The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-18

htti0 BiII cuOu8us Jul 4 C3u tnihk WIN
you'n find for her to DO"
Leave me to manage that. Shall I wall
. day or two, or write at encef II doesn't
do to seem too eager"
Write tomorrow. Tell her that a. you
know her reference by name you will moi
trouble to maxi Inquiries. and that yor
would like Miss Bell to como to % a. soon
as possible"
CHAPTER ~.
Sir John Bellairs had been borne 10 Ail
grave with all the pomp betting his rank
Tn mourners had returned to Kinsswood
to listen to the reading Of his win. The
new baronet. Sir Lionel. was the only rsia-
tive present on tho Bellais side. and The
widow was unsupported BY any Of her own
family. She was an orphan and an only
child. 30 that she could hardly boast any
very near kindred.
Mr.. Baxter was charged with the man
agement Of the estate. and authorized te
spend what he thought needful ON II. The
balance Of the revenues wa to accumulate
until his son. Loys. or. failing Logs. his
eldest daughter. came Of age. All his per-
sonal property he beQueathsd to his wife
absolutely.
1t was q very brief will but then. a. Mr..
Baxter had remarked. Sir John had little
to leave for . man Of his position. The Wis
itors took their leava Cir Lionel, - he
shook hands with the widow. tried to ex-
press his mothers sympathy.
A hondaorA 0ohfa-I0oklp~ >s~ 49, %S~
new baronet. There were plenty Of people
among those who had listened to the viii
who thought he would have made . far
better owner of Kingswood than Barbara.
1t was over at last: everyone had gone
excepting Mr.. Baxter. who would remain
till the morning to hold . business CONVEX
sation with Lady BellairsL He could not
help noticing . look Of relief on the Widows
face when the last Of the visitors had de-
parted. and the door was closed on her and
her sorrow.
The lawyer dined alone. waited On By
Jenner. Tho blinds were up again. the
June sunshine poured into the beautiful
room: but It wal . dreary meal. one man
dining alone where sixty guests could have
assembled without crowding.
Lady Bellairs sent for Mr.. Barter ~
times. Always an early riser. since her ~
reavement sleep had deserted her: ana Il
was a relief to her to 30 up and doing.
Fl want you I, speak plainly 70 n"
she began. ''as though I were . man. An
I bound to live at kingswood Placer
NO." he said quickly: but cur allow
ancs would 20 farther here. Not eniy
would you be rent-fres! but. a. I understand
the will. I I'm bound to keep up the grounds
n . able department. and pay al the out
door servants. To put II plainly. you have
two thousand q year besides youf jointurs
to spend on food. clothing. education. and
pocket money: II you 90 sway. you have
to add to your Expenses rent, taxes. q car
rage and coachman. gardeners. and the
4 Also. in you daughters interests. II
is far better to remain where she 10 lady
Of the soil. still. you are q perfectly free
agent. I only put the case before you"
She sighed.
II viii stay" she said slowly; but. Mr..
Baxter. I shall never have another happy
hour at Kinsswood."
"You have had q sad bereavement ana q
terrible shock" he swered kindly, your
nerves are overstfained. and % the old
homo seems distastsful to you. but in .
little while you will recover your Affections
for the place your husband loved"
II shah send the two girls back to school
for the six weeks Of this term" she re-
sumed. Barbara was always to have left
IN August, but I shall keep Marjory at
I am sure II will be better for her.
Undoubtedly. there h such Q gap bstween
her and the sisters on either side. The
present agent seems Trustworthy. and en-
your husbands confidence. I think.
Lady BsIlairs. there 10 no need to make
many alterations: I should let things 70 on
Just the same"
She shivered slightly.
They will never be the same again.
A few more remarks were exchanged, and
then Mr.. Baxter said eood-by, and the dog
cart came round to take him to the sta
ton. He would have been amazed could
have seen Lady Beilairs the moment the
door had closed on him.. She locked her
white hands n%ervousiy together. and one
word escaped her. with . sort Of choked
Safer
She went to the window. and -tood there
til the lawyer had driven on. Then a look
'f inexpressibie relief shohe In. her eyes.
He knows nothing. suspects nothing.
lack. who told Mr.. Baxter almost every
hing. kept back Just this"
She exulted In her security, in the fact
nat the existence Of the little packet she
had taken from her husbands desk was
Known only to herself. She had forgotten
hat Of all promises those given to the dead |
'hould be sacred. II never crossed her |
mind that q sore punishment would surely
all on her for her treachery to the man |
.hc had loved her more than life.
Miss Bellairs and her sister went back |
o Bournemouth. the nursery children came
lone. and the mother tried to an the blank
n her life by pettins them: but three |
under seven could not make IN for !
he husband she had lost.
Lady Bellaifs found herself regrettine her !
on-her bunny Loys-more and more every
She dared not think Of her husband. 1
he was still angry with him for the secret
70 had told her on his ~deathbed: but she
ould him Of Logs with no panx Of re-
morse. h had never failed In love and
.a- A. A. L