The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-06-11

and looked at her with an expression
of arch mischief which made her
blush.
You mustn't let Mrs. F'royle talk
much" said Lady Froyle, in q rather i
chilly tone. she Is not very strong
yet. and the doctor says excitement |
isn't good for her"
exciting for her, aunt" retorted the ir-
repressible youth, with another Of
those wicked chances which made Bea-
trice feel as II she We're sitting on
thorns. Were very old friends, Mrs.
Froyle and I. 1 NET IN London. you
you never hear from Aunt Melita,
Mrs. Froyle ?' he continued, mischiev-
ously.
mo, Of course not" replied Bea-
trice, tartly, knowing well the diatribes
against her which Miss Froyle must
after meeting her in Lord Gathering
tons phaeton. "She doesn't like me.
You must know that.
t'Well, her tastes and mine are usu-
ally as opposite as the poles" retorted
the unblushing Jack, as he at length
induced Errnyn to give him a hand to
shake-of course, the left one.
Lady Froyle laughed uneasily.
What an absurd fellow you are,
Jack!" she said. I'm sure Mrs.
Froyle would rather you came with
me to see after the plants for the din.
ing her with your stupid talk!'
mot bit of it, aunt; shall cheer
her up. When you come back from
feeding the plants, you'll see she will
look as bright as a May day. I'm a
great hand at cheering invalids,
really!''
So, much to her own vexation, for
she had an inkling Of the fact that
these two had some confidential re-
marks to exchange, Lady Froyle had
to be content with Ermyn as a COM
panion, and Jack and Beatrice were
left alone together.
How do you get on with the old
| lady?" said he at once. Better than
with the, other one, hope, for your
sake ?"
"she's very kind said Beatrice,
nervously.
She dreaded the sort Of twitting
which she would have to submit to
from the young ne'er-do-weel, whom
she had snubbed SO haughtily on their
| last meeting. Jack, indeed, was brinn-
ming over with the desire to be very
confidential with the lady whom, in
his private thoughts, and perhaps to
one or two intimate friends, he desig-
mated 1.-The tricky little widow
you have the luck of falling in with
| kind people, haven't you?" said he,
rather dryly, she thought. II remem-
Der you told me, the last time I met
you, that Lord Catherington was the
kindest, the sweetest, the best, the
most generous of men,
$50 he is" said Beatrice, with sud-
den heat.
TIN not disputing that for mo-
ment," said Jack; rather taken aback
by the briskness of her retort. and
he has the additional advantage, from
a 1ady's point Of view, of being very
unfortunate"
81 know, I know" almost sobbed
she. Don't talk about him, please.
And don't pretend you don't know
what did-to help to make him mis-
cradle. OF course you know it; but
you must know, too that I've been un-
happy about it ever since"
Jack who admired Beatrice very
much, and who had begun with little
malice on Lord Catheringtons ac-
count, was shocked and remorsefu]
on finding how seriously she took, the
matter. -..
| Indeed, I didn't mean that!" said
heard something about it, but know
how you were. placed, and hurried
into it, and hope you believe thai
I should never have alluded to that
that never dreamt you would
Then what did you mean to allude
| TO r. asked she, with spirit.
''WeL, I believe I felt a little NEAR
jealousy of him and in the interest O.
you take in him. admitted Jack, hal
laughing, half ashamed.
Beatrice did not smile. She sa
looking steadily before her, and the1
asked, suddenly:
) will you make amends then? Tel
me where he is, and if he is WE'LL"
Il don't know where he is, and
don'taknow how he is" said Jack, ear
nestly,' cor, indeed, I would tell you a
once. Butt know things look yer,
serious for him, snd that he's not a
Stone Court Or at his London house,
What do you mean?"
; ooh, don't look frightened. I know
Enothing; but this; there's another mai
who claims to be Lord Catherington-
: I suppose you have heard Of him {?
She nodded. well, he's in possession
at Stone Court
, Hes there, really there?" aske
, Beatrice, incredulously.
She had never believed it could real
l ly come to that.
: He's really and truly there. He ar
, rived there two days ago with a friend
and they turned out Lady Gathering
ton-'
v "Ah!"
/: well, the lady who calls herself 81
e And the result is universal consterna
t. ton and disnay among the servants
, who don't know whether to go or
q stay, Or who's their master, or if the
have one. I met an old gossip of tn
neighborhood, a Mrs. Birmingham
ooh, I know her!" put in Beatrice
II came down from town in tn
. same carriage with her, and she CAV
= me a most vivid picture Of affair
there. I daresay it was trifle highl
- colored, but I don't doubt the mai
- outline is correct enough"
:. "And-the man who attacked Lor
II Catherington-the lunatic?"
Nothing has been seen of him, an
O that fact makes everybody rattle
e nervous. And they think Lord Catf
d erington ought to have shown fgh
It and not have simply disappeared an
e left the field to this nephew Of hi
E, genuine or not
d aren't they sure he is genuin
10 then? Would he have dared to CON
down if he hadn't been?"
II Don't know! Nobody know
d Everybody's asking questions, and n,
" body can find any answers. What
u the matter ?''
Il, Beatrice had got UP and was pacir
l; UP and down the room. She turne
u upon him.
n cts horrible, horrible" said sh
with passion in her eyes and voice, "
ly think of his being away, where Oh
IS can't get at him, and Of this mailman
le being abroad, who may attack hi
N again nerhana murder him this finn