Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-12-19

had troubles she never showed that
she felt them.
The general. sitting in his armchair
in a dressing-gown, frowned and
growled a little when she entered; but
he knew very well that open OPPOSE
ton was useless when Selma. Lady
Esler, was concerned. II she wanted
to see him and TO talk to him, he
knew that he was not strong enough
to resist
Well, stephen said the lady, 4
have come to seq you today
i am charmed to welcome you,e re-
FLIED the general. Have you
lunched? Shall | call Forrest
i saw Forrest on my way in, said
Lady Esler. composedly, and told him
should want lunch by and by. But
at present want to have little con
yersation with yourself.
The general spread out his hands
with gesture of despair.
You see what a wreck | am. Do
you thiak | am in condition for gen
eral conversation? r.
4 have not come for ordinary con-
versation of any kind. have come
on business. And ! hope, general.
that you will be so good as to listen
to me.
When Lady Esler said genera, to
him in freezing accents stephen ARM
ag shiyered in his shoes. He was
1 9rt ye man in action and under an
enemy's fire; but his sister Selma
could yanquish him with q glance Of
her eye. She knew her power and
used it unscrupulously.
He looked at her and covered,
thinking meanwhile what handsome
woman she was STILL Indeed Lady
Esler had taken some pains with her
appearance that day. She wore a
magnificent sealskin mantle, a rich
silk dress, French bonnet and
French gloves and she certainly did
not look more than IS, fact of which
she was perfectly well aware. She
knew the generals weakness she had
taken his measure in earlier days
and she knew well-dressed woman
had more influence with him than an
ugly one, although she might be his
sister.
She drew off her gloves, revealing
the costly diamond rings upon her
long white fingers and continued,
quietly:
4 saw that boy, Lancelot Vanbrugh,
the other day. He told me most ex-
traordinary story
"Ah You have seen hlm?n said the
general, trying to speak eheerily
And how Is the lad? Hi his father
come hcma?"
His father has come hcme. But /
did not come here to talk ABOUT Roger
Vanbrugh, | wished to hear from YOU
whether it is true that thai disreput-
able man has turned mp again, with a
child whom he wants to foist upon
you rs your granddaughter
'Fcist upon me? What do you
mean? And what on earth does
Lancelot know about it,"
Did you not see him when ne came
to meet his father about fortnight
ago?''
BLESS my soul, no. Was he here?'
oh. yes, Laneelot stayed two days.
lie never came near me, the grace
less scamp. And, pray, what had he
to tell you"
HE told me a very curious tale,
said Lady Esler. deliberately She
settled her feet on the fender and
loosened her sealskin mantle d little
before going on, while Cen Armstrong
waited with ill-concealed Impotence
for her story. 'He says that he met
on the pier little girl and man
from the description ! suppose it Is
that wretch, Oscar Despard-and that
the man was cruelty ill-treating ana
torturing the child in order to make
her submit TO some course of decep-
ton, which he wished to practice upon
you"
Upon me?"
Yes, upon you; and therefore |
came to see what could do for you,
Stephen, for | know thai your softness
Of heart and weakness Of will laid you
open to many temptations"
L am much Obliged 10 you, Selma.
! really think can look after myself
May / ask then" said Lady Esler,
with great severity Of demeanor,
whether this man has applied to
you?"
He has
''And / trust that you told him
never TO show his face in your house
again"
The general dropped his eyes and
pulled his long white mustache. For
a moment he did not speak,
Il could not quite do that" he said,
at length, because, you see. Selma,
there is-the child Madeline's daugh-
ter
And pray, how do you know that
she is Madeline's daughter" said his
sister sarcastically.
You would not doubt If you saw
her. She Is the image OF what poor
Madeline was at her age. The same
blue eyes and golden hair"
ooh my dear Stephen cried Lady