The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-06
Gle Rove Chat never Dies
the Marsh"" Inn by the
ALI Rights Reserved.

"Nobody's going to tease you. no.
body's going to worry you with any
more questions. It was no fault Of
yours, I'm sure"
And when she looked up again,
Beatrice found that the two gentlemen
had left the ROOM, and that she was
alone with her own child once more. |
One thought only was in her mind
that of flight Whatever might be the
result of the doctors Investigations,
they could only have the effect of dis
crediting her with Lord Catherington.
If he found out the truth, which did
not now seem probable, no words of
his would be strong enough to con-
denim her deceit. If. on the other
hand, he and the doctor believed that
the dead baby was hers, what sort of
shameful story about herself must
they not imagine, to account for her
apparent callous neglect Of her child?
Certainly the viscount, who already
cherished his supposed daughter as the
apple Of his eye, would never tolerate
such a wicked woman as he must be-
lieve her to be near the person of the
little girl whom he believed to be his
own.
She suddenly rose to her feet,
snatched up Ermyn, whom the action
awakened, and was about to leave the
room, with the intention Of rushing
out Of the house without further de-
lay, hatless and without a cloak her
self, when she heard someone moving
about in the hall.
Ermyn's outdoor things were lying
on chair, where the viscount had
thrown them on taking them off. She
,, had scarcely taken up the little hood
and pelisse, when Lord Catherington
came in again.
She dropped the things hastily,
afraid Of her intention being discov-
| cred. Her agitated face and uncer-
tain manner betrayed the emotion
from which she was suffering. His
| face and manner, on the other hand,
had recovered their habitual serenity,
| and without any reference to the
recent scene, he said, looking at the
baby:
IT think beds the best place, Mrs.
Froyle, don't you, for such very sleepy
heads
"'Ere dollie?" said Ermyn, with a
sudden remem brance that she had
been cheated out Of promised pleas
ure.
"wheres dollie? Oh, OIL Well,
dollie's asleep now, you know. All
good dollies and good girls are in bed
by this time. You come down here
tomorrow morning and I'll take you
to see her. Come, give me kiss, and
say Night, night and toddle upstairs.
vi Slltl1 Co4 youS GIL
les, 90 cally Ermyn,' said she, with
a nod of command.
And so, while Beatrice tremblingly
picked up the little outdoor garments
and meekly followed. Lord Gathering
ton hoisted the child on his shoulder
and carried her UP to the door Of the
nursery, singing John PEEL as he
went, with an air of much content
ment and good humor.
) He put the child down gently on her
feet at the door, and turning held out
his hand to Beatrice, who, humbled,
and ashamed, guilty. grateful and re-
morseful. was lingering behind.
She came slowly up the remaining
. stairs and said Goodnight" without
: looking up.
| There was such q solemn look upon
her face that Lord Catherington said
: well, anything the matter? Any
: thing fresh, mean?"
She must confess, she must. Nc
other way Of escape possible. So she
) snatched UP little Ermyntrude in hel
| arms, as II the child were a KIND
, of bulwark to defend her, and said
desperately:
Eyes, there's something very seri
, GUS the matter, and what you'll say
/ I don't know. have something to tel
you-something to confess"
' But before she could get further
: Lord Catherington backed a few steps
E away, as if in horror, and said:
2 "No, no! No confessions, no ex
9 plantations, please. They're horribl,
I things for everybody-for the person
r who explains, and the one VINO is ex
T planned to-"
And as he spoke he cast a nervous
;. glance down the staircase, as If to as
r certain whether any of the servants
were about.
v But Beatrice persisted. She wa
: strung up to 1t now, and meant to 81
9 on in spite of everything.
:, '"They must be made sometimes
9 tho" said she firmly. Lord Gathering
would think SO i'll of me that insteat
:. of treating me as you are doing yol
t wouldn't be able to find words to de
u scribe what you thought of me.
Q But he persisted on his side, In TAX
e ing things airily, altho he did not tax
: the extreme course of running ava,
It from her.
n very likely. Tn never good han,
at finding words for anything. But
r may just tell you this, that whateve
9 you might have done I should fin.
n some extenuattng circumstances, Tn
!: quite sure"
o .But you wouldn't, you couldn't,
r said she, earnestly, while Ermyn, puz
d zled by the agitation of her mother
l. laid soft and sleepy little hand ca
d ressingly on her cheek. Just listen.
d It'd rather not"
''You must-you shall. You thin
Z me good, don't you? You think pr
n a woman to be sympathized with, con
r soled, treated kindly?"
d I'm sure you're good. And thin
l. all women ought to be treated kindly,
n was the prompt reply.
It came SO quickly so evidentl