proposal was received told her at once that
her place was to be a sinecure She saw that
! her uncles would on no account dream of in
trusting their researches into domestic econ
omy to any hands save their own, and the sur
passing capability of those hands was deeply
impressed upon her when, the day after her
arrival, she found Uncle Horace bending over
the maid who did the plain sewing, and in the
patientest and gravest way teaching her the
most approved fashion of handling needle
and thread.
After having lived at Lakewood House fol-
a week Miss Clauson must have been ready to
welcome any event of interest. 1t is no wor
fer that when Horace Talbert, at Mr.. Nor
dies suggestion, walked into the drawing
room and told his niece what had happened
her curiosity and excitement rose to high
pitch.
as it pretty childF' she asked
"Wonderfully SO, Mordle and Herbert are
petting it like a couple of women
Beatrice did not run at once to see for her.
self "What do you mean to do about it.
uncle HoraceN she asked.
Il don't know. suppose we must keep it
till tomorrow and see if the mystery is ex-
planned. You had better come out and give
us your advice"
Beatrice walked into the hall. The child
had made great progress during Horace's
absence. The cnrate was tickling him and
making him laugh. Herbert stroking
his bright hair in quite paternal way.
Even the respectable Whitaker was smiling
pleasantly.
"What a dear little mani" exclaimed
Beatrice, us she walked to the table ana
looked at the sturdy urchin