The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-03-26
A FAMILY AFFAIR.
BY HUGH CONWAY.
CHAPTER XIII (Coyrrxurp).

oAihi 4 EN- ALL iAONIINIEDl.
Mr.. Simmons, with the quickness of his
race, read what was passing in Horace s
mind His anger merged into pity for his
courteous, kindly host lie reseated him
sell, and said with a pleasantsm lie, ''How
curious such things sound to men of the
world like us. hen he sail melting
In praise of the La tie. HOra gave a
sign or relief, and to his dying day will
love that gentle Jew.
Taking 1t altogether, the TaIbert, do
not count that dinner among their social
successes.
Frank knew that when the party adj :.
burned to the drawing-room he should
zee Beatrice. Her un les wished her to
be there; an 1t was not the rule at Halle.
wood House for the men guests TO 20
rdight from the table to the smoking
room. SO whilst Horace and Herbert were
seeing that the cuTiously-shaped Venetian
TASKS were going around with hospitahle,
but not with coarsely conviyial speed, Mr..
Carruthers was summoning up courage tn
desert his post and cheer Minis Clauson s
loneliness. The thought of that loneliness
grew so painful that, taking advantage of
Horace being engaged in deep con ersa-
ton with Lord Kelston, he rose, slipped
from the room, and passing across the
hall opened the drawing-room door.
The drawing-room door, like every other
door In Lakewood House, did it's duty
without noise. There are some peoples
doors viii h always scrape and BAN, lust
as there are some PEG 10 Shoes which al
ways creak. The Talberts' shoes never
creaked. The Talberts' doors never uttered
sound. So Frank stood on the thick.
soft carpet and looked at Miss Clauson.
VINO had no Idea that her solitary exile
was ended.
She was seate on the music bench. Her
nands were on the keys of the piano but
making no music. She was ga ing with
grave eyes far, far away-looking right
through the center of the satnwood Shera-
ron cabinet which, full of choice porcelain.
STOOD against the opposite wa !. Her
thoughts, sad or sweet were in Dream
land.
And Mr.. Carruthers stood watching her.
lie knew he was doing wrong-knew he
ought 10 make her aware of his presence
-Dut the picture was 10 him so divinely
beautiful that he could not help himself.
And as he watched he saw. or fancied
ne saw tears rising to those gray eyes
MS was more than human nature could
bear.
He never knew how he dared to do IT,
but before she looked round he was at her
side, MS arm was round her-a music
bench offers dangerous facilities, it has
n back and he was telling her with pas
sionate elolueiio5 that he loved her-he
loved herl There was none of poor Mr..
hopelessness about this ardent
, Dung Carruthers
But how did Beatrice take it? With n
low cry of fear, perhaps aversion she
sprung TO her feet and stood for a moment
ooking at him, with face as pale as
Dale as death. Then without a word she
urned and went swiftly toward the door.
rank with face as pale as her own fol-
owed and intercepted her. He graspe
Ter hand.
'Beatr ce, have you nothing to say to
neS Nothing"
She breathed cuickly. She seemed to |
et her ieeth She answered not word.
'beatrice, have you nothing to tell meq
an you motto me you love me? Answer
Ihere was no trace Of railery or light
.ess In Mr.. Carruthers' manner. 1t was
nat OF man playing for life or death
taRe' ANSWER me. Say you love me-"
10 repeated.
II can not" said Beatrice hoarsely.
Let me CO."
Could Frank Carruthers have followed
'eatrce to her room. he would have seen
er throw herself ON her bed, and burst
MO paroxysm of grief. He would have
cen the somber Mrs. Miller come to her,
morace her soothe her, and entreat her.
10 would have seen look of stern resolu-
lon settle on the servants strongly mark
d features, look which contrasted
trangely with the affectlonate solIcitude
'hich she displayed toward her mistress
4 her trouble.
But Carruthers could not see these
hings, and had he seen them would have
cen no wiser for the sight