The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-28
CHAPTER XI.-Continued.

very calm, and inwardly in tumult
of unhappy feelings.
For this woman had stod by her'
had been kind to Ermyn, and Beatrlce
had looked upon her as the one true
and faithful ally on which she could
depend, in case by unhappy ACCIDENT
she were to have to leave her child,
The housekeeper turned to Harvey,
and dismissed her with look.
"Sit down, please, said Beatrlce'
when they were alone.
Even as they took their seats, one
on each side of the fireplace the voices
of the man and woman in the draw
ing-room below-lOud, passionate.
reached their ears. and caused them to
exchange a look.
II don't think you can possibly be
surprised at what Tn going to say,
ma 'am," said Mrs. Bream, with stately
dignity. What is going on now
downstairs is not the sort of thing one
is accustomed to In gentlemens
houses"
Beatrice looked at her steadily
"Do you know what's going on,
them" she asked, simply.
"Of course, don't make 1t my bust-
ness to pry into what doesn't concern
me. But I do know-one can't help
it all the servants are talking about
it-that someone, a stranger, is In the
house. -quarreling with q person VINO
came here calling herself Lady Cath
erington.'
"And you don't think she is Lady
Catherington
az don't know, I'm sure. Without
any wish to be inquisitive, can't help
Knowing that there's something Curl
Gus going on. AS soon as my lady
arrives, my lord goes up to his solicit
ors Now I've lived in noblemen'S
and gentlemen's families all my life,
but I've never yet had to serve a mis-
tress there was a doubt about. And
now it seems, there's even doubt
about my lord Also
ooh, but surely you know that he Is
a Catherington? That It's only a
question whether there's nearer heir
than hep" said Beatrice, earnestly.
Eyes, I know that, And I should
be very sorry to see anyone else take
his place. And if he were to. come
back here himself, I'd stay willingly.
But as it is, feel very uncomfortable
here, with so many doubts to settle. I
don't know whether my master is
Lord Catherington, whether the lady
downstairs is the vicountess, and [
even begin to wonder whether the
little lady there is my lords daughter
at ALL"
Beatrice looked full in the woman's
face. Had those shrewd feminine
eyes penetrated her secret? Or had
the sharp feminine ears caught any
rumors which might have been afloat
in the neigh borhood since that day
when she and her child had come
face to face with Lady Froyle in the
linen-draper's shop? Beatrice had
sometimes wondered whether Lady
Froyle had asked any questions about
the child with the lint-white Froyle
hair; and now she asked herself
whether, thru the freemasonry Of the
servants hall and the housekeeper' s
room, some such questions might not
have come to Mrs. Dreams ears.
Before, however, she could make UP
her mind as to this, and before the
housekeeper could say another word
on her side, there suddenly arose from
the room below such an increased
commotion such clamor of disput-
ing voices, that it was impossible to
pretend not to hear it.
Beatrice rose hastily. rs
II wonder" she said, nervously
clasping and unclasping her hands,
Svhether we ought to so in ana see
see whether she's safe, whether it's
al right"
I'm sure it's more than I should
care to do, to interfere in the mat
ter" said Mrs. Bream, rising also and
speaking with great acidity.
Again the voices reached their ears
and they could make out that the
mans was angry, ferocious, the wom-
ans imploring, entreating.
1--WE must go in" cried Beatrice
and as she spoke she ran across the
floor towards the door.
At the same moment, however, a
little cry came to her ears and made
her stop. Ermyn, reused from SLEEP
by the commotion downstairs, and by
the movement around her, had started
up and was staring at her mother
from her little cot, with face ready
puckered up for a whimper.
In an instant Beatrice forgot her in
tention, and ran with open arms to-
wards the little one, who, before she
reached her, was already weeping
The noise below went on, and Ermyr
chung round her mothers neck, fright
ened and tirnid.
what dat noise, dat big noise
Me frightened. Nanny no go, no."
In vain Beatrice tried to soothe her
in vain did she try to make her lie
down and submit to be tucked up In
the bedclothes. So persistently did the
child refuse, and cling to her mother
that at last Beatrice,s still districated by
the sounds from the drawing-room
but unable either to go herself, or tc
induce Mrs. Dream to go, took the
baby out of her little bed in despera-
! ton, and, wrapping her in her elder
down quilt, carried her to the fireside
z intending to cuddle her off to sleeI
again.
WhimDering, half-soOthed. Beatrice
hung over her, put the little face
against her own, talked soft nonsense
to her, petted, caressed her as only 6
mother can.
And then the housekeeper, who ha6
remained standing there like statue
without uttering a word, suddenly
leant forward and stared into the
young widows face.
you are her mother-you!" she
whispered, sharply. tive suspected il
before, but now I'm sure of IT..
"What-what do you mean?" STAN.
mered Beatrice, struck with terror.
II mean that you can't deceive me
I've seen look of your face in hers
and see in your face, as you hole
her. the look that only comes into {
mothers, real mothers. Mrs
child Of the woman downstairs; she's
your own"
Beatrice was trembling violently
She at once made up her mind tina
she would attempt no further false
hood with this keen-eyed woman. Blu
there was one thing she must try tx
make clear.
'I own it." she said, In low voice
THE child is mine. I passed 1t of
moment when / was in a great diff
Guilty. I think he has no doubt abou
its being his and the child OF thu
woman downstairs. Lady Gathering
ton But she knows the truth
There, now you know 1t, too. I dom
ask you to keep this a secret: know
you will, for the family's sake. TIL,
let it be known yet .
Mrs. Rraain took this cOnfassfoy