Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-09

and shivering, sobbed herself to sleep upon
her breast.
And SO it was with all the children; her
power over them was almost absolute. They
loved her and she loved them all.
| And now the schooling was almost done
for the day. 1t was Beatrice's custom to
make the children sing some simple song
before they broke up. She stood IN front OF
them and gave the time while they sung, and
| n pretty sight it was to see her do 1t. On
this particular afternoon, just as the tl:st
verse was finished, the door Of the room
opened and Owen Davies entered, bearing
books under his arm, Beatrice glanced
around and saw him, then, with q quick
stamp of her foot, went on giving the time.
The children sung Justify, and in front OF
them stood Beatrice, dressed in simple white,
her graceful form swaying as she marked
the music's time. Nearer and nearer drew
Owen Davies, till at length he stood quite
close, his lips slightly apart, his eyes fixed
upon her like the eyes of one who dreams,
and his slow, heavy face family lit with the
glow of strong emotion.
The song ended, the children at word
from their mistress fled past her, headed by
the pupil teachers, and then with a shout,
seiEing their caps, ran forth this way and
that, welcoming the free air. When they
were all gone, and not till then, Beatrice
turned suddenly round.
allow do YOU do, Mr.. Davies?' she said.
He started visibly. 81 did not know that
you had seen me, he answered.
"Oh, yes, saw YOU Mr.. Davies, only
could not stop the song to say how do you
do. By the way, have to thank you for
coming to inquire after me"
'sNot at all, Miss Beatrice, not at all; it
was a most dreadful accident. cannot tell
You how thankful AMI cant, indeed"
"It is very good of you to take so much
interest in me-" said Beatrice.
'Not at all, Miss Beatrice, not at all.
Who-who could help taking interest in
YOU? have brought you some books-the
Life of Darwin-it is in two volumes. /
think that I have heard you say that Dar-
win interests you?"
"Yes, thank you very much. Have you
read it?"
"No. but have cut it. Darwin doesn't
interest me, you know. think that he was
a rather misguided person. May carry
the books home for you?"
''Thank you, but am not going straight
home; am going to old Edwards shed to
see my canoe"
As matter of fact this was true, but the
idea was only that moment born in her mind.
Beatrice had been going home, as she
wanted to see that all things we're duly pre-
pared for Geofrey and his little daughter.
But to get to the Yicarage she must pass
along the cliff, where there were few people,
and this she did not wish to do. To be
frank, she. feared lest Mr.. Davies should
) take the opportunity to make that offer Of
his hand and heart which hung over her
like q nightmare. Now the way to Ed
wards shed lay through the village and
down the cliff, and she knew that he
would never propose in the village. 1t
was very foolish of her, no doubt,
thus to seek to postpone the evil day, but the
strongest minded women have their weak
points, and this was one Of Beatrice's. She
hated the idea of this scene. She knew that
when it did come there would be q scene.
Not that her resolution to refuse the man
had ever faltered. But it would be painful
and in the end it must reach the ears of her
father and Elizabeth that she actually re-
iected Mr.. Owen Davies, and then what
would her life be worth? She had never
suspected, 1t had never entered her mind to
suspect that, though her father might be
yexed enough, nothing on this earth would
mere delight the heart of Elizabeth.
Presently, having fetched her hat, Bea-
trice, accompanied by her admirer, bearing
the "Life of Darwin" under his arm, started
to walk down to the beach. They went in
silence, Beatrice just little ahead. She
yentured some remark about the weather,
but Owen Davies made no reply; he wat
= thinking, he wanted to say something, but
= he did not know how to say it. They were
7 At the head of the cliff now, and If he wished
to speak he must do SO quickly.
/ ''Miss Beatrice" he said in q somewhat
constrained voice.
{ "Yes, Mr.. Davies-oh, look at that sea-
r gull; it nearly knocked my hat of. %
But he WAS not to be put off with the sea.
puIl. "Miss Beatrice" he said again, care
you going out walking next Sunday after
l noon2"
"HOw can tell, Mr.. DaviesH It may
3 rain"
: 'But If it does not rain-plesse tell me
t You generally do walk on the beach on Sun
d day. Miss Beatrice, I want to speak to you
hope you will allow me, I 90 indeed"
Then suddenly she came to decision
This kind of thing was uncomfortable; i
. | would be better to get it over. Turning
= round 80 suddenly that Owen started, sh'
, said:
e "If YOU wish to speak to me, Mr.. Davies
) shall be in the Amphithester, opposite tn
Red Rocks, at o'clock on Sunday after
4 noon, but had much rather that you diC
9 not come. I can say no more"
e "I shall come" he answered doggedly
e and they went down the steps to the boat
d shed.
b "Oh, look, daddy" said Efie, ''her
Is comes the lady who was drowned with you
+ and a gentleman" and to Beatriee's grea
y relief the child ran forward and met them.
= "AhP' thought Geoffrey to himself, "tha
E is the man Honoria said she was engage
d to. Well, don't think very much of he
e taste"
le In another minute they had arrived
n GeoHrey shook hands with Beatrice, and wa
/ introduced to Owen Davies, who murmure
8 something in reply and promptly took hi
departure.
d They examined the canoe together anC
then walked slowly up TO the vicarage
It Beatrice holding Efie by the hand. OppOsit
II the reef they halted for minute.
;. "There is the Table Rock ON which "
le were thrown, Mr.. Bingham" said Beatrice
t, "and here is where they carried us ashore
D, The sea does not look as though it woul
sr drown any one tonight, does it? See
ot and she threw a stone into 1.-THE ripple
r run as evenly as they do on pond"
sr She spoke idly and Geofrey answered he
N idly, for neither were thinking of thei
d words. Rather were they thinking Of th
Vt strange chance that had brought them tC
E. gether in an hour of deadly peril and mo-
q lett them together in an hour of peace. Pc
lie haps, too, they were wondering to what en-
lie this had come about. For, agnostics, ath'
r lists or believers, are we not, most Of us, +;
u talists at heart?
~ :, Ito be continued nezt Sunday.)
s. HAD LOST THE CORPSE.
h CurIoue Cause OF a Delay at q Funeral In