Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-03-17

The snow had been falling all day
long, and the dark November weather
had changed the streets of Paris to dis
NAL drains for the melting flakes.
An omnibus stopped at the head of
Prony street, and from its aristocratic
interior stepped 13-year-old boy with
a morocco sachel under his arm. He
ran to the door of an elegant house,
and the next moment was Gathering
up the marble steps into the vestibule
rs mother hOme?" he asked of the
servant, as she helped him off with his
wet OvercOat and leggins.
No." was the answer. "Her lady
ship has not come i'll"
And my sisterS?"
Miss Christine and Miss Yvonne are
in the reception-room with Diana and
their dolls"
In the receptiOn-room he found
Christine seated before cheerful fire.
ooh, how glad am that you have
got homew she cried, throwing her
arms about his neck. eve are so
lonely! Father went out after break
fast, and mother about the time YOU
left for school. Father came back with
some cakes. but he went right out
again"
Il have been thinking of father and
mother all schooltime. Something is
wrong. Have you not noticed, Chris
tine?"
Mother seemed little put out with
father. But that is nothing new. |
have noticed that this long time"
Yes" cried little 6-year-old Yvonne
Il have often seen papa crying when I
caught him in the study and put my
hands over his eyes. Ever since the
lady in red"
What is that she is chattering
about?" interrupted the boy, with a
superior air.
Yvonne was touched in her feminine
weak spot. Il know it better than
you. for / was with mamma We were
coming out of the Louvre shops. and /
had my balloon the one you broke"
You should say burst" said her
brother.
Taking no notice, the child went on
with !1nr story:
"Thpm mamma said to Fermin 4 am
~1." "A walk across the Palais Royal;
have 'rarriage for us before the
Christine and Gaetan looked at each
other. hardly able to keep from laugh
ING. But Yvonne kept on with her re-
Elections.
Il know what saw, at any rate.
And when we met papa with the lady
in red, mamma drew me away and
squeezed my wrist so hard she hurt
me-
what lady in red?" exclaimed Chris
tine.
'There, now" cried Yvonne, "per-
haps you'll believe me. And the lady
had an elegant bonnet and gold veil,
and silk parasol, and, and"
But Gaetan jumped up suddenly, ex-
claiming: Don't listen to her nom
sense! Why should not papa walk
with lady in red if he wants to?
There are plenty of ladies who come
here on mammals Thursdays, and she
and pa don't get angry over them"
"Of course not" said Christine
The hours crept on, the Greek theme
is written and Ovid is in a fair way to
be converted into bad French, when
loneliness proves too much for Gaetan's
philosophy, and he gets up to rejoin his
sister by the fire.
Just then several quick, sharp peals
of the bell were heard, and a young
and beautiful woman soon made her
appearance. The children had hardly
finished a stormy but affectionate
welcome to their mother, when the
door again opened and their father
came in. He received the children's
caresses in an distracted way, and
turning to the Countess, said, with
some emotion:
"ClotiIde, we must arrange our
affairs Immediately. Take the child
rem out and come back here, | beg
of you"
CAS- you like" she said.
Left alone, Count Bellefontaine took
the code from the table and opened it
at articles 1913 and 1449, and read:
The wife who has obtained a decree
Of separation from bed and board as
sume3 the free control of her property
She must contribute to the expense of
educating the children of the mar
rage. If her husband has no property.
she must bear the whole of this ex-
pense."
He closed the book and leaned on the
mantel with his back to the fire Il
don't care for the money. but the chill
dren. None of them are to 90 with me.
The Judge so ordered, and they are to
be brought to see me once a month
As if | were no longer their father. be-
cause-No consideration! Temptation,
passion, weakness never
taken into account, and then in three
years diyorce-unles5 Clotilde should
forgive. She'll never do that, for she
has chosen this course"
Thank you, Clotilde. You have not
kept me waiting. Here are the keys
of my secretary. You will tind cash
and titIe-deeds all safe"
"And how about YOURSELF How are
you to live? Though | haze been
wronged, l bear your name, and can
not permit you to suffer"
Il thank you, Clotilde, for your COM
miseration, but | can not accept it at
your hands"
$50, having broken your faith, you
wish now IN NAV the maCnanimOustD