Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-05-28

and stepmother would take her in for
a day or two.
The cab had stopped At the narrow
door of dingy, tall, marrow house OF
the uniform color to which London
smoke reduces brick work. Apart
ments to Let" was the legend on a card
In the fanlight and the slatternly maid
servant who opened the door at once
brought back to Madeline's mind me-
mories of her childish days when fifth
rate lodging houses were the only
homes she knew. Matters did not
seem to have improved in this respect
with her fathers family.
rs Mr. Despard in" she said
Mrs. Despard is in. not Mr." said
the domestic, staring hard at Madeline,
Il want to see her, If you please
You'd better wark up, mum. Is all
them boxes to come in, too2' said the
girl, cycling the luggage with disfavor,
The man can wait few minutes,
said Madeline. take me up TO Mrs.
Despard, please"
The girl muttered something to the
effect that she did not wait upon the
third floor back, not she, but she was
sufficiently impressed by Madeline s
beauty and grace and by the quality
of her clothes to conduct her civilly up
stairs. How narrow those London
stairs seemed to Madeline, fresh from
the open spaces and green fields of the
country; how close and stuffy the
house BY the time she had reached
the "third-fioor back" she was almost
gasping for breath
The maid knocked al the door and
then opened it roughly, put in her head
and said sulkily;
"A lady to see YER
Madeline inferred, with quick pang
of humiliation, that her father had not
been paying his rent very recently.
Even a London servant girl would not
be so rude unless there were some
reason of this kind.
Madeline walked in and found her
self in sparsely furnished. dirty-look-
ing sitting-room, which evidently did
duty as a sleeping-room at night. She
was almost startled TO see how similar
| 1t was TO the room which she remem-
bered lying in when she was a child.
On sofa lay Mrs. Despard, wrapped
in faded green shawl; she looked
more than ever worn, fretfui, depressed
and there were fresh lines of care and
ill-temper in her face. She tried to
rise as Madeline entered and began to
speak in somewhat servile tone.
I'm sure beg your pardon, ma
, dam
Don't you knew me, mamma ?"
said Madeline
There was low, thrilling cry from
the other side of the room and Jenny
| flew into her sisters arms, when they
Rugged and kissed each other as if
they would never cease The worst OF
it was that this warm welcome I'M
| nerved Madeline as no false accusation
bad ever done: she broke down and
cried without restraint. until Jenny,
who had at first cried. too, from pure
/, joy, was frightened and begged her to
stop.
II am--yery silly--very selfish.
krow," gasped Madeline, at last. But
| have been tired all day-and troubled,
Jenny, and oh, darling | am so glad
to see you again"
We'll, Madeline, when you have a
word to spare for me ! should like to
say How dye do?'" said Mrs. Des-
pard's complaining voice. But | sup
pose you have grown too grand to
have anything to say to your poor step
mother"
Il beg your pardon, mamma. 1t was
not that, only l was little overcome
at seeing Jenny again" said Madeline,
and she went dutifully to Mrs. Des-
pard's side and kissed her forehead Il
am not very grand she said, trying
to speak playfully, "and have come TO
know If | may beg nights lodging
or even to stay day or two My
boxes are downstairs. hope you will
be able to take me in?'
WHAT said Mrs. Despard, rousing
herself and sitting almost erect. Have
you been turned off? Have you offend
ed them? Well, you are fool"
Madeline shivered, then recovered
herself. II can explain 1t all to you
by and by" she said, Miss Joyce is
away from home, 50 I cannot go back
to her. Can YOU find room for me?"
There is Jennys bed, you can have
half of that, If you like There is no
other place. Would you not be much
better off in lodgings"
you sent me away from you-you
left me when was child, six years
ago" said Madeline, with an irrepres-
sible sob Surely you won't drive me
away from you now? At any rate,
must stay until have seen my father"
Mrs. Despard relented. Stay by all
means II you like" she said. "Your
father was speaking about you only
the other day and wondering whether
You meant to come and see us again. /"
II only got your address yesterday
Shall go down and pay the cabman?
He is waiting all this time"