The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-08-17

nearing the station, for her father had started
on again, and there were people about But
she looked at him, and he never forgot the
look. 1t was quite enough to chill him into
silence, nor did he allude to the matter any
more.
When they were gone, Beatrice set about
her own preparations. Her wild purpose was
to travel to London, aild catch glimpse of
Geoffrey's face in the house of commons, if
possible, and then return. She put Oh her
bonnet end best dress; the latter was very
plainly made of gray cloth, but Gil her 1t
looked well enough. and in the breast Of it
she thrust the letter which she had written on
the previous day. A small handbag, with
some sandwiches and brush and comb in it,
and cloak, made up the total of her lug
gage.
The train, which did not stop at Bryugelly,
left Coed at 10, and to Coed was an hour and
half's walk. She must be starting. Of
course she would have to be absent for tho
night, and she was sorely puzzled how to ac-
count for her absence to Betty, the servant
girl; the others being gone there was no need
to do so to anybody else But here fortune
befriended her. While she was thinking the
matter over, who should come in but Betty
herself, crying. She had just heard, she
said, that her little sister, who lived with
their mother at village about ten miles
away, had been knocked down by q cart and
badly hurt. hight she go home for tie
night! She could come back on the morrow.
and Miss Beatrice could get somebody in to
sleep if she was lonesome
Beatrice sympathized, demurred, and con-
sented, and Betty started at once. As soon as
she was gone, Beatrice locked I'D the house.
put the key in her pocket and started on her
five miles tramp. Nobody saw her leave the
house, and she passed by path at the back
of the village SO that nobody saw her on the
road. Reaching Coed station quite unob-
served, and just before the train was due, she
let down her veil and took third class ticket
to London. This she was obliged to do, for
her stock of money was very small; it
amounted altogether to thirty-six shillings,
OF which the fare to London and back would
cost her twenty eight and fourpence
In another minute she had entered an empty
third class carriage, and the train had
steamed away.
She reached Paddington about that night,
and, going to the refreshment room, dined Oh.
some tea and bread and butter. Then she
started
Beatrice had never been in London before,
and as soon as she left the station the rush
and roar of the huge city took hold of her
and confused her. Her idea was to walk to
the houses of parliament at Westminster.
She would, she thought, be sure to see Geoff-
rey there, because she had bought daily pa
per in which she had read that he was to be
one of the speakers in a great debate on the
Irish question which was to be brought to a
close that night She had been told by a
friendly porter to follow Praed street till she
came to the Edgeware road, then to walk on
to the Marble arch, and ask again Beatrice
followed the first part Of tue programme
that is, she walked as far es the Edgeware
road. Then it was that confusion seized her,
and she stood hesitating. At this juncture, a
coarse brute of man came up and made
some remark to her. 1t was impossible for a
woman like Beatrice to walk alone in the
streets of London ct night, without running
the risks of such attentions. She turned from
him, and as she did SO, heard him say some
thing abou. her beauty to fellow Arcadian
Close to where she was stood two hanson
cabs. She went to the first and asked the
driver for how much he would take her to the
house of commons
"Two bob, miss" he answered
Beatrice shook her head and turned to 60
again. She was afraid to spend SO much on
cabs, for she must get back to Bryngelly.
''Ill take yer for eighteenpence, miss"
called out the other driver This offer she
was about to accept when the first man inter-
posed.
you lea1e my fare alone, will yera Tell
yer what, miss, Pm a gentleman, am, and
I'll take yer for bob"
She smiled and entered the cab. Then came
a whiil of great gas lit thoroughfares, and in
q quarter of ar, hour theypulled up at the en-
trance of the house. Beatrice paid the cab
man his shilling, thanked him and entered.
only once more to find herself confused with
a vision of white statues marble doors, high
arching roofs and hurrying people An au-
tomato policeman asked her what she want
ed. Beatrice answered that she wished to get
into the house
Pass this way, then, miss-pass this way"
said the automatic officer in voice of brass
She passed, and passed, and finally found her
self in lobby among a crowd of people of all
sorts-seedy political touts, Irish priests and
press men. At one side of tho lobby
were more policemen and messengers, who
were continually taking cards into the house,
then returning and calling out names. In
sensibly she tlrifted towards these policemen.
Ladies' gallery, miss!'' said voice: your
order, please, though think it's FULL
Here was fresh complication. Beatrice
had 10 order She had no idea that one was
hoy IL
II did not know that must have one. Can
not get in without2n
Most certainly not, miss" answered the
voice, while its owner, suspecting dynamite,
her with cold official eye. "Now
mako way, make way, please"
Beatrice's gray eyes filled with tears, as she
turned to go in bitterness of heart. So all her
labor was in vain, and that which would DO
done must be done without the mute fare uell
she sought. Well, when sorrow was SO much,
what ,nattered a little morea, She turned to
go, but not unobserved A certain rather
youthful member Of parliament, with an eve
Tor beauty III distress, had been standing
close to her, talking to constituent. Tie
constituent had departed to wherever constl-
tuents go-ani many representatives, if
asked, would cheerfuliy point out a locality
suitable to the genus, at least in their judy
the member had overheard the
conversation and seen Beatrice's eyes fill with
tears. What. a lovely wonan!n he had said
to himself, and then did what he should have
done, namely, lifted his hat and inquired if
as member OF the house, he could be of any
service to her. Beatrice listened, AMI OK
planned that she was particularly anxious TIC
ref into Tho lo1i..c' Harry
II think that | can help you, then, he said.
. As 1t happens lady, for whom cot an or
der has 1eenrr.,inel 10 coy thnt cho <,...,......