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

The scene that followed Mr. Davies blunt
demand for the hand Of Beatrice NAV well be
passed over lightly. Indignant in spirit and
with sense of TIE conspiracy against her,
Beatrice promptly declined the proffered
honor
Her sister, Elizabeth, anxious in her jeal-
ousy to reduce Beatrice to the lowest level in
MIR. Davies esteem bluntly charged her sister
with improper intimacy with Godfrey Bing-
ham and detailed the events Of that unfortu-
nate night. With blanched face but calm de.
meanor Beatrice denied the accusation. She
explained that she had been walking in her
sleep, that she had, as it happened, walked
into Mr.. Bingham's room, but beyond that
the insiuuations of her sister were absolutely
false. She disdeired to discuss the matter
further.
Next cay was Sunday. Beatrice did not 90
to church. Fer tnis thing, she feared to see
Owen Davies there. But she took her Sun
day school class as usual, and long did the
children remember how kind and patient she
was with them that day, and how beautifully
she told them the story of the Jewish girl of
long ago, who went forth to die for the sake
OF her fathers oath.
Nearly all the rest of the day and evening
in time; only in the late afternoon she went
out for little while in her canoe Another
thing Beatrice did also; she called at the
lodging of her assistant, the head school
teacher, and told her that it was possible that
she would not be in her place on the Tuesday
CMonday was, as it CHANGED, holiday. If
anybody inquired as to her absence, perhaps
she would kindly tell them that Miss Granger
had an appointment to keep, and had taken
mornings holiday in order to do SO. She
should, however, be back that afternoon. The
teacher assented without suspicion, remark
ing that if she, Beatrice, could not take
mornings holiday, she was sure she did not
know who could.
Next morning they breakfasted very early,
because Mr.. Granger and Elizabeth had ar
ranged to visit Hereford Beatrice sat
through the meal in silence, her calm eyes
hooking straight before her. and the others,
gazing ~ them and at the lovely, inscruta-
bic face, felt an indefinable fear creep into
their hearts. What did this woman mean to
dos That was the question they asked of
themselves, though not of each other That
she meant to do something they were sure,
Tor there was purpose written on every line
OF her cold face
Suddenly, as they sat thinking and making
pretense TO cat, thought flashed like an ar
row into Beatrice's heart and pierced it.
This was the last meal that they would ever
take together, this was the last time that she
could ever see her fathers and her sisters
faces For her sister, well, it might pass
fer there are some things which even a wo-
man like Beatrice can never quite forgive
h,fA ci,a ral CO.
faults, even his simple avarica and self seek
ing had become endeared to her by long and
wondering contemplation Besides, he was
her father; he gave her the life she was about
to cast away. And she should never see him
more. Not on that account did she hesitate
in her purpose, which was now set in her
mind, like Bryngelly castle on its rock, but at
the thought tears rushed unbtden TO her
eyes.
just then breakfast came to an end, and
Elizabeth hurried from the room to fetch her
bonnet.
Father" said Beetrice, "if you can be-
fore you co. l should like to hear you saw YOU
do not believe l told YOU what was false
about that story"
'Eh, eh.' answered the old man, nervous
ly. Il thought we had agreed to say nothing
about the matter ut present"
Yes, but should like TO hear YOU say it.
father. 1t cuts me that you should think that
l would lie to you, for have never willfully
in my life told you what was not true;n and
she clasped her hands about his arms and
looked into his face.
de gnzed at her doubtfully Was it posi-
bic that after all she was speaking the TRUTH
No; it was no possible
II can't, Beatrice" he said-s'not that /
blame you overnuch for trying to defend
yourself: a cornered rat will show fight"
May you never regret those wortls,n she
said; land now good-by," end she kissed him
on the forehead
at this moment Elizabeth entered, saving
that it wcs time to start, and he did not re-
turn the kiss.
''Good-by, Elizabeth" said Beatrice.
stretching cut her hand. But Elizabeth af-
fected not to sec it, and in another moment
they were gone. She followed them to the
gate and watched them till they vanished
down the road. Then she returned her heart
strained almost to bursting. But she wept
no tear.
Thus did Beatrice bid last farewell to her
father and her sister
"Elizabeth-" said Mr. Granger. as thew