The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-07-07
nch now. He believed that no one in the
vide world had ever beer 20 hardly used,
70 badly treated.
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
One day when the world lay white and
odd in its snow covering, letter came |
rom America for Peter Lennox-a letter |
hat seemed to drive him almost mad. AS |
ne read 1t, the sternness of his face seem |
I'd to break up and die away in CLEAN |
If light-wonder, surprise, joy, increduli-
". one after the other appeared to pos
,ess him.
II cannot believe It," he cried; Il cannot |
credit it. Dear heaven! if the lost years
sould but be given back to me--if could
BUT have my life over again.
He read and re-read the letter, and
then he laid it down on the table and
.lasped his hands-his dim eyes filed with
tears, his lips quivered.
TT is so late, SO late" he sobbed; but
thank heaven for it, living or dead!'
He could not calm himself. He went
mt into the frost-bound woods, still car
rying the letter with him, and re-read 1t.
he returned home again and sat by the
fire in his library, and then read the letter
once more. And when he went to rest at
aight he turned up the lamp that he might
see to read the missive again.
He had seemed strange and half Devil
1ereu DcIOTt, lie Wao Sim
The servants in the house declared that
no did not know what he was doing. He
had answered the letter at once; and be-
fore long another came, but he rose from
The perusaL of that with blank, white
face, for it said that the trace OF tnat
which he was seeking was quite lost after
a certain date, and the detective sent out
| to make inquiries did not think IL was
worth while remaining any longer. as
he read that, Peter Lennox's race suooen
" seemed to grow older, a gray haggara
look came into it, and he kneit GOWN anu
buried it in his hands. !.
81 am miserable sinner" he said, ana
nv sin has found me out. l am justly
punished"
After that he grew respondent. He SEM
for his lawyer, and they had long conref-
ences together; but nothing came OF them'
and Peter Lennox grew more miseraDie
every day.
In the meantime Beltran Carew had
won n great lawsuit, and his name was
everywhere mentioned with honor ana
respect: his fame was established. a
few months more Of patient waiting, ne
wrote to Beatrix, and he should be able 70
Ioroyide the home that he had longed foI
only a few more months. Beatrix read
the letter to her mother, whose pale face
Frightened as she listened.
II am very pleased for your sake
Trixie," she said. ut seemed cruel t'
think that with all your beauty and grace
the best years of your life should be spen
in the solitude Of Strathnarn.
Christmas and the opening OF the new
year passed. February came In milo AM
, bright, bringing with it an odor OF swee
: yiolets and a CLEAN of snowdrops; pu
its beauty was all lost upon Peter Len
nox. He must have suffered greatly, 10
, he had grown thin and pale. He wa
not like the man who during the yea
preceding had been the proud head Oh on
I of the finest establishments in London.
. Mrs. Carew had been away during IN
r winter months. She had returned IN I'd
< spring, for which season she had pect
. liar liking. But Mrs. Carew did not seer
a to enjoy the season as she usually di'
There were whole days when she paced
and down the garden paths, thinkin
!. deeply, as one who he'd problem to soiv
" She has lost somewhat of her bright e.
preston. 1t was plain that there was
/" struggle going on in her mind.
n | i uSeQ 10 tuluk, bnC oosN ~
ia morning. that human life was jest.
v seems to me that in what has passed
mine have had the roses, and now mu
D. prepare for the thorns."
Her son Beltran came down, to sper
m his Sunday with her. The bright, grac
full artist, the changeful, lovable, WV
)f cious woman, the sensitive, gifted geniu
III loved her son better than the whole worl
She was proud of him. She glories In
RI bright, strong manhood. She gloried
Q. his talents and his goodness.
ne He looked pale and wan. he had
No air of one who had worked hard not on
II during the day, but far into the nigl
ps when he should have slept. His moth
ns taxed him with it, and he told the tru'
For some time he had worked neal
II twenty hours out Of twenty-four.
"Why not pay for assistance, and ga
nh yourselfT' his mother asked.
No. Because want every shilling, moth
nv that can earn" he replied. Il have
be one to spare"
nm Her bright, changeful face clouded.
on "Why do you want money so, Beltrar
~ she asked.
ITO marry, mother" he answered.
ter want a pretty home for my darling.
he does not hurry me about it-shs wo
i'll, he willing to wait for years; but l
my anxious about her"
lite "WhyY' she asked again. do !
doubt herr"
7ns doubt her, my dearest mother"
nat cried. II would just as soon doubt he
es- en-! There are few so loyal or true
!. she. 1t is not that; but Lady Ailsa is
ne strong, you know, and Beatrix tells
but how she suffers at Strathnarn. l W
to fetch them both away, and cannot
pom til I have home for them
ose docs that cross, stern old man
vas hold out, them asked Mrs. Carew. Il
int he show no signs Of relenting"
ven mo, and never will. We do not sp
Ike about him. His money and his lands
forgotten. We never think of him W
ned we make our plans. Only one thing t
i'm. bles us, mother. Beatrix has shown {
was truth and fidelity; for love of me she
nge declined to be Duchess of Heathland;
no love of me she has lost one of the lar
zed fortunes in England. No man Ii
ling cares less for money than do; but '
test how I wish!-that had fortune
fu- her sake. Work as l will, it mus
ran many years before my income viii
Sea more than moderate. On, mother,
of had but a reasonable rent roll, sh
lay be the happiest man in the world!'
to "But you tell me always that Bel
ired does not care for wealth." observed
ios. Carew.
had ..Nor does she, mother. At the ,
most time I wish with all my heart tn
had II to give her. OF course it can 4
be be, but should have liked to go to
His and say: You gave up everything FOL
} re- my darling, now it Is In my power t
lnox pay you"
limit "Would that make you very hap
had she asked, musingly.
him eyes, very happy" he replied.
fore 81 win think the matter over, Belt
"What good will thinking do, mott
said he asked. Rather forget it and d.
lady mind my troubles"
wing ..v-., ,.,cvld reallv he the manifest