The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-09
CHAPTER IV.-Continued.


knew the truth, knew that
the wretched mother had
neglected her poor babe, abandoned
1t with as little conjunction as she
had abandoned her sick husband.
Lord Catherington, after a little
pause, went on again:
I'm glad I didn't know this sooner,
or my wife would have thought me
too yielding, and would have pre-
sumed upon the fact"
you mean she would have made
you forgive herr" suggested Beatrice,
in g. strangled voice, afraid Of offend
ing him by remaining too long silent.
He laughed harshly.
mo-" he said sharply. II wish only
to be just; I can't forgive"
Beatrice trembled. He saw this,
and laughed.
'I'm frightening you" said he.
Let us change this most unpleasant
subject. Tell me how you have passed
the time since I went away"
I'VE only went out once" said Bea-
And then she hestated. She wanted
to tell him about the mysterious man,
and did not know how to begin the
"Well. why did you go out only
once2"
"We-we were followed by a
strange man, a man who didn't beg,
but who looked almost like beggar.
AnQ-duu l HOuSlt ll6 lOOhcd do IL LC
wanted to speak to me, and-well, I
got frightened"
"Frightened by beggar Why, I
thought you had more pluck, Mrs.
Froyle. You had only to speak to the
first body you came to, and"
"a policeman did speak to him yes
terday afternoon" said Beatrice, glad
of this opening, latter the man had
loitered about the square for three
days, and had been to the house in
curing for you"
For me, eh?'
Yes. II wanted you to know
about 1t. I don't know who he was;
but tho he was 80 miserably dressed,
there was som ething about him which
showed that he was not common
tramp, or anything of that sort; and
and, l wanted you to know that he was
lettering about" she wound UP, lame
ly.
He looked at her keenly.
ut strikes me. madam" said he at
last, that you know a little more
about the man than you pretend"
Indeed, indeed do not" said she
earnestly. "Only-the truth is, after
what you told me, about-about your
nephew, you know"
"Geoffrey! Poor Goeff's soni HeC
never come Sinking about In thai
wayl" cried the viscount, puzzled, bu
not in the least put out by the sug
gestlon. However. I'll make in
qulrleS OF inc people mere, anu IL liz
comes to the square again I'll have
him in
Would you dare?" said Beatrice.
Rather! Take the bull by the
horns; it's always the best way. If i
were young Geoff or anyone claiming
to be he, we'd have some rare fur
hunting the truth to earth"
Beatrice stared. It was the oddes
way she could imagine Of receiving
the news Of q possible claimant to {
mans title and fortune. Lord Gather
inton laughed at her surprised face.
when you've knocked about the
world as long as I have" said he
you'll understand how easily one
takes everything-ups and downs, sen
satlons and adventures of all sorts
Not that think your ragged friend i
anything more than some poor fellow
who wants subscription to pay 70
his wlfe's funeral-ln the nearest pub
Toulouse. I get dozens Of that sort o
food for the philanthropists."
Beatrice said nothing. She knew
that, whoever the mysterious MAJ
might be, he was not the common i'm
poster Lord Catherington described
But he troubled his head so littl
about 1t that the next moment he wa
asking her to dine with him that even
ing; and, tho with ever-increasin
qualms, she assented.
She knew very we'll that these 1ittl
unconventional but cosy dinners in tn
library HluSL dlreduy nave given IT'S
to good deal Of gossip in the house
hold, putting the climax as they did t
the new masters Bohemian ways.
But IN the situation in which sh
found herself, she cOnsoled herself b
saying that it would only be for q fe,
days more, and that, in the meantime
she might just as we'll, since she ha
begun In that way, go on with a Gus
tom which was as pleasant to her a
It evidently was to Lord Catheringto
himself
SO once more they dined in tn
library, which appeared to be tn
only one Of the many splendid recel
tion-rooms which the viscount eve
used. And little Ermyn sat in a
armchair with her doll and a piece
sponge cake to play propriety and t
keep in countenance the unconver
tional repast.
And when the table was cleare
away, In the usual Aladdin-like fast
ion, the two elders drew their chat
to the .hearthrug, and Beatrit
listened while Lord Catheringtc
talked, and the child went to sleep
her arms.
The next day was Sunday, and
very wet day. Lord Catherington il
church in cab, rather, she though
for the pleasure Of having the chi
all to himself for a little while thu
because he was specially anxious f
the BONefNeSS 10 respect the COnVe
tons.
And the next day to that was Il
dreaded Monday on which Beatri
had to pay her second visit to her la
husbands aunt
She told Lord Catherington wi
did not know Miss Froyle, that 81
had to call upon her. He said
wondered why she thought it wor
while to dance attendance upon
ill-tempered old woman, when s.
had pleasanter ways of amusing he
self at home.
But she nervously insisted that s
was bound to go, and as the wealth
had changed for the better. she
forth on foot for the dingy little hou
at Brompton.
Her visit, however, was to be
brighter experience than 1t had be
on the previous occasion. She fou
another visitor in the little DRAWN
room, where q fire had been lightt
and where Miss Froyle, in a gray s
dress which was evidently a robe
state, was dispensing buttered MI
fins to a tall, handsome young m
whom, by q family likeness to /
husband and his aunt, Beatrice
stantly guessed to be Froyle.
Miss Froyle seemed to be i'll pleas
at this meeting, for she looked S,
prised, pinched up her lips and S;
coldly that she had not expected M
Froyle 80 soon.
"Rut Won told me to come on Nc