The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-07-13

day nap to see young lady striding along,
and then suddenly stop, stamp her foot and
say, No, neverr Luckily 1 knew that you
were about, or l should really have been
frightened"
''How did you know that I was aboutl'
Beatrice asked little defiantly. 1t was no
business of his to observe her movements
''In two ways. Look" he said, pointing to
a patch of white sand. THAT think, is
your footprint"
''Well, what of it2' said Beatrice, with
little laugh
Nothing in particular, except that it is
your footprint he answered. Then hap
pened to meet old Edward, VINO was loafiug
along, and he informed me that you and Mr..
Davies had gone up the beach; there is his
footprint--Mr. Davies, Imean-but you don't
seem to have been very sociable, because here
is yours right in the middle of it. Therefore,
you must have been walking in Indian file,
and little way back in parallel lines, with
quite thirty yards between you"
'Why do you take the trouble to observe
things so closely she asked in a half amused
and half angry tone.
81 don't know-a habit of the legal mind,
suppose. One might make quite romance
out of those footprints on the sand, and the
little subsequent events. But you have not
heard all my thrilling tale. Old Edward also
informed me that he saw your sister, Miss
|. Elizabeth, going along the cliff almost level
with you, from which lie had concluded that
you had argued as TO the shortest way to the
Red Rocks, and were putting the matter to
the proof"
Elizabeth" said Beatrice, turning shade
| paler, what can she have been doing, won
der"
Taking exercise probably, like yourself.
Well seat myself with my pipe in the shadow
of that rock, when suddenly see Mr. Davies
coming along towards Bryngelly as though
lie were walking for wager, his hat fixed
upon the back of ais head Literally, he
walked over my legs and never saw me- Then
you follow and calculate, No, neverI-and
that is the end of my story. Have your per-
mission to walk with you, or shall l interfere
with the development of the plot?"
There is no plot and as you said just now,
the beach is free" Beatrice answered petu-
lantly.
They walked on for few yards and then
he spoke in another tone. The meaning of
the assignation he had overheard in the
churchyard grew clear to him now
81 believe that have TO congratulate you,
Miss Granger" he said, 'and l do so very
heartily. 1t is not everybody who is SO fort
innate as to-
Beatrice stopped and half turning faced
him.
"What do you mean, Mr. Bingham9" she
said. 81 do not understand your dark say
ings"
Mean! oh, nothing particular, except that
l wished to congratulate you ON your engage
ment"
"My engagement What engagement"
ut seems there is some mistake he said,
and struggle as he might to suppress it his tone
was one of relief 81 understood that you
had become engaged to be married to Mr..
Owen Davies. If l am wrong l am sure
apologize
'You are quite wrong, Mr.. Bingham. l
don't know who put such notion into your
head, but there is no truth in it.
Then allow me to congratulate you on
there being no truth in it. You see that is
the beauty of nine affairs matrimonial out of
ten-there are two or more sides to them If
they come off the amiable and disnterested
observer can look at the bright side-as in
this case, lots of money, romantic castle by
the sea, gentleman of unexceptionable ante
cedents, ETC., ETC., etc. If, on the other hand
they don't, cause can still be found for thank
fulness-lady might do better after all, castle
by the sea rather draughty and cold in spring,
gentleman most estimable, but perhaps lit
tie dull and so on, you see"
There was note of mockery about his
talk which irritated Beatrice exceedingly
1t was not like Mr.. Bingham to speak So 1t
was not even the way that gentleman out
Of his teens should speak to a lady on such a
subject. He knew this as well as she did and
was secretly ashamed of himself But the
truth must out; though Godfrey did not adj
init it even to himself he was bitterly and
profoundly jealous, and jealous people have
no manners Beatrice could not, however
be expected to know this, and naturally grew
angry.
II do not quite understand what you are
talking about, Mr.. Bingham" she said, put
ting on her most dignifed air, and Beatrice
, could look rather alarming. you have
picked upa piece of unfounded gossip, and
now you take advantage of it to laugh al
me, and to say rude things of Mr.. Davies. II
, is not kind"
'Oh, no; it was the footsteps, Miss Gran
ger, and the gossip, and the appointment
/, you made in the churchyard, that unwill
, ingly overheard, not the gossip alone which
led me into my mistake. OF course hav,
now to apologize
Again Beatrice stamped her foot. Sh,
saw that he was still hooking her. and fell
that he did not believe her
There, he went on, stung into unkind
ness by his biting but unacknowledged jeal
ousy, for she was right-on reflection he die
:, not quite believe what she said as to her no
hain fO,
, have said something to make you angr,
I. again. Why did you not walk with Mr.. Da
!. vies! should then hsve remained guiltles
y of offense, and you would have had NOR
agreeable companion. You want to quarre
:. with me; what shall we quarrel about9 Their
are many things on which we are diametr
: calIy opposed; let us start one"
!, 1t was too much, for, though his word
: were nothing, the tone in which he spok
:, gave them sting, Beatrice, already di:
= turbed in mind 10y the scene through whic
. she had passed, her breast already throbbin
with vague trouble of which she did nc
= know the meaning, for once in her life los
j, control of herself and grew hysterical. He
;. gray eyes filed with tears, the corners of he
! sweet mouth dropped, and she looked yer
= much as though she were going to burst OF
70 weeping,
= ut is most uukind of you," she said, wit
. half sob. "lf you knew how much hav
y to put up with, you would not speak to m
. iEo that. | know that you do not beliey
= me. Very well, l will tell you the trutl
y Yes, though have no business to do it, an
- you have no right-none at ALTO make N
- do it, Twill tell you the truth. because
= cannot bear thet you should not believe m