Beulah - Page 234/348

She held out her hands entreatingly; but he took no notice of the

movement, and, hurrying by, left the house. For a moment Beulah

bowed her head and sobbed; then she brushed the tears from her

cheek, and the black brows met in a heavy frown. True, she had not

expected much else, yet she felt bitterly grieved, and it was many

months are she ceased to remember the pain of this interview;

notwithstanding the contempt she could not avoid feeling for his

weakness.

The Grahams all accompanied Eugene, and, after the marriage, went

North for the summer. A handsome house was erected near Mr. Graham's

residence, and in the fall the young people were to take possession

of it. Mr. Lockhart rallied sufficiently to be removed to his home

"up the country," and, save Dr. Asbury's family, Beulah saw no one

but Clara and her pupils. With July came the close of the session,

and the young teacher was free again. One afternoon she put on her

bonnet and walked to a distant section of the town to inquire after

Kate Ellison (one of her assistant teachers), who, she happened to

hear, was quite ill. She found her even worse than she had expected,

and, on offering her services to watch over the sick girl, was

anxiously requested to remain with her during the night. She

dispatched a message to Mrs. Hoyt, cheerfully laid aside her bonnet,

and took a seat near the sufferer, while the infirm mother retired

to rest. The family were very poor, and almost entirely dependent on

Kate's salary for a support. The house was small arid comfortless;

the scanty furniture of the plainest kind. About dusk Beulah left

her charge in a sound sleep, and, cautiously opening the blinds,

seated herself on the window sill. The solitary candle on the table

gave but a dim light, and she sat for a long time looking out into

the street and up at the quiet, clear sky. A buggy drew up beneath

the window--she supposed it was the family physician. Mrs. Ellison

had not mentioned his coming, but of course it must be a physician,

and sure enough there was a knock at the door. She straightened one

or two chairs, picked up some articles of clothing scattered about

the floor, and opened the door.

She knew not what doctor Mrs. Ellison employed, and, as her guardian

entered, she drew back with a start of surprise. She had not seen

him since the morning of Pauline's marriage, five months before, and

then he had not noticed her. Now he stopped suddenly, looked at her

a moment, and said, as if much chagrined: "What are you doing here, Beulah?"