Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-04-23


said, turning upon him a face of horror
Lance laughed reluctantly Did you
never hear that my father and 1 were
not overgood friends?"
But that was years ago, when you
were boy. Surely, now that you are
a man, things are quite different"
Il do not know that they are. In
fact, as a man l might be more in
clined to resent the want of considera-
ton with which my mother was treated
by him than when I was a mere boy.
But you are right, l do mean to go
to see him-I dine at Aldersleigh to-
day"
Il am glad of that. l do not think
there should be alienation between
father and children" said Madeline,
softly and with a sigh. "Mr. Vanbrugh,
will you not be so good as to tell me
something about my father? 1 know
you have seen him.
I have really nothing to tell you
He was not much altered"
When | go back to London | should
like to see him. l shall have more in
dependence now, for Miss Joyce is 60
ing to give me good salary and l
shall be able to help my people if they
want help"
You surely don't mean to have any
thing more to do with them?' said
Lancelot, more holly than he knew.
No more to do with my father and
his wife and children?" said Madeline.
in a tone which denoted some dis
pleasure.
i beg your pardon, | know it sounds
! heartless. But you must consider the
way in which your father left you"
/ L know. That is just the point which
requires elucidation. But believe that
he will be able to explain it,
/ Lancelot did not and so he held his
/ peace.
! Besides" said Madeline, feeling the
meaning of his silence more than she
chose to say, even if he had been-to
blame, that is no reason why I should
give him up
Lancelot looked at her quickly and
then averted his eyes. To his mind it
had always seemed a sufficiently good
reason.
He is my father as much as ever"
! said Madeline, land | should never
forget, hope, that ann his daughter"
Even if he did things that you dis
approved?" He was thinking of Col.
Vanbrugh.
Yes, certainly. Then would be the
time to show that my affection was
reality"
But Madeline'-he often called her
Madeline when they were deep in a
conversation and when it was likely to
! seem to her too trivial a matter to be
noticed-"dO you not think that to
overlook every lapse or fault in a re-
lation, simply because he or she was
relation, would be an extremely i'm
moral proceeding? I am perfectly Ger
tain that moralists would say So"
'Oh, no." said Madeline, with a smile,
because one always hates the thing
that is wrong, even while one loves the
person who does it,
1T comes perilously near condonine
the wrong DONE" said Lance, with
! laugh, and the words came back to him
with pang. He wished that he had
never discussed the question with
Madeline at all
Il can't help it if it sounds wrong"
she answered. II feel sure that [ am
right and 1 shall act upon my theory.
There are the children, you know, and
l was so fond of Jenny, my stepsister.
believe you know"
eff you wish it, l will tell you. But
| hope you will not do anything rash"
: What can I do that is rash?' said
Madeline, with rather mocking
smile.
'Oh, many things. If you would only
promise to consult some one always
a friend-myself, for instance, if l may
call myself friend"
ooh, yes; why not?" said Madeline,
brightly, but there was little touch
of GOODNESS in her tone.
II vex you perhaps by speaking of
it, said Lancelot, drawing nearer and
addressing her in lower tone; "but
I cannot forget that there were days
when I hoped"
Please do not say any more, Mr..
Vanbrugh"
'Is that time so very long ago."
can eternity"
(which cannot return?"
Certainly not"
Madeline answered proudly and
walked ON with her head high and a
sparkle Of defiance in her beautiful
eyes. Lancelot on the contrary held
his head down. They were in a narrow
lane, bordered by high banks with
| hedges and trees ON each side, and
they were therefore absolutely alone.
II must speak" said Lancelot at last,
with an effort to control the detection
which seemed to have assailed him.
Il must speak, because-because-
was going to say because it is only
right and fair, but it is not that, Made
line, it is because I cannot help it,
Il think you had better say no more. -
! Just once. Madeline
Il am generally called Miss Despard,
Mr. Vanbrugh, l am Madeline only to
| int f,-ia