Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-03-31

"Does il mean utter ruin to your
eather!" Mrs. Burton queried.
"There may be dividend of half-a-
crown in the pound by-and-by," ans
wered Keith, evasively.
"And in the meantime2"
'In the meantime" he repeated, II
must 60 back to my regiment. Tks
Cedars must be let or sold, and we must
hope that when all our liabilities are
paid there may be small surplus.
Mrs. Burton asked no more, but wont
away, and her daughters followed her;
nor did Keith see either of them again
except at meals, when Aveline and her
mother were silent and constrained and
Mona inclined to be fretful. They must
have passed much of their time i'll writ
ing letters, which Aveline carried to the
post herself, and she watched so eagerly
for the coming of the letter-bag that
Keith curled his lip in disgust.
81 suppose they are hunting up their
other friends and trying to find new
ground on which to plant themselves.
How will they look when they discover
that my fathers actual losses are under
i've hundred pounds, and that it was not
sinking ship after all that they were in
such hurry to forsake!"
For the Burtons were packing their
trunks and making preparations for de
parture, Keith growing moro oddly say
age and ill-humored with every addi-
tional proof he received that they in
tended bidding speedy farewell to the
Cedars.
On Aveline was imposed the task of
telling him that the day and hour was
fixed.
"We have taken nice old fashioned
house at Chelsea she added, ''and.
thanks to some friends who have settled
down in the neighborhood, we have the
promise Of six pupils to begin with. All,
l forgot to tell you that mamma and l
are going to open school. Mona does
not like it, but then her marriage is
fixed for August, and she will live at
Lyons. where Adolphe, her betrothed,
holds a responsible post in factory"
Keith bit his lip. Then Mrs. Burton
had not been throwing Mona at his
head; in this he had done her injustice
"But why keep school!" he asked,
and Aveline smiled.
"Partly for occupation, partly to make
money; and, Cousin Keith, YOU must
help us to persuade your father to 60
and live with u.s."
"Why should he do thisl"
Why" calculated AWE, reproach-
fully; "Dc you think we could go away
and leave him alone in poverty. When
YOU have returned to India and he has
been thrust out of his own house, what
will he do! You must not oppose our
scheme unless you have better one to
propose. We shall set apart couple OF
large comfortable,rOOms for Mr.. Lori
more's use; he will be within reach of
the societies of which he is member,
and 1 promise you that mamma and 1
will take good care Of him."
"But why should you p Keith object
cd; and Avelipe's eyes filled with tears.
"Do you think, then, that We forget
how good he was to us when papa fell
into bad health! Was it not Mr.. Lor-
rimore who left no stone unturned to
procure him berth in warmer eli
mate and though the sum of money
that enabled us to join him there came
anonymously, mamma always felt Ger
tain that it was sent by your father. We
cannot do-much for him in return, for
am afraid we shall be very poor till We
have increased the number Of our pupils,
but then his habits DIRE simple, and we
shall teach him to forget his troubles.
.'And you think l could leave my
father dependent on two women who
have not enough for themselves p
"Not entirely dependent; you shall
supply him with pocket money if you
prefer to do so. For the rest he will
require but little, and you must not de.
spise our capabilities though we are of
the weaker sex. Mamma is very clever
I assure you. and 1 had given lessons
before papa died. It is but reversing
the picture. In the days of prosperity
YOU and your father received the widow
and her children cheerfully, generously;
shall we not do our best, in our turn,
for those who have been kind to us!"
Keith. whose color had been comiue
and going all the while Aveline was
speaking, now turned from her to throw
himself into a chair, flung his arms on
the table and hid his face upon them.
Much alarmed, she hurried to his side,
and with her hands clasped on his shoul'
der, entreated him to look up and speak
to her.
"Dear-dear Keith" she murmured
tenderly, 81 cannot bear to see you like
this. What makes you so unhappy z
"The consciousness he answered
choking with emotion. "that l am
fool, scoundrel, whom you will despist
when you know how basely l have
served you."
Aveline laughed incredulously.
"You, Keith! No, no, l will never he
lieve anything to your discredit."
But suddenly seizing her dress, h
poured forth the story of Dr. Tom
letter, with it's insinuations, and his owl
stratagcm to foil the man9uvres of Mrs
Burton, Aveliue growing white will
shame and anger as she listened ant
tried to Withdraw her skirt from hi
hold.
"Tell me no mOre,' she sobbed. "Le
me 90 away, Keith. You are forgiven
for thinking i'll of me. 1t breaks m.
heart to know that, while 1 thought w
were dear friends, you were actually re
garding me as heartless schemer; yet
will-yes, / will try to forget it. Blu
your doubts of my dearest mother l can
not forgive. She stOOp TO angle for
husband for one of her children! Ho,
dare you think so meanly of her!
would not have her know"
81 do know" said the quiet, pleasan
voice of Mrs. Burton, who came fol