The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-02

OOR LllNS! FOOT
O~ ~ Beatrice heard these
words in her ear, but
d but they seemed to come
from some one long
way off. They were not
uttered sympathetically, but rather
In a. dry, matter of-fact tone. And in
the pause which followed she recov-
cred herself sufficiently to look up
and to note that Lord Catherington
was staring at her intently, and
frowning as he did SO. And her
guilty conscience at once made her
jump to the conclusion that he sus-
pected her. But even as this thought
filled her with dread, and caused her
already pale cheeks to blanch still fur
Their, ne drew himself up, and, turning
from her to Ermyntrude, held out his
hand.
Come here. little one" said he,
with such an air. Of sternness that
Beatrice expected her child to turn
from him in alright. But she did
not. After looking at him shyly for a
few moments, she made a hesitating
step toward him, and then, stopping
short, as he threw himself again in
the chair from which he had risen,
50 as to be nearer to her level, she
stretched up one tiny hand until it al
most touched the long, struggling
growth Of hair which made him look
SO, different from the ordinary we'll
groomed and clean-shaven man Of
every day, and said, wonderingly:
dot a beard! Funny beard"
Lord Catherington laughed, not ex-
actly mirthfully, but as if rather
pleased at her ingenious greeting.
Yes, I've got a beard, little one.
Frlghtens you, eh?"
A pause, and then she shook her
head.
"No-no fightened," she said,
stoutly. Beard no hurt Ermyn!"
He laughed again, and stood up,
turning to the mantelpiece so sud-
denly that Beatrice, standing helpless
and guilty before him. wondered
whether the tears had sprung to his
eyes. There was a little pause, and
the child. rather nonplussed by this
abrupt termination to the CONVERSE
ton, looked up hesitatingly at her
mother.
Mono frightened, no." she re-
peated, with ever SO slight culver in
the words.
Her mother snatched her up, and
holding her tightly to her breast, flew
towards the door, resolved to leave
the hotel that very moment, to purge
herself thus from her falsehood and
the new difficulties into which her
own rashness had plunged her.
But she had reckoned without her
host Something in her manner APP
peared to have alarmed or puzzled
Lord Catherington, for he strobe
across the room after her, laid q
strong hand upon her shoulder, and
said, peremptorily:
Where are you going?"
Beatrice shivered under his touch.
II don't know" stammered she
you don't know" repeated Lore
Catherington, raising his voice angrily
Then, If you don't know where
you're going, leave the child will
me-"
With starting eyes Beatrice turned
slowly towards him. She must con
fess, must get her child away. How
could she, for a single moment, hav
contemplated the possibility Of deny
ing her own maternity, Of giving an
other power over her baby?
"I-I--" she began, trembling s.
much that she could scarcely max
her voice loud enough to be heard
II have something to tell you. 70,
don't-you WON'T"
AS she paused, struggling to fin
exactly the right words to use-word
which should open his eyes to tn
facts without bringing down upon her
self his wrath, which she dreaded t
do-he suddenly laid hands upo
Ermyntrude and took her into hi
own arms.