Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-11-10
MADELINE.


chair, drawn up in front of the huge
fireplace where blazed the great logs
and faggots; for those were the days
when our modern freplaces, CRATES or
stoves were unknown, and even if
known, would have shocked the ideas
of comfort and plenty hereditary to the
old chateau.
The young chatelaine, despite the
look of perplexity on her face, was GER
tainly pretty picture, as, curled up in
the great arm chair, with feet enCased
in high-heeled slippers, with great Grim
son bows, nesting on tne quaint tapes
try foOtstool; and what with ruffies and
panier, and rare old lace and braids of
hair, she looked not unlike one Ct our
modern bellies; for, after all, fashion,
like history, repeats itself.
"Was there ever q girl with so much
to perplex and to annoy herr" she con-
tirued. "Here am [, young, with a
fair share ofgood looks, boastirg [ dare
not say how many quarters of nobility,
with lands broad and valuable, money
and jewels at command, and yet per
fectly miserable, tOrmented by the
strangest fancies. SuitOrs have | old
and young, rich and poor, and yet l
dare yield myself to none for fear that
my name sr my wealth IS what they
seek, and not myself This all comes
from my being left an orphan. Had
my parents lived, | suppose | should
have been. as soon as | reached the
proper age, presented TO my future hus-
band, and all would have been we'll. [
wonder if / should have had any of
these stupid fancies about love, etc,
that trouble me now? Or, better yet,
had | been born in the valley, [ should
have coquetted with Pierre and Silvain,
listened to all their pretty speeches,
then gone of and married Colin, to
whom my heart had long ago been
given. My face my dover, | should
willingly have been indebted to it for
any lover 1t certainly is very bad, and
what is still worse, see no way to rem
edy the evil !" and the bright young
head bowed down until it rested wear
lily on an arm ofthO chair, with her own
SOFT rounded arm as a pillow. Long
and earnestly she gazed into the bright
embers, then suddenly she started up
with an exclamation of delight. "Ohp'
she cried, II have it at last But hush
even these dumb things must not know
Of it, or it might spoil ALL Nina alone
must be my confident"
Two days afterward, plain carriage,
bearing the Ibervan arms drove quick
lp into the little hamlet of v, q
dependence of the old baroniaI castle
of La Roche, and in few minutes all
the village knew that Nina, old Nanone's
daughter, had come to visit her old
mother, bringing with her Il fellow-ser-
want, young and handsome enough to
be grand duchess, declared the
loungers to be found even in that rural
spot, and who had caught glimpse of
the two girls as they alighted at old
Nanone's pretty cottage.
It was we'll Nina had closed the door
so hastily, or the old woman's excla-
nation might have furnished food for
further gossip.
"You here, my migrone! CjeI!
what brings you in such 4 disguise,
mademoiselle?" exclaimed Nanone, as
she recognized the face shaded by the
plain peasants cap.
''Hush dear Nanone; I'm not to be
mademoiselle, but plain Madeline, your
niece, so don't say word, and be a
good, kind nurse, and let me have my
own way and the young girl sealed
the lips of the old woman with such
shower of kisses, that, to the old crea-
ture, would have excused far greater
indiscretions than she was likely to re-
gard Mademoiselle DIbervan's present
escapade.
Mdle Ibervan had already been a
week with old Nanone, and owing to
the inclement weather, had been kept
within doors, until, at length, she had
become very weary of her assumed
position. Then came dark forebod-
ings. The peasants shook their heads
mournfully, and spoke despondently OF
the terrors of winter such as the severe
fall indicated, and as Madeline listened
she gradually began TO realize that
there might be more trouble than her
own, and that there was work for will
ing hands 1t was not long ere Made
line began the good work, for the peas
ants spoke freely, before old Nanone's
nose, of their wants and sutferings,
and to hear was to relieve, as far rs lay
III her power, and although the recipi-
ents of her bounty could scarcely con-
meet the benefits received with the poor
little peasant girl, yet they learned to
love her for her gentle, winning ways,
a certain Undesirable grace that could
not be entirely hidden by the wooden
shoes and coarse wooden dOess.
But Madeline was not alone in her
exertions to alleviate the sutferings Of
the village poor, and found powerful
cOaGjutOr in the young Chevalier de La
Roche, and their names were mingled
in the grateful prayers of the simple
people to whom they ministered. It
was not therefore, strange that they
met almost daily, and the young man
became more and more astOnished at
the grace, vivacity and gentleness OF
the young peasant girl; for Madeline,
despite her resolve, would forget her
role and chat with the lord of the
manor with freedom she might have
found it difficult, in her true character.
to assume; for although Mosieur La
Roohe's father was her guardian strange
10 say, the young people had never met.
Christmas was rapidly approaching,
and Madeline felt that it was necessary
that she should return to her own
home to join the peasantry In their
annual festivities. On the other hand
Monster de La r che had found that
the little peasant girl was becoming
very dear to his heart, and unwilling to
wed so far beneath his own rank, had
determined to seek forgetfulness in the
Il =,