The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-07

mark, seemed, Beatrice thought to
prove that she guessed something was
wrong. She must be prepared, there
fore, to be denounced as an inlpostor,
a betrayer of trust, when she present
mother the child Who was not hers.
Often as she had wished for the
strength or the opportunity to make
confession of her wrong-doing. Be-
atrice, now that discovery was at
hand, felt a misery and a reluctance
so deep as to be almost overpowering.
| It was the thought of having to
meet the eyes of Lord aCtherington,
the man whom she trusted, respected
and admired SO greatly, of having to
meet his reproaches, his anger, above
all, his disappointment, that cut her
to the quick and made her wish for
any way Of escape, however painful.
But there was none. She took two
of three turns, in crazy state of in
room where little Ermyn lay peace
fully sleeping. Then she heard the
drawing-room door open and the
voice of Rosa, speaking impatiently.
Afraid that she would come up
stairs, and that there would be a
scene of alteration within hearing of
the maid, who was watching in the
next room, Beatrice took the little one
out of her cot, wrapped her In
couple of big white wooden shawls.
4 Reused but for a moment, Ermyn
opened her eyes sleepily, n1urmured
something unintelligible, and cuddled
to sleep again against her mothers
breast.
Before she reached the bottom stair,
Beatrice saw Rosa standing in the
drawing-room doorway, waiting. But
the widow would let her see nothing
yet. Since the discovery must take
place, it should be in Lord Gathering
. toms presence. One revelation should
finish the matter. AS on all occasions
when a definite decision had been
reached as to a aplanOf daring action.
,, Beatrice seemed very calm as she re-
entered the drawing-room and adj
vanced until she was within few
, feet OF Lord Catherington. Then, as
> Rosa followed her she turned to come
pulled down the shawl far enough for
her to get perfect view Of the sleep
: ing baby's face.
-, Rosa rushed forward, hung over the
child, then, STOPPING suddenly. put her
arms round the little one and kissed
her passionately on the forehead and
l cheeks.
l my little one! My darling!" she
whispered, in a broken voice, full Of
, that strange quality which had so
: moved Beatrice before, but which she
= now saw to be merely an affectation
and a, physical trick. For that she
could really suppose this child to be
her own was surely impossible.
, A low cry Of dismay escaped from
Beatrice's lips as. by a dexterous
movement taking her by surprise,
Rosa snatched the child from her
:, arms and carried her boldly UP to
+ Lord Catherington.
: Now" she cried, holding to her
breast the child, who was by this time
| OK r. mo q 4
: dare. If I go, she goes with me. Ill
: not leave my darling again"
r Beatrice was for a moment struck
a dumb by the boldness of this maneu-
J, yer. She could have no doubt now as
t to the part Rosa meant to play, and
!, in CONSERVATION she saw that she had
}. brought upon herself a third claimant
h to her child, and the most dangerous
one of all. Recovering herself in a
q few moments, she rushed towards
Rosa. crying:
q mo, MOI She's not your child; you
;. know it,
. Reused from sleep by the rapid
d movements and the excited voices,
poor little Ermyn had begun to cry
n Justify. Lord Catherington thrust
:, himself between the two women, and
0 demanded silence from them both.
Rosa, however, would not heed his
3, words.
: IT won't be quiet, can't be quiet,
h when I'm denied my rights In my own
I" baby. Listen to that woman! How
r can she say the child's not mine Look
d at her! Look at her yourself. She
l. has my blue eyes. Whether Robert
1t Burnet can claim to be her father, or
lyou, you can have no doubt that I'm
her mother. And Til not give her up
- again to anybody
lei And she began to walk up and
down, singing to the child and rock
" ing her in her arms, in loud defiance.
Beatrice was overpowered by a hor.
t. rib}e sense Of her own helplessness
l. by consciousness that she had
q, brought this upon herself by her owr
misdeed. Instead of making any more
loud protestations, she covered b.
lp Lord Catherington's side, and, clasp
10 ing her hands, whispered in implor
Sej ing tones:
orr you won't let her keep her
q You'll make her give her back to me
re Won't you? Won't you? ?"
E. To be continued next Saturday.