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

drew d long DIedlIl, Dul
met this threat at first in dead
silence. Then, before she could re-
cover herself, her attention was d.
rected by the gentle pulling of her
little one at her dress.
Take me up 'tairs, Bee. Me no
yike yady!'
Happily this speech, instead Of
making Rosa angry, diverted her and
made her burst out laughing. Per-
haps, also, these baby words made her
suddenly conscious that the child her
self might prove the innocent means
Of defeating her plans.
For if Erympn was obstinately to
refuse to make friends with her there
would be head shakings and mutter-
| ings which would reach Lord Cath
ington's ears. People would say that,
whether or not it's a wise child that
knows it's own father it's a very
strange one that doesn't know it's own
mother after an absence Of only few
| weeks.
SO she sat down on the end of the
couch, and again held out a coaxing
hand toward the child, saying at the
same time to Beatrice:
Come, you'd better persuade her
to come to me. After all, it's you
Not I. I've only slipped into to- the
situation you appointed for me. She
calls you Bee; who taught her to do
that? You, I suppose?"
Beatrice did not know what to say
With faint, hesitating movement
she tried to turn Ermyns face to-
wards Rosa, and then she bent down
and whispered in a hoarse voice:
lady won't hurt you. Hold out you,
hand prettily, like a good girl"
The baby shook her head and re.
belled, but after a little coaxing, con.
80 l,~ IL l. e
brief moment Then, above her little
flaxen head, the eyes of the two WON.
en- met. And something in those Of
Rose moved Beatrice, and caused hel
to say quickly:
Don't think I'm not ashamed O.
myself: Don't think I'm happy il
what I've done. wanted you to un
! mask me last night I wanted you t,
do what 1 didn't dare to do myself
For he loves the child. That's tn
heart breaking part Of it," and he
voice fell to an earnest whisper. III
was so easily deceived, so ready t,
take her, to cherish her as his own"
She had more to say, but her speecl
became choked, unintelligible, and sh
broke down, only by a great effor
7 keeping back the tears. Ermyn, mucl
puzzled by all this, tried to climb int
her lap, and patted her hand, sayin
earnestly:
s Rosa was half-scornfully amused b
= the child's little ways, but she did nc
: lose sight of the matter in hand.
You blow hot and cold with tn
= same BREATH" said she. you TAX
r elaborate pains to keep up this decer
: you ask me how I'm going to keep u
d the farce. Now, the farce is your
4 not mine. Do you think I'm going t
q play into your hands without any &C
4 vantage to myself? To let you 6
- on worming your way into my hus
), bands heart, so that he will divorc
me to make you Lady Catherington
;. Absurd! Absurd"
;, The tears. long kept back, spran
q suddenly to Beatrices eyes.
=. THAT would never happen" sr
q said in a low voice.
a "Oh, but it would; it would! Q
g you think have no eyes? He's fon
the time when he was fond of me.
y don't pretend it's surprising he sho.,'
re have lost all feeling for me. 1 don
E.. pretend it's unnatural under the CT
le cumstances. What + say is that T.
" not going to give up my rights just
l. put into my place woman who d.
d serves it no better than T do.'
II IF you knew, if you only knew no
= feel, you'd know there's no questic
"A of that" said Beatrice, earnestl
~ Again and again already I've tried
=. confess, but I'm too weak to do
:, and Tn always hoping for someone
~ do it for me. I think could bear h
d anger, his contempt even, for after e
II I know I've deserved it, and his xii
words stab me. But it's the thong
Id of his disappointment if he were
ar find out now that the child's not h
to that makes me STOP"
ut Very WE'LL" retorted Rosa, cool
'Since you do stop, and since you a