Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-11-01
A FAMILY AFFAIR.
BY HUGH CONWAY.


face. She also after a moment of forget
fulnesS was coming back to her own world
and its troubles. Her eyes dropped and
her face clOuded.
SHOW did you find me?" she asked In a
troubled voice.
''By strange chance. l will tell you
how some day."
"Tell me nOw.'
Frank shook his head. "Not now" he
said. Let it suffice that / have found
you"
but" said Beatrice with agitation,
'do others know-can others find me
If you learned it, WHY not another p"
He say the dismay of fear and FASTENED
to reassure her. "No one save myself
can learn it in the same way. Your
retreat is safe. -
She sighed her relief. There was an
awkward pause. Frank was the first to
break it.
beatrice, " lie said 81 have come a
long way to see you. have much to say
you may have much to say TO me. Can
we MT go to some place where we can
talk ? D."
''Yes, we can 60 to my home.' Bea-
trice called her boy, and Frank, glad of
anything to break the awkwardness of the
moment, greeted the little fellow and made
friends with him to such purpose that he
insisted upon Mr.. Carruthers holding his
chubby hand and walking with him.
"What pity to cut that bright hair -
said Frank to Beatrice.
ait was more than pity-it was cruel,
but it was cruel necessity, she said sadly.
Beatrice led the way to the house in
which she lived.
How are they all at home?" she asked.
How are my uncles. and dear old Halle
wood?'' Her eyes filed with tears. Her
emotion did not escape Carruthers.
They are all well, - he said. IL heard
from Herbert few days ago. lie sent
me your letter"
'Will they ever forgive me?" said Bea.
trice. 'Will they ever speak to me
again?'
a hope So" said Frank gravely. "They
were, of course, much veXed and upset.
Beatrice glanced at him nervously.
Even he had held out hope of forgive
ness-and he loved her. She wished he
had not come to Munich.
ADO they know my reason for leaving
England" she asked timidly.
NO They have haZarded many guess
es, but not one has been near the truth. !"
She started at his an swer. The truth?
Did he know the truth? If So how had
he learned it?
.'Doyou know why left?" she asked.
look of pain settled on Carruthers'
face. Eyes, - he said, softly. "Chance
has given me Your story. But to me
only to me. >
'Do you know all-all that have done,
al hat have suffered"
He rose. There was a strange agitation
in his manner and voice. "All!" lie ex-
claimed. Beatrice! Beatrice how can
tell you what | know? Beatrice, did
not just now hear that child call you
mother"
''Yes, he is my son." she said, calmly.
AL" continued Carruthers, excitedly.
''Nee / know all? Need be racked by
hearing the one l love tell me all? Need
pain her by forcing her to hear me-?
Have not heard enough? Why should
seek to know more?"
''Let me tell you my story, Frank, 4"
she said, beseechingly.
''Nol' He spoke in that imperous
tone which she had once before, in a
slighter degree, noticed. mo Listen to
me. Beatrice, believe me- have longed
to find you. 1 have sighed for this mo-
ment If have surprised your secrets it
was not for my own ends. Beatrice, when
chance showed me where you we're
came to you with but one object.
This morning even when at last l saw
you, had but one thought 1t was to
come 10 you, 10 say l have sought you be-
cause you arc in distress, because you
want help. such help as / can give is
yours. Without question, without the
hope of reward, it is yours"
Again she strove to interrupt him. He
checked her.
.'I.isten l have more, much more to
say. l have seen you again." his voice
changed to one Of supreme tenderness 81
have held your hands. have looked into
your face-the same sweet face Of my
dreams. Beatrice all Is changed with
me-" he knelt beside her and took her
hands. eff once | wished to know ALL
now / say, tell me nothing. What is the
past to me? Hide it away, forget 1t, scorn
II, Our life begins to-day. l love you.
Bend down and tell me you will be my
wife.
She forcibly drew her hands from his,
covered her eyes, and sobbed.
''You love me- " he went on, passion
ately. lis IL for my sake you will not do
this thing Look at me-read in my eyes
what my heart desires-know that you
have the power Of making or marring a
mans life. Beatricel My love, my only
love, answer me.
Frank" she said you are killing me.
Spare me and let me speak"
He waited in anxious silence until her
sobs died away and sustained speech was
possibility.
Frank, trankv' she said. "You have
been misled. You have heard but half
the truth. You love me, yet dare to
think that IL what you have heard Is true
would be your wife. can not blame
YOU for believing. ! have no right to
blame. My actions have helped that be-
lief. Yet in believing II, you, Frank,
have given me the sharpest pain Of all
that have known"
Carruthers bent his head and prayed
she would forgive him.
=! have nothing to forgive. From
whorl did you think / aed-frtm what