Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-12-05
Chapter |.

4.
little. ungrateful viper, do what
teh gu or III make you repent "!
You'll get nothing to eat for the resi-
of the day.-do you hear? And worse
than that, If hand you over to Mrs
Jelby."
"oh, please, don't do that father.
I'll do anything else you like, but,
with passionate sob, i cant zen
lies. even for you"
The voice was that Of girl--a chic
apparently, and its accents OF agon-
lied appeal made the blood boil In the
veins of a concealed listener to the
colloouy. He had seen the pair go by,
n few minutes before; father ana
daughter, he had thought, and he had
idly noted that the man had worn,
dissipated look and that the little girl
was pretty, but he had not then be-
slowed much attention on them, They
had been walking the pier, hand ~
hand with show Of affection thrt
was rather unusual in a public place.
Now IL seemed as If tAe affection had
Oeen assumed for che occasion onl9
and that It was succeeded in private
by threats and reproaches on the one
hand and on the other by pitiful
prayers and tears.
Lancelot Vanbrugh was only a lad OF
II. but he had the spirit OF Don
Quixote. He was always ready TO ex-
pend himself in efforts for those VINO
were unjustly treated and he therefore
waxed more and more indignant as he
heard the words and tones OF the
shabby man who had borne himself 80
affeetionately to the child when he
thought the eyes of the public were
upon him. Lancelot was ensconeed In
a deep recess in the stonework near
the end OF the pier: he had been gaz-
Ing out to sea when the father and
daughter seated themselves on a
wooden bench close beside him and
not out Of earshot. although out OF
sight. AT first he had not noticed
them; but the words of their CONVEX
.ation fell upon HIS ear and his heart
grew hot within him.
The eliminating point was reached
AT length. Just as he was wondering
what he ought to do, whether TO rise
and 20 or to discover himself to. the
speakers, his doubts were brought to
an end by vail Of physical pain from
the child. I.ancelot could contain hinl-
self no longer. He started up and by
two steps brought himself face to face
with the shabby man, who was Just in
the act of giving the little girls arm
another violent twist, such as had
elected the cry.
stop that! How dare you hurt the
chiId?" Numbered Lancelot. scarcely
knowing what he said.
He was a handsome young fellow,
looking older than his years, thanks 70
the faint line Of mustache that began
10 show itself above the well-cut lips;
fair rather than dark, he had the brill
liant hazel eyes which were heritage
of his family, as we'll as the chestnut
hair and refined features which be-
longed to his mothers side rather
thnn TO the Vanbrughs. He was tall,
look Of keen intelligence IN his eyes
and on his broad brow, which showed
hat he had brain all we'll as muscle.
Young az he was, he was more than
match for the man before whom he
stood whose age could not be less than
35. but who was sadly out Of condition.;
probably more SO on account of his
habits chan because of his poverty
He had once been good-leoking and
he had still to some extent the air OF
gentleman, His clothes We're very
shabby. but they were we'll cut, his
long fair mustache had IN imposing
tWirl, his hands were white md wcll
preserved He was undet the middle
height and stopped a little; his features
were regular and would have been
dslieate hut for the coarsenine inhu-
ences of life which had begun to
thickeu the outlines and blotch the
smooth surface; his eyes We're pale
blue rcddeued al the rims and some
whit shifty in expression He wore
an Inverness cape and soft felt hat,
rather wide N the hrim anl there was
kind Of theatrical picfuresqueness
about him as il No We're used TO pos
ing for effect 1t was perhaps a weak
face rather than bad one. hut the
weakness was painfully apparent
Laneelot looked at him with scorn
which had IT'S effect Tho mans
checks grew red he cringed visibly as
he met The boy's gaze; he loesed hold
II the ftild's arm ana tried 10 explain.
You lfo mistakon. yonng sentle-
man hr saii Win 4 terhle attempt
~ lienv yoa arc utterly mistaken
VS. halaoe my little eui III INK
ann ant possibly may have ttghtoned
my held NOT Intentionally. no moi In
tentieaailg assure you. Even # ii
we're even Il w. Ntre" waving bolder
us he saw that lanct}ot VAS a lfttle
taken abark lave nos rtsht sin
70 correct my oNH chHd
No ~ thm way Nat isily Anil
not when Exam was merel, .atsIne III
do what sl thaWght W#4 .s.4.a