Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-07-02
CHAPTER XVII.
Icons Daughter.

later. Leave me aloue'
Alone, motherY
yes. / must think, / must decide
have done great wrong.
She averted her face from him and
lay for few moments perfectly mo-
tIonless. Lancelot waited In the deep
est anxiety beside her, scarcely daring
to move or speak. Suddenly she look
ed toward him again and spoke with
faint, wan smile.
'I4ancelot, it is Icons daughter
whom you are going to make your
wife"
yes, mother"
"And you will not be ashamed? You
do not mind that he as rebel, a
conspirator the world calls tia
plotter, and anarchist? And that he
killed himself sooner than be taken
aIive?"
From all | can hear" said Lance
lot, steadily, Leon Zayertal seems to
have been nobIe-hearted man. and,
mother |, honor him.
"Ah, that is we'll" she cried with a
gasping sigh.
And your Madeline is she like
him."
Like him in constancy in steadfast-
ness, in devotion" Lancelot said,
proudly "but in face, mother. she is
like you | always thought SOL think
| loved her for the likeness
my SON.
She drew his face down to hers and
kissed 1t. Go an fetch her" she said
Bring her to me. | shall see by her
face IL she Is Icons child"
Mother, / hardly Ike to leave you
alone"
II shall be quite we'll want to
lie here and think This man Despard
has shown me many things. What
would you do. Lance, If you were shown
that all your life had been wrong?"
Mother. dear'
1T has been wrong and have been
TO blame All, God! ! might have been
what my son would have hated, have
shuddered atbut ! was kept from
-guiltlness at least" Then as
she saw the expression Of bewilder-
ment and fear on Lancelot's face she
reused herself a little and smiled at
him with more natural look Dear
boy, am talking foolishly, am not 2"
she said ut is only because | have
been disturbed-upset Go and leave
me to myself for q time; | will call
Josef or Marie If want anything Go
10 III tai Nor he fes
not Oscar Despard's daughter and that
| beg her to be my child Now. let me
rest"
Lancelot crept slowly out of the
room He was uneasy about her, but
he summoned Marie, his mothers elder
~ maid and told her to keep watch
and ward while he went out. And
then he took his nat, jumped into
hanson and set out Immediately for
George street.
Madeline But YOU can't see Made
line" said little Jenny in troubled
voice. as he presented himself at the
door Of Mrs Despard's sitting room and
asked for his love
and why not, little one?"
she Is not well and she told me
not TO let anyone disturb her Father
is out and mother is living down, with
bad headache"
"And YOU look as II you had one,
too" said r.aneelot kindly seeing the
dark rings under tho ewes of the little
pale-faced girl
The tone of sympathy was too much
for Jenny She burst into tears cts
because because Madeline isn't my
sister she sohbed Father never
told us tin now, ana Madeline didn't
know either And an1--I s'pose she'll
20 away and never live with Ms again
pr she saws she must look ont instant
~ for situation Aud II is all so
horrid
Never mind" said Lance. gently
II may tnrn out better than YOU think
want Madeline TO be my wife and
&c she III YOU can come and STAY with
US. you know, and that will be nearly
Al pleasant as having her hero, vill I'd
not"
Jenny mclasped her hands from hor
streaming ewes and looked Iii him as
II TO sec whether he vas really In earn
est or not The survey must have III.
assured her ton 4 vatery smile sraa
ually appeared ana spread ovcr Her
face A. that moment Madeline. Who
had heard the sound of voices an-
pearca a HE door and halted II a.
constituent whereupon Jenny rushed
toward her and clasped Her arms roan3
the girls slim waist
Madeline Is ID trreo she cUea
Are yoa reallt gotus u marry hm
And will YOU le me come aud stav
with you2'
Madeline east el3nec Of reproa5b
alor lenny's bead a ancelots direc-
tion
AIr Hanbrush yoa are unknd, she
said
aNo am moi unsin1 what shc
saws Is perfectly true ayerfaa Lance