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

hat with as much politeness as if she
had been duchess, and retreated,
only acknowledging Mr.. Despards
elaborate flourish of his hat with curt
boyish nod.
THE young ioolp calculated Made
lines father. with a malignant look of
hatred at the slight figure as it sped
npon its way. Il wish / had the
chance of paying you out for this.
Well, my good and dutiful little daugh-
ter, will you now kindly come home
with me?"
Madeline rose, trembling. She did
not like the look in her fathers eye,
but she accepted the hand which he
blandly held out TO her and they went.
linked in this way, along the pier, as
If they were the most devoted father
and daughter in the world
1t was one OF Despard's favorite
modes of ingratiating himself with
visitors at seaside town. He was
seen day after day on the pier or in
the town, always holding his pretty
little girl by the hand and bending
upon her looks Of protecting but mel
ancholy love. Visitors would begin to
inquire about him, to enter into con-
Tersation with Madeline, and in other
ways to show interest, which Despari
knew well how to turn to account. He
often obtained a loan or a gift as the
result of Madelines beauty and his
own show of fatherly affection.
But Madeline was growing too old and
was too truthful for the part. She had
spoiled his schemes several times
lately. And he had resolved to adopt
another plan with her--one which
might bring Substantial help from the
rich old general who had come to the
seaside for his health and who had
reason in very truth to be interested
in the daughter of Oscar Despard's
first wife. He had at first intended to
make Madeline represent her mother
as still living, though suffering from
a mortal disease and he had counted
on the state of the generals health,
which would incapacitate him from
coming to make inquiries in person,
Madelines behavior had made it i'm
possible for him to carry it out and the
child trembled as he turned his baleful
eye uIoL her now and then during
their silent walk along the pier and
esplanade and down the side streets
by which their home was reached.
At last they stopped at a mean-look-
ing house in dull back street, where
Despard dropped his daughters hand
and opened the door. Once inside the
house Madeline would willingly have
escaped, but her father stopped her
with an angry word
1--WE something to say to you" he
remarked, with an ominous scowl.
"Come into the sitting-room. l don't
want all the world to hear"
Madeline followed him into the sit
ting-room with a sinking heart Her
stepmother and the three children
looked up in surprise at her appear
ance: it was very evident that she was
shrinkingly afraid and that her father
was very angry.
whats the matter?" said Mrs Des-
pard, fretfully.
1.-The matter is said her husband,
with his most tragic air, that this
child is an ungrateful little monster
lying little vixen who complains of
me to the first passer-by. But | mean
to teach her lesson. I'm going to
bring her to her knees once and for
ALL I'm going to thrash you, girl,
with this riding whip here. until you
beg my pardon and promise to do what
/ tell you for the future
"You may kill me If you like said
shall not make me tell lies.
Madeline, turning very white, but you
And all his violence could not ex-
tract another word from her.
ITO Be Continued.)