Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-03-29
CHAPTER XIII.

Certainly Mrs. Jack could no longer
complain of being left alone in her soil
tude ut Beck's Heath, neglected and
forgotten. The place was too far from
COdlingtOn to render frequent visits
between it and Beck's Heath feasible
But Mrs. Lilly. and Rebccca, and Bar
ney, and Mr.. Brown. and the devoted
Mr.. Mills had all been out to see her
Yet, nevertheless, that sensation of be-
ding neglected and forgotten did not de-
part from Mrs. Jacks heart. The in
habitants of Beech Grove had made no
sign, had sent no message. And, oddly
enough, Mrs. Jack never once asked
about them. But one day She heard by
chance from some of the farm servants
that the family had all gone away to
London; that the house was shut up
and left in charge of the gardener and
his wife, and that the ponies and Mr..
Warren's riding horse had been sent
to the care of Il neighboring farmer
who had good stables.
"W}ly did they not take the horses
with themy' asked Mrs. Jack. Il sup
pose, as they did not. that they are
coming back to Beech Grove?"
II don't know about that. But may
be they'll senl for the horses when
they're settled" answered the man:
And Mrs. Jack turned away with
downcast face, and said no more.
1t vas a fact that, Notwithstanding
all her troubles with Jimmy and Jenny,
Mrs.Jack nevertheless looked back upon
her engagement rs governeSs at Beech
Grove as a time of happiness. She had
found a friend there-a friend on
whose masculine sense she could rely,
while at the same time his gentle kind
ness banished the timidity which poor
Bell WAS in the habit of feeling in the
presence of sensible persons" 'Ad-
vice." and good sense" and solid
Judgment had hitherto been offered
to her by her mother-in-law and others
in the form of Il bitter bolus, at which
It was known she would make wry
faces-such being the perversity of
her nuture--hut which. nevertheless.
she WAS bound to gulp down. Bell had
a sincerely modest opinion of herself,
and easily believed that her conduct
might be faulty even where she was
conscious of the goodness Of her mo-
tive. But it was against the constant
misoonstruction Of her motives that
her spirit rebelled. And it was a new
anu SiCA!s,iitIuA SSllSulloil " (llSEONSI Il
person who would gently point out to
her that she was doing wrong. while
fully admitting that she intended to do
right.
Ali the sweetness of her nature was
ELECTED by this manly gentleness. She
was quite free from any petty desire
to shine on false pretenses; and, once
assured that she was trusted. she &C
knowledsed all her shortcomings with
perfect honesty and humility. Nor was
a sterling acknowledgement Of short
comings the only result OF her acquain-
lance with Robert Warren. Perceiving
that on many points he thought better
OF her than she deserved, she strove-
haf unconsciously perhaps-to attain
the high character he attributed to her.
1t is base nature that is not stirred
by praise to be the very thing which in
the eyes of affection it seems to be.
And now, after all the pleasant
words and considerate acts which she
had received at his hands, after having
learned to think of him as one whose
regard was sure. whose kindness was
steadfast and to be relied on, she found
herself suddenly divided from him as by