Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-12-05

know the sort of wrench you gave Tn
child's arm just now; I've seen 1t don
at school. Her arm is black and blu
by this time. | am sure OF that
What is to prevent me from givin:
you in charge for cruelty to her?
believe you would get q month for i
and she would probably be looked
after and sent TO school, instead o
having nothing to eat all day, as
heard you say just now and handing
her over to worse punishment from
some Mrs. Jelby.''
There were not many boys Of mis- agt
who would have been capable of such
a speech, but as it happened Lancelo
had some natural facility of tongue
and was moreover the nephew of 6
philanthropist, from whom he haC
caught up a little technical talk con
corning various societies for the pre-
vention of cruelty to children or ami
mails. He fired off this volley with
considerable effect. The shabby man
rubbed his hands together, then
clasped them and whined:
Sir, you would not do a poor man
such an injury. 1 assure you I am
kindness itself to little Madeline-my
dead wife's only child, sir, and the ap-
pie of my eye. If I spoke sharply it
was in a moment of irritation. You dc
not know what it is to have no food
to eat, not penny in your pocket and
hardly a roof over your head. It is
enough to make any man speak
sharply" he said, wiping a tear out CT
his eye with much-worn crimson silk
handkerchief; ''but my Maddy knows
that | never meant to be unkind; do
you not, Maddy? Won't you speak a
word for your father, dear child?"
Lancelot was hardly keen enough to
distinguish the vindictiveness of tone
that underlay the last few words. He
locked at Madeline, who slowly with
drew her hands from her face and
showed him one of the most pathetic
little countenances that he had ever
seen.
In spite of the tears that she had
shed she was exceedingly pretty. Her
face was pale and refined, with deli
cately cut features; the outlines of her
cheek, the curves of her grieving
mouth, were peculiarly beautiful, al
though the beauty was of a kind
which grows upon an observer and is
not always visible at first sight Her
eyes were of a violet gray, singularly
pure in coloring, with long dark lashes
and of an exquisite expression. But
to Lancelot, who was not trained to an
appreciation of feminine beauty, the
chief thing remarkable in her face was
it's sweetness. There was sorrow,
there was regret, but there was
neither anger nor resentment. She an
sWered almost at once in tones of pc
culiarly musical quality:
ooh, no, father did not mean to be
unkind."
would perhaps have passed on had he
not at this moment become conscious
that the father was making come ugly
Contortions of face, behind his back
evidently intended to express to Made
line his desire that she should defend
him further. Madeline set her little
mouth and was silent and Lance1ot
turning round hastily, gave the man a
look which seemed to reduce him to
submission
I'll tell you what you can de-" said
the lad, sharply; you can walk the
~ Of
you please, while I speak to your little
girl. 1 sha'n't do her any HARM" he
added, with a short laugh, as he saw
the doubling expression on the father
face, land I shall not do you any
harm either, but | should like a word
or two with her before I say good-by.'
The man stared as if he did not I'M
derstand this type of SOCIOLOGY
Lancelct had been used, all his life, tc
take a foremost place; he was the he'll
to fine estate, the darling of his re-
lations, the most popular boy in
school; and he was accustomed with
all his pleasantness of manner to beaI
down opposition. 1t seemed quite nat
ural to him that he should tell this
disreputable-loCkin man what he
should do. But it must be added that
Lancelot had a fine nature and a gen
erous heart and that he would never
willfully give pain to fellow-creature
unless he was convinced that it was
his duty to give it. Just now he fell
a deep contempt for the half-fright
ened, half-defiant, bullying man before
him, and he was resolved to SEE
whether he could not do something t
help the little girl. It was ali done Ell
grand seigneur, but Lancelot Van
brugh was a prince in his own way.
The man skunk off at last anC
walked slowly up the pier. The chill
made frightened movement as if t.
join him, but Lancelot laid his han(
on her wrist in very gentle name
and held her back. Then he seatet
himself beside her, still holding he
hand in his own.
Don't be frightened" he said. I'll
only keep you few minutes. But
want you to tell me one or two thing
if you will. Is that man your father?
/ 1SS, ShS SelIo, ioohli1S al LII
frankly out of those wonderful viole
eyes, where the tears still hung on tn
curling dark 1ashes. HE is m
father"
( and your mother?"
Mothers dead" she answered, sim
ply. And one of the tears rolled dow
her waxen cheek.
"Oh, I'm sorry. My mother is dead
too" said Lance, as simply and ser.