The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-10-12
A WRONG RIGHTED.
. .ISiittle willie better. mammain

SKY Diue rlDDons. one was pretty young
matron with very black hair, complex
ion ivory fair, and eyes of so deep hazel
that one would almost pronounce them
TO be black; and Beatrix's pale gold hair
and sea- blue eyes contrasted exquisitely
with her stepmother's more brunette
style.
The girl listened q second or two for
the answer that did not come; and then,
creeping into the room, laid her hand
caressingly on Mrs. Bottoms shoulder.
Mamma" she repeated, tell me.
How is he?'
Mrs. Bolton shook of the light touch.
"You can see for yourself" said she,
"that he is--no betterl"
For her mothers lips refused to frame
the actual truth, that the lovely infant
among the pillows was slowly drifting
beyond mortal ken.
Beatrix burst into tears.
"Oh, mammal"
Mrs. Bolton turned a hard, stern face
towards her.
There is no occasion for any play act
ing, Beatrix," said she. "You know as
well as anybody that II Willie were not
here, you would be the heiress Of Glen
carron! No-it's time thrown away to
protest and plead,n she said bitterly.
Can you deny that within the week you
have been boasting to Clara Cavendish
what you will do when Glencarron is all
your own?"
Beatrix pressed her hand to her fore
hesd.
"Oh, mammal" she walled, "Clara was
never a friend OF mine. She has cruelty
misinterpreted me, but ! couldn't have
thought that you would have believed her.
M IL IA me Il har
we were looking at the Carron Falls, that
il Glencarron were mine ! would put
rustic bridge just above them, but never
dreamed -
Mrs. Bolton gave a dry, spasmodic sob.
"You can make any alterations that
you like" said she with an effort. Z" My
-baby-will not long stand between you
and the estates of Glencarron."
Beatrix sunk on her knees; she buried
her face in the silken draperies Of the
crib.
"Mamma! Mammal" she gasped, show
can you be so cruel when you know that
love dear dear little Willie as il he were
my real, own brother, when you know
that / would go barefooted out into the
world sooner than have hair of his dear
head harmed"
Still Mrs. Bolton remained inexorably
silent, and presently the card of dear
friend was brought in.
"Take it away" she said frigidly. 81
can't leave Willie"
Beatrix came closer to her, with appeal
ing eyes.
Mamma" said she, "go down to Mrs.
Vaux. Eli watch Willie while you are
gone. Old Jeanette is in and out Of the
room all the time. II he stirs finger I'll
send her for YOU"
And Mrs. Bolton obeyed.
She came back presently in better spir-
fits and relieved Beatrix's watch with a
kiss and a word of thanks. The girls
heart rose up with joyful rebound.
"Three o'clock" said Mrs. Bolton,
glancing at the little clock of Mexican
onyx on the shelf. alt is time for Wilie's
draught. Give it to me from the table,
Beatrix."
"Where is it, mammal"
"Just there, child, by the silver tray
Q bottle half full of a dark red liquid.
Quick! How awkward you are!"
Mamma" after little nervous search,
al can't find it,"
Mrs. Bolton sprung up with an excla-
nation of impatience, and herself began
to lock fer the vial, but with no satisfac-
tory result.
"1t is gone!" she said, suddenly paus-
ing. "Where can it be? But it never
will do to lose time in this way. Send to
the druggist for another bottle. But no,
we can't do that; we haven't the prescrip-
ton. Let Joseph saddle the fastest horse
in the stable and go for the doctor at
once. The bottle was here; / put it here
myself"
"But," cried Beatrix, with perplexed
look, "what can have become of it?''
Mrs. Bolton turned to her with
lightning glance. "There has been no
one in the room but you, Beatrix," said
she in a husky voice. "lf you don't
know, no one does"
Beatrix turned deathly pale; her hands
dropped to her sides.
Mamma-and you can suspect me of
this?"
She rushed from the room weeping and
sobbing in paroxysm of grief.
DIR. Wyndham, unfortunately, was not
at home, and when two hours afterwards
he drove hurriedly up to Glencarron, his
presence was too late = the little one
was dead. His enfeebled vitality, de-
prived of the powerful tonic on which it
depended, had given way, and he lay, q
little marble image, among the pillows,
with a white lily in his hand.
Mrs. Bolton was nearly frantic. Her
judgment and discretion gave way, and
she forgot all but her great loss. When
Beatrix would have consoled her, she
pushed the girl away.
"You are satisfied" she cried, "now
that you are the heiress Of Glencarronl
Oh, you are satisfied at lastl"
Poor Beatrix recoiled in horror; but as
time went by the horror grew deeper
still.
An invinc;ble barrier rose up between
herself and the whole neighborhood.
People passed her with cold mods, others
looked persistently the other way, and
yet she knew that she dwelt in an atmos-
phere OF dark suspicion.
Mrs. Bolton left Glencarron at once.
"Your stepdaughter is looking very
ILL.," said the doctor. "Do you think you
had better leave her alone, especially now
that Jeanette is gonef"
al must co." said Mrs. Bolton with q