The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-05-28
A FAMILY AFFAIR.
CHAPTER XIII (CoNTINUED).
By HUGH CONWAY.

CHAPTER XIII (CoNTINUED).
Every word you spoke was the exact
truth, )" said Herbert, consollngly.
But they were horribly upset; so upset
that they forgot all about Franks i'm
pending visit or forgot about 1t until the
next morning, when they found 1t was
too late to telegraph.
Frank came down as he had forewarn-
ed his friends, by the morning train. He
was rather surprised at not seeing his two
tall cousins on the platform, or any signs
of the wagonette outside the station. He
secured hadsom, and drove straight to
Lakewood House.
Whitaker opened the door. '.All we'll,
Whitaker" asked Carruthers cheerlly.
He did not hear the servants reply, for
at that moment Horace and Herbert ap-
peared and they shook hands heartily.
They took him into the dining-room and
once more the three men shook hands.
.'Well, how are you BOTH" asked
Frank. They told him they were quite
well, but all the same, Frank knew by
their solemn faces that something had
gone wrong. He wondered what the
cook had been up to.
'And Miss Clauson? Beatrice?" he
continued with an assumption Of care
lessness, but longing for the door to open
and admit her. The Talberts exchanged
sad glances.
"Beatr ce, "said Horace, lis not here. :"
"Not here " he said. ''Gone out, you
mean. My greetings must wait"
Beatrice went 10 London yesterday, ]"
said Horace. Frank seemed much as
tonished.
ITO Londonl She left London only a
few days ago. Is she gone back to her
fathers" An ominous silence followed
his question. "What is the matter Is
| anything wrong?" he asked in great
| agitation.
"My dear Frank" said Horace, ''some-
thing strange has happened, but it is so
strictly family affair that we are con-
siderlng whether we ought to mention it
to you. Not but what your advice might
be of service to u.s."
Frank grew seriously alarmed. ''But
| am one of the family" he said hastily.
The Talberts shook their heads doubtfully.
They were not sure about it. The family
consisted of two, or, counting in Beatrice,
three at the outside.
81 have another right to know, q
stronger right still, " said Carruthers, who
was on thorns of suspense. "There is nc
reason why | should make secret of it.
l have loved Beatrice since the day we
met. My one hope is to make her my
wife. l claim the right to know any
thing that concerns her"
''1ood heavens, Frank" calculated
Horace.
Eyes, l asked her to marry me before
left here last autumn. She refused:
was now going TO repeat my Offer
'She refused you!" asked Horace
Eyes, said Frank sadly. "But wha
is the matter? For Heaven sake tell me.
Herbert" said Horace, 81 believe thi
gives us the clew to the my stery." Her
bert nodded.
what clew? What mystery? My goo
fellows, don't you see you are driving m
mad!" said Carruthers.
Beatrice left us yesterday. TIL
morning we received this letter. The lei
ter was handed to Frank. Like hi
cousins, he could only calculate, "Wha
does it mean?"
Horace and Herbert came forwarl
Hertert spoke. AS the romantic side G
the question aga n turned up, 1t was fel
right for him TO be spokesman. Frank,
he said, 1--WE do no, wish to mis- udg'
but the fact of Beatrices having refuse
you, and of your coming down to rene
the offer, makes us think that she mus
have fled to avoid you. We know lit
about such matters ourselves, but "
have heard of young girls flying to g
: ou5 Of the way of distasteful- ahen
what shall shall l say?-'
Persecution, put in Horace.
"No. the word Is too strong -distast
full advances, Frank. This is, of cours
ma ter entirely between yourself al
: your conscience.
l AS the Grafton proceeded Frank star,
from one to the other. Then he bur
into short peal of laughter. In spite {
y his ankle y about Beatrice. the situate
| oyerpowered him.
l. There is nothing 10 laugh at, Frank,
said Horace.
''lhere is madness, sheer madness
the air, my good men," said Carruther
. ''Do | look like man who would sub e
: a woman to distasteful persecution? Hal
d it! l am prouder than you are. h;
- Beatrice's permission to come. Perha
: you may know that it was arranged tn
n we should travel down together"
: "You must excuse our no. having Sc
!, TO meet you, " said Horace.
THE trath is the reads are dirty al
we could not have the wagonette clean
: in time to take us out"
Where are you going; for driver
1--WE are going to make round
calls"
at is painful, most painful duty
said Horace, but we feel that 1t must
cone. We must go round and indirect
give our friends to understand that Be
trice has left us under everyday circu
stances, to pay a Compromised visit
London We can see no other way
arresting inquiry and scandal. "