Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-02-20

DO your" said Madeline. in a most
innocent surprise. Il shouldn't have
thought it."
Il do, really; only | was always
jealous because Frances is so fond of
you and she used TO be fond of me
before you came. But you understand
don't you? Because l want you to
sympathize with me-and you-are you
sure you won't tell anybody what I am
going to say? See, you may have this
gold bangle of mine if you won't tell
any one"
I don't want the gold bangle" said
Madeline, rather Indignantly: but I
promise not to tell what you say"
You solemnly promise. on your word
Of Iaonor?"
ON my word of honor"
Well, | trust you, Madeline. 1t is
about some one l met last summer in
the holidays just before you came here
first. l met him at a garden party
"Him?"
Yes; him. He is a foreign noble
mana count and he was staying with
friends in our neighborhood. He is
very handsome, very distinguished
looking. Oh, you can't imagine ANY,
body like him, Madeline"
Madeline felt a distinct thrill of in
terest. She had never before been
favored with this sort of confession.
Are you great friends with him,
then?' she asked, with abated breath.
Rather" said Constance, a little
scornfully. He was struck with me
from the first; he has told me so. And
he could not believe that l was a
schoolgirl. 1t is ridiculous of nv aunt
to keep me at school so long. 1t is
only because Lady Stevenage keeps
Frances here, and everything that Lady
Sewerage does must be right
/ But you are not too old for school,
Constance; you are only IT,"
"A woman is as old as she looks
said Miss Esler, with an air of wisdom
"Rene always says so. | may be only
II in year, but l am 20 in appearance
and fully developed in heart and char
acter. Do you think | cannot love as
well as if were 81 instead of 17?"
Il don't know" said Madeline,
thoughtfully; a reply which caused Con-
stance to give her arm an impatient
little tweak with her perfectly gloved
fingers.
of course, you don't know, you silly
child; but l know well enough
I And you-you love him, Constanoe?"
Madeline asked the question with the
timidity of a young girl to whom ro-
nance is a sacred thing. She felt i'm
plicitly that it would jar upon her if
Constance replied with a jibe or jeer
at her simplicity. But to her surprise
and somewhat to her relief, Constance
answered with a touch of unusual feel
ing:
+ Il never cared for any one so much. -
At that moment Madeline forgave
her all her previous GOODNESS and I'M
amiability The womans heart had
wakened in the girl who had seemed so
lnsympathetic and if it's strength were
to be spent on worthy object there
was still a chance that Constance Els
Ter, in spite of all her faults, might
develop into a truly noble character
Not that Madeline was old enough or
/ wise enough to put all this into words,
but she felt a new warmth toward the
girl who had hitherto been her enemy
and a great desire to help her 1t did
not occur to her that she might be
acting in opposition 10 the wishes of
Miss Joyce and Lady Esler; she thought
only of Constance herself and of the
sweet ideal, idyllic love which seemed
to be the most beautiful thing in the
world
The cab stopped before anything
more was said and the two girls
stepped out on the pavement. They
had halted at large cooperative
store, where they were sometimes al
lowed to make purchases and Madeline
was not surprised when Constance led
the way into an inner room, where
chocolates and confectionery of all
kinds could be procured.
CTo Be ContinuedD