The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-14

Then, while the pseudo Lady Cath
erington was examining silks and rib
| bons, Beatrice, who sat behind her
with Ermyn on her knee, noticed that
one of the two ladies whom she did
| not know had her eyes fixed upon the
child. And then. Mrs. birmingham
came across, and after making sure
| that Rosa was too much occupied to
see or hear her, sat down in the chair
behind Beatrice, and said:
$50 you've had an addition to your
I don't want to be thought a scandal
monger, but is that really Lady Cath
erington, and the child's mother?"
Beatrice was thoroly perplexed.
Here was a chance, on the one hand,
| Of silencing the tongue of scandal
and by so doing of helping to carry
out Lord Catherington's instructions.
On the other hand, she began to see
that if Rosa went on as she had be-
gun, she would soon come to the end
of her tether and awaken more
doubts about herself than could pos
sibly be satisfied. s
"She-she says so. Lord Gather
ington was there when she came. y
stammered Beatrice at last.
But he left the same evening, SC
I'm told?" persisted Mrs. birmingham
with watchful eyes upon her face.
Eyes. I don't think they got or
very we'll together" murmured poor
Beatrice.
"Evidently not. She doesn't look
quite the sort of person, indeed, whom
Stone Court, does she ?''
REALLY, don't care to discuss these
things. Remember my position
said Beatrice, who was crimson, and
who grew suddenly very uncomforta.
BILE on perceiving that Rosa's atten.
ton had at last been attracted by Mrs
Huringham's descent upon the gov
erness.
"Of course, of course. But 1t is {
great pity, for the zchild's sake. AND
I hope there's nothing in the stor!
that's got about that live nephew
pute the title?" went on Mrs. Hurting
? ham in louder tone. .
Indeed, you seem to know mucl
more about the affairs of Stone Cour
than 1 do!" said Beatrice, plucking vi
little spirit under this inf1iction.
MY dear Mrs. Froyle, don't b
, cross. You forget that I was one o
r the first to welcome Lard Gathering
, }ton back, and surely you must expec
= people who've known the family from
childhood to be interested in them
q I'm not the only person who is curiou
! I assure you"
: An instinct made Beatrice ask sud
+ denly:
:, '"The lady with the white hair? or
. that's Lady Froyle."
: Beatrice said not another WORD
: She could only bend her head i
!. acknowledgements of Mrs. Hurting
:. =. of being addressed by the doubtf1
I viscountess; hastily withdrew to rejoi
: her companion at the opposite cour
I ter.
g, Beatrice felt that her arms wer
2 trembling as she lifted Errnyn up an
:, hurried with her out Of the sho]
. For there was something in the stead
y gaze which. Lady Froyle had directe
:, upon the child which made her wor
= der whether she guessed the truth
- !. that she was looking at the daughtt
- Of her own son.
!. Rosa got into the carriage In feve
:, of indignation at what she considers
II the slight put upon herself by Bea
e rice's confidential conversation wit
~ more than she was intended to hea
y and was burning with curiosity.
= who was that woman" she aske
- sharply, as soon as Beatrice had r.
= surned her modest place with her BAG
u to the horses.
II IA Mrs. birmingham. She lives n
= far from Stone Court and is one Of tt
u great ladies of the place."
- Tier manners are not very gres
~ anyhow" retorted Rosa, shortly. Isl
= could see you were with me. 81
" ought to have been introduced to me
ne Beatrice thought it better to NAL
"a no answer to this suggestion. Ro
OF went on with scrutinizing look:
10 And what was that you were ga,
ing about a nephew 2"
ID Beatrice looked at her quickly. 81
OF thought there could be no harm
letting her know of the danger the
he was that Lord Catherinetbn wou
r. have to give up his title.
W Haven't you heard" said sh
at Didn't the lawyer tell you that the
is claimant to the title, a young ms