Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-09-10
Beauelanpe' S Double
i The PRIMA DONNA.
A Story Of Mystery, Love and
Devotion.
BY DAVID LOWRY.
CHATTER XVII.
UNPREMEDIrArED.

looked into his when he babe Miss Beau
champe adieu, affecting a cheerfulness
he maintained throughout the interview,
haunted him. All his sympathy he said
TO himself went out to this young girl
1t was torture to see her weep. He felt
like shielding her from even the shadow
OF danger. Yes, his stay must neces-
sarlly be short, for there was so much
TO do.
Miss Beauchampe's eyes were swollen
when she looked at him. She advanced
at first eagerly, but the moment her lit
tie hand rested in his, Livingston knew
that she was disappointed. Disappoint-
ment was depicted in her lucid eyes; in
the sudden averting OF the well-pOised
head.
Not a word was uttered for at least a
minute. Livingston's wits seemed to
fail him. He stood, feeling as he re-
hected afterward, @like an awkward
schoolbOy." Finally he spoke.
at is not so bad To be sure, we have
not found Lester, but
She interrupted him. speaking in a
calm tone that was more discouraging
than her swollen eyes. Il did not ex-
pect good news. hOped-that was all 4"
~Don't-nOw, don't give up like this, Z"
said Livingston suddenly, as he felt her
hand slipping slowly out Of his own. q
have good news We are quite sure now
that we have a clue to work on.
you do know then. Is he's my
brother aliyeP You have heard from
him? He is we'll? He" The hope
faded out of her eyes as she searched his
face. Then she turned aside quickly.
Il will never, never see him again.
Her attitude more than the words. and
the exquisite pathos in her tones, sent
the blood cOurslng swiftly through Liv-
1ngstOn's veins Then he shivered-
absolutely shivered. What if her words
should come true2
at is not so bad as that, tell you,
Miss Beauchampe. What more he said
he could never remember. He realized
suddenly that she did not hear a word
he uttered; then he became dumb until
the paroxysm Of grief ceased She sat
down, and began to sway herself from
side to side. Livingston was at loss to
know what to do or say Man like, his
feelings found vent in impulsive action
He put out a hand to quiet her. As his
hand touched hers, a thrill such as he
had never experienced passed over him.
The feeling was inexplicable, new to
him He addressed her in tones such as
a mother employs to sOothe a child.
He was surprised at his own voice.
Afterward he marveled at the foolish
things he said, but he speedily discover
ed the inadeQuacy, the utter weakness
Of words in moments of great trials.
Miss Reauchampe rocked r -rself and
gave way to her feelings, seemingly IN
mindful OF his presence.
There never was a dearer brother.
He denied himself everything to crafty
We. There was nothing he could do for
me that was too much. The best, the
wisest, the tenderest of brothers gone
gone, may be lying in the water, or
buried to conceal a horrible crime. And
1 will never see. never hear him again.
Alone alone"
@Don't say you have no frlendsln Liv-
ingston exclaimed, when he could listen
silently no longer. He grasped her wrists.
She did not pause. Still she moaned
bewailing her brothers death; her utter
loneliness until in sheer desperation LiY-
tngstOn caught her arm, and held her
quiet He was knee.ing beside her with
out knowing 1t.
~Miss Beauchampe, listen. You must
listen. Suppose Lester were Ill, and
needed your attention."
~You are keeping something back. Z"
Sue flashed strange suspicious look on
him that cut him to the heart what
is IL? Tell me the whole truth now. {"
This was said with quiet dignity, as
she stood up. He rose, too.
"As true as there is heaven, 1 am
keeping nothing back But you are
working yourself into illness"
at is better so. I want to die. do
not want to live if he is dead ="
THAT is wicked. You ought not to
say that. You have frlends-you will
never want for friends, for anything,
Miss Beauchampe."
As she looked long and earnestly at
him, he felt his cheeks flame, then a
sudden sinking OF the heart caused the
blood to recede from his cheeks. Liv-
ingston put hand to his forehead. It
felt cold and moist. He stammered
something, paused, met her look with
one as level, and said impulsively, not
pausing to. consider his words
~Let me be a friend. Why not? I was
I am true friend of your brother.
will serve you with my life, Miss Beau
champe, II necessary"
The words were spoken In low tones,
but the vehemence of his manner star
tied her. She put hand out TO check
him, but he caught it quickly and held
it.
Il did not come here to say this at all
1t was uttered without thinking. Par
don me. But il Is the truth. / have
never felt the same since first saw you.
came here on another errand. but I am
not sorry l spoke my thoughts. 1 tell
you you are wrong. Your brother,
believe, will be found soon. cannot
give you any proof nOw-only do not
despair, because I am sure that ne will
soon be restored TO you. And until he
iss-he ventured to take q hand that
was not withdrawn from his caressing
elasp-~permit me at least to perform
the duty friend should in an extremity
such as this. 4"
Il will try to govern myself hereafter,
she said ~YOu must think me childish
to yield to my feelings"
II think, said Livingston, admirlngly,
~such devotion as you exhibit for your
brother is sacred. You will hear from
me very soon. Only remember all that
human power can do will be exerted to
find your brother"
He felt like kissing her hand, but
he wisely restrained himself, bowed, and
left her. When he glanced at his watch
he blushed His ten minutes were
heightened to three-Quarters OF an hour
He excused himself, be sure. He re-
hected that it would have been heartless
-cruel-tO withdraw until he had made
here listen to reason: then he blushed
again as he bethought himself of the
governing, or as he now confessed to
himself, the ungOvernable motive-lOve
and the part it played in the scene
just closed.
The air and sky was changed; all the
world seemed different, brighter, TO Liv-
ingston when he rode back to the Office
of the Record after making the rounds
of the newspaper Offices. He had
charged himself with the duty of ap-
prising the various managing editors Of
certain phases of the mysterious murder
case as they developed. Now it was a
pleasure. the greatest pleasure of his
life, for go where he would, the eyes of
Miss Beauchampe followed him.
Instead OF returning to his lodgings,
he resolved to go to the Record Office,