The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-23
THE MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL.

But then, as she turned away from |
the window, the weight of her own
sin fell upon her heart again, and she
remembered that, at that very mo-
ment, she might, for all she knew, be
under the very same roof with the
mailman who wanted to carry off her
child.
The day nursery, which opened out
of her bedroom and Ermyn's, was in
the west wing, and there were two
steps up to the door leading from the
one room to the other The view from
the window was partly blocked by the
branches of one of the cedars, and it
was rather a desolate place, Beatrice
thought. with it's shabby carpet and
high fender, it's damaged old rocking
horse on which dead and gone genera
tons had sat, and it's papering Of pic
lures from newspapers of half a CEN
fury before.
The colors had faded, too, or had
been washed out from the drapertes
Of printed cotton; and the swing from
the beam in the middle had the same
worn-out look as the rest of the room.
Ernyn took a dislike to the apart
ment at once, and turned to bury her
face in her mothers gown after the
first glance.
ME go down 'tairs to doddie. Me
no yike dis woom," she observed, with
decision.
And Mrs Bream, who to Beatrice's
CONSERVATION at once assumed an au-
thority with the young lady superior
to that of the governess, insisted upon
taking off the child's outdoor clothes
and leading her downstairs.
Bee come too," said Ermyn, who
had by this time been taught to give
Beatrice this name instead of that of
''mammie" Of course, she sometimes
forgot and reverted to the old appella-
ton; but Beatrice was sensible that
this was an important matter, and
now that she was afraid to go away
with her child it became doubly nee
essary to be discreet, and to do moth
ing to excite the gossip OF the house
hold.
Mrs. Dream proved to have consid-
cradle powers of persuasion. To the
child's suggestion she said, coaxing-
ly: mo, no, Miss Ermyn, let Mrs.
Froyle have time to take her bonnet
off, while you come down and see
where I keep the sweeties. I've got a
whole cupboardful to show you.
Doodle too?"
And the child,s voice repeating this
question was the last sound Beatrice
| heard as the housekeeper and the
baby went downstairs.
She sat alone, in a sort Of frenzy of
| terror, afraid to excite suspicion OF
| her own relationship to Erymn If she
appeared too solicitous, yet nervous,
| on the other hand, lest the mad artist
| should be about the house somewhere
watching for an opportunity OF steal
ing her child, until she was startled
! by a knock at the door, and a message
from Lord Catherington to the effect
that he would be glad if she would
| sneak with him in the study.
| Following the maid who brought
the request, Beatrice went downstairs
and along a passage which led out
Of the hall to the west wing. Here
| in a low-ceilinged, shabby room, with
| hunting trophies on the walls be.
| tween the shelves full Of shabby old
books, Beatrice found the master OF
the house sitting before a heavy, old
| fashioned bureau, in the drawers Of
which he was rummaging with impa'
tent fingers.
"Sit down please Mrs. Froyle,' sait
he, so sharply that her heart leapet
to her mouth, and she wondered VIVA
she was going to hear.
After few moments, during wh1cf
he went on with his occupation with
out another word, he turned his chat
abruptly round and faced her.
Its true, it's true-what that DO,
said at the station. One of the win
dows was forced last night, passag
window in the wing and some draw
ers in this room, some in the blu
reau, and some in that secretaire be
hind you, were forced OPEN"
"And-was anything stolen?' aske'
Beatrice, in a whisper.
THAT I can't tell. That's VIVA
makes me uneasy. No money is KEEP
here. Nobody can have supposed tina
there would be any money left in tn
furniture of shut-up house. So tina
+ this was no common burglary, Ir
: sure. Now. I don't want you to be I'm
duly nervous, yet can't help thinkin
this action does look like the work G
our artist friend, and it behooves u
, to be careful what were abou
Where's the child ?'-
1.-The housekeeper took-took he
; away" stammered Beatrice, risin
y as she spoke.
: But he made a gesture to her to S
= down again.
That's all right. You can alway
trust her with Mrs. Bream, as 20
, could trust her with me or with you1
- self. But you are to leave her with n
9 one else, not even with the old SCI
. wants, remember that. I've had tn
= place searched. I've searched it M!
E self. AS far as I can find out there
. no one in it who ought not to be Their
= But. in the face Of the fact that some
one certainly did get in, upon SON
= mysterious errand, we are bound to
: careful"
4 Have you found out anythir
about the appearance of the ma
who was seen about?' asked Beatric
] trying to keep her voice steady.
"One can't get much out Of them
answered he, with frown. But TT
4 one girl who owns to have seen hi
& says he was a wild and ragged-look1r
person. That goes far to confirm OIL
fears, doesn't it?'
And what do you think he wanted
4 What do you think he was lookir
\ for? %
Papers bearing upon the posiuo
Of my child and of the woman ma
ried," said he. promptly. AT leas
a one can only suppose so. The man
q not a common thief. He wanted notl
ing from me or he could have had
4 1t looks ugly, very ugly. I must ha'
4 the place watched. But don't be t.
4 anxious" he went on, in kindll
a tone, as he rose, and noted the sick
pallor of the young widows cheeks.
felt bound to tell you all I know, lit
as as it amounts to. But 1t is only to S
your mind at rest as to my being
! the alert, and to put you on yo
guard about Ermyn. Don't take n
a out beyond the grounds; nobody b
q myself is to do that. And you unde
Y stand that if the man were perfect
q sane I should not take such preca
n lions, but the freaks of man with
d tile loose are unaccountable and m
a he 1anperO1ls, Now go and have yO