Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-12-19

guided daughter"-the general WINGED
land has foisted her off on you as
your own grandchild."
You have no evidence of that, Sc
lima
Il know this much-that Madelines
child died" said Lady, Esler, her steel
gray eyes cleaning with sudden
wrath. Don't you remember that
time when the man Despard tried 10
force his way to you and you refused
to see him? It was just after Made
lines DEATH"
Il remember" said the general in a
low voice. 1T is a painful memory to
me-"
Because you are weak You acted
with perfect judgment and discretion
The man deserved nothing from YOU
Stephen. l look upon him as your
daughters murderer"
Let that pass, Selma"
Il will tell you first what [ did on
the day when you ordered the door
to be closed in his face. [ had a con-
fidential maid, then, a woman named
Jennings, and [ sent her at once to
follow the man to his lodgings. It
was easy enough to follow him and
when once there she soon crept into
friendly relations with the landlady
It was in back slum near West
Minister"
The general groaned, Don't go into
these details"
IF 1 do it is for your good said
Lady Esler, decidedly Jennings
kept herself in touch with the land
lady and we heard before very long
that the child was dead. I am quite
sure that it died and that this
wretched girl is an impostor."
why did you prosecute these re-
searches?"
Lady Esler was silent for a moment.
You seem to forget" she said at
last, that [ have a particular inter-
est in knowing what became of your
daughter and her child. I have a
large fortune to dispose of apart from
my husbands estates. 1t would nat
urally have gone to Madeline after
YOU
You can leave your money to any
one you please. There is the girl
Constance Esler."
she is my husbands niece |
should naturally have preferred a re-
lation of my own said Lady Esler,
dryly. 81 quite approved of your re-
fusal to see the man Despard, never
theless, l wanted to know what be-
came of the child Still, [ was not
sorry, I confess, when Jennings
brought we word of it's DEATH
The child did not die" said her
brother, almost violently.
You are easily imposed upon,
Stephen. 1t is quite evident that Os-
car Despard was concocting this
scheme when Lancelot overheard the
conversation. The child was fright
ened or reluctant and the man grew
angry No doubt the little girl is not
responsible-but if I were you 1 should
have no more to do with her"
The general made no reply, but
drew his bushy eyebrows down until
his eyes could scarcely be seen. Lady
ESler grew angry.
You have been taken in, perceive.
You have believed the story
That is my business" said the gen
eral.
1t was not often that he defed her.
But he de1ed her now.
I am sorry for your blindness said
Lady Esler, rising from her seat, with
all the dignity at her command but
l refuse to share it. l will never be
the dupe Of that man Despard. Do as
you please, of course; but never expect
me to acknowledge that child as my
grand-niece. Poor little impostor. 1t
! is not her fault.
But the general would not speak.
In fact he was a coward in this bust
ness. He could not make up his mind
! to tell Lady Esler the whole story and
| to confront her with proofs of Made
| lines birth and parentage. He told
| himself that it was not necessary to
| do So
| Why should I bother myself" he
! muttered, when she had at length