The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-05-11
story before. and Inherently told. I am

story O0IOr0s ana inherently LOlU. i 6JU
sorry I spoke Of 1t. L"
But the effort at self-repression was
too great. Her voice trembled and
broke. She burst into bitter weeping.
sobs shook her frame. while Cora's
arms clasped themselves about her.
and she strove in every way to soothe
her.
Gradually the storm Of pent-up emo
ton spent itself.
promise me, Cora, to say nothing
of what has happened. Some day. my
dear, I will explain it to you. l cam
not now. Neither al I go with you
to Grey Oaks. You will leave me here"
"No, no; you are to go to. 1t was
all arranged at dinner. And Mr.. Ches-
ter, particularly, invited you. He could
not remember your name. but he said
that you must come. How very, very
handsome he is, Miss Montrose! Do
you know, I think If he told me to do
anything in the wide world, I should
feel I had to obey him. When he talks
I shut my eyes. and his voice sounds
like low music"
She spoke with a child's innocence,
but Beatrice glanced up. startled. into
the sweet. childish face, which the
IAlnC CTlllSOH DkOOu WAS 1IuSAAAAA6 AAASS
warmth.
What new danger was this which
threatened, not her, but a charge she
had assumed and considered sacred?
Could she, in the light of this new
knowledge, let her remain for two
weeks or longer, under this subtle In
fuence, without her counteracting
power? Besides, might not her refusal
- -- - Nro~v Holyo avoifo uylan{cf0n.
There was another reason, too, fo1
her acceptance. Twenty-four hours
before she had had a dream. She fan
cied herself once more in the library at
Grey Oaks. She was alone in the
room, and sat, leaning back in an arm
chair and looking out through the open
windows on to the rustling leaves OF
the old oaks.
Suddenly, the rustling seemed to
shape itself into words, at first low and
indistinct. then growing louder and
louder:
"Beatrice-the will-the papers-you
will f1nd-are secret! Beatrice-the will
the papers-you will find-the secret
the secret"
Over and over again the leaves MUIR
INJURED these words, until they were In
| OellOly xIAp1C6SCO NPOA ~
They had been the last words spoken
to her by her father; but In all the ex.
citement and subsequent misery OF
that terrible time. they had taken no
definite shape of meaning.
She heard them now, as though Tor
the first time: and as she listened.
glancinr up. she saw, standing framed
by the French window, her fatner .
form. A look of infinite love and In
nate pity was in his dear eyes. she
would have sprung to meet ana sfee'
him. but she was powerless to SUIT.
SLOWLY as she let her hungry, yearn-
ing gaze rest on him, he lifted his rleht
hand and pointed to a smal music :
room, beyond which there was a
guest chamber.
..The will-the papers--the secret!
the leaves rustled again, n then 'ne
dream ended-the vision vanished.
Had r. been sent to her for naught?
She Ielieved not. Away from Grey
Oaks, what could she do to prove mel
right? The will, the papers were uh-
found. It remained for ner 10 nio
them.
Cora" she said, ION one condition
I will go with you. Promise me tha'
no word shall transpire OF the CONVEX.
sation which has taken place pet"eei
us tonight, further than that you re.
peated to me MI. Chester's very pollte
invitation to make n OF your party
and that I accept 1t"
IT promise!" the elLl, ue'
liehtedly; and, with a warm emorace
left her, to carry the good news 10 tnell
future host.