Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-05-09
CHATTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
Beatrice's swoon was not long one,
but it allowed her the pretext Of with
drawing from the meal and seeking
the retirement of her own room.
Conversation flowed uninterruptedly
without her; but Allen was pale and
distracted. Never had Miss Lorrimer
appeared more brilliant or more charm
ing. Mr.. Chesters eyes dwelt on hel
admiringly.
II was proposing to Allen" he said,
as dessert was brought on, "that you
should all come down for the holidays.
I can hardly picture to you the dreary
desolation of Grey Oaks since my
cousins death. You can scarcely
imagine what real act of charity you
would perform if you would but en-
liven my solitude"
But why shut yourself up there,
my dear Chester?" asked Allen, rous-
ing himself.
Il feel my presence necessary for
many reasons. Foremost is this I'M
happy affair of my Cousins daughter.
1t appears that her mother was an
Italian prima- donna, with whom my
cousin lost his heart and offered heart
and hand. AS in her case the latter
was disposed of, she could only accept
the former. No one, however, sus-
pected this until Mr.. Markham's death.
it was a cruel shock to his daughter.
unhappily, too, there was no will. so
she was left penniless. The terrible
disaster must have turned her brain,
I think, for she left Grey Oaks one
day, and we have since been unable to
obtain no clue to her. I trust, howev-
er, she may yet return, when I would
be there to welcome her.
Clearer and clearer grew the story to
Miss Lorrimer, while even Allen looked
up with a quick, startled glance.
1t seemed to him he had uncon-
sciously held puzzle in his hands, of
which the parts were fitting into place.
Yet it must be chimera of his own
brain.
Had not his guest met Miss Montrose-
as a stranger? Her faint, too, was
easily explained by her recent illness.
His own nature was too frank to
harbor long the supicion of whose very
existence he was scarce conscious.
''Poor girl" exclaimed Miss Lori
mer. "Was she young and pretty?"
"Quite young and very pretty. You
will be able to comprehend how sad it
all has been for me, when I tell you
that she was my affianced wife. have
been 10th to take possession Of my in
heritance; but her flight compelled
explanation, and the law forced me to
claim my own. Do you wonder that
the old house is desolate to me? Will
you not cheer me up for a little time in
it's empty soltude?"
Il think your plan most charming"
assented Edith, Cora eagerly echoing
her words.
"You will chaperone us, Mrs. Lay
ton?" asked Chester, with his old,
winning smile.
And so he won his point.
1t was arranged that the Thursday
following the little party should be-
come his guests.
"Miss-pardon me-" he added, "but
I did not catch the young ladys name
who is with you. You will explain to
her that she is included in the invita-
tion.'
He spoke so naturally, so easily, that
even Edith was for the moment
CneCkeu III llle OuA1oAli6 VI 1lCA AAeeAS
wall of proof.
Was it we'll that this girl should re-
turn to her own home as an alien? She
could scarcely prevent it, except by
bre aking up the entire plan; and, after
all, it would enable her better to lay
the scheme for future action.
Flushed and eager. Cora related to
Miss Montrose whom she found lying.
proposed plan.
To the young girl just budding into
womanhood, Beatrice Montrose seemed
a lovely visitant from another world.
She adored the beautiful companion
kind fortune had sent her. In her eyes
she was without flaw or blemish. AL
though in reality but two years her
Junior. she was as a child beside her.
She spoke now, with all of a childs
enthusiasm.
"We are to spend the holidays" she
exclaimed. ''at Grey Oaks, they call the
place-a pretty name, Is it not! Ana
it is one of the show houses, they say
on the Hudson. Will it not be charm'
ing, Miss Montrose? But are you not
sorry for the young girl VINO supposed
always it was to be hers: nope she
will come back while we are there.
How cruel and unkind her father must
have been to deceive her sou
"Cruel and unkind!" burst from her
listeners pale lips. "Hush-hush! YOU
do not know what you are saying. 1t
is all false. base and wickedly false.
what YOU have heard. He. this poor
girls father was the best. the noblesl
of men,"
"Ah, you know him--you knew her?
Tell me about them both?"
mo, no." said Beatrice. regaining
her composure, but l have heard this