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

Il can't think what your father is
about to put up with your behavior 10
him. And to me, too, and all of us.
toll and slave from morning until
night and never a hand do you lift to
help me and never word of love and
gratitude do [ get. You think ycur-
self too fine, I suppose, for your
fathers wife and your fathers chill
dren, though why you should be so set
up am sure [ don't know"
Mamma, indeed, I am not set up,
pleaded Madeline, in an anxious, eager
tone. L do try to help you; do, in
deed"
She might we'll say so, poor child
for she had been up since 6 O'Clock
that morning, supplying the place of
general servant to the family, sweep
ing the sitting-room, lighting the fire,
dressing the children and preparing
the breakfast, while Mrs. Despard lay
in bed reading a novel until noon. The
child's face was very pale and her
eyes were heavy with fatigue. A week
had passed since Lance's championship
of her cause had brought upon her
such heavy punishment from her
father. For three days she had been
unable to leave her bed and she still
felt the effects Of the shock which her
blows inflicted upon her. Then she
had lived in a fever Of anxiety lest
"the boy" as she called him in her
own mind, should find out where she
lived and should be sent away from
the house without seeing her. She al
most thought that if she could see
him again she would tell him how
badly she was treated and ask his nelp
in getting away from her home But
when in her pain and misery she had
come to this desperate resolution-for
desperate it appeared to her-she SUI
fered quick reaction of feeling.
What would happen to the children if
she went away? For, in spite Of Mrs
Despard's reproaches, she knew well
enough that it was she, Madeline. who
washed and dressed her little STEP
sisters and their brother, who mended
their clothes, nursed them when they
were i'll, morhered them when they
were sick and sorry. What would be
come of delicate little Jenny, for in
stance, if she were left alone to cry
herself to sleep every night for fear of
darkness? Oh, no, Madeline felt that
she must never be separated from
Jenny, and she gave up all idea of ap-
pealing to her new friend for help.
She began to be almost nervously anx-
ious not to see him again, lest she
should say something that she ought
not to say.
Help me, indeedr' said Mrs. Das-
pard, contemptuously. Its little help
you are with your finikin ways. |
can't see what makes your father so
patient with you, I am sure. | sup
pose it's because he thinks SO much Of
your mothers family-poor and proud
they must be, for they've never given
half-penny toward the expense of
keeping you, or taken the slightest no
tice of you, that I can remember"
"Who are they? What is their
name?" said Madeline, quickly.
"Oh, [ don't know and don't care
either. There's a title on one side of
the family, | know that much-and a
precious lot of good it does you. Your
fathers got some idea into his head
I think it's ridiculous notion
WHAT" asked Madeline, breath
lessly.
ooh, some nonsense. I am not going
to put such stuff into your head. You
can get your things on; your father
wants you to go out with him to call
on a gentleman, and mind you behave
properly"
Am l to put on my Sunday hat?"
said Madeline, submissively.
mo, put on your old everyday
things; they are quite good enough
Madeline was somewhat surprised by
this behest, as she was usually en-
joined to wear her most becoming
clothes when she went out with her
father, and although the Sunday hat
was limp and shapeless, it was large
and shady and suited her fair little
face. When she came back to present
ton, she found, however, that on this
occasion she was intended to look as
shabby as was compatible with de-
cency. Mrs. Despard deliberately tore
her dress and made her put on a pair
of unmended gloves, which Madeline
very much resented, as she had the in
stinct of personal neatneSS and could
not bear to see rent in her garments
which her needle would have repaired
She almost cried when she looked at
the finger-tips which protruded
through her gloves; and it was with a
very disconsolate face, in spite of -all
her good intentions. that she at last
Joined her father, who had requested
her to be ready to go out with him
that morning at II o'clock.
He did not take the way to the
beach. He led her by the hand-as
usual-through some of the more re-
tired streets of the town and reached
the quarter where the better houses
of the residents we're mostly situated
Here he stopped in a quiet part OF the
read and said with some severity o
manner:
You are going to be a good girl 70
day, hope"
Yes, father said Madeline, meekly
You will not have to say anything
unless you are spoken to; and ever
then, if you find any difficulty in an
swering, leave it to me. Do you I'm