Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-05-07

| money Wnen so mucn was IefL IN my
hands"
Naturally And what came next?'
THE boy joined his mother alto
gether and quarreled with his father
Vanbrugh had nothing to do and took
to flirting with o little aristocrat OF the
eighborhood-Lady Frances Aylmer,
-, VINO happened to have a prejudice
against me-"
Il don't see how that would affect an
old established position like yours.
Col. Vanbrugh always believed in you
in them the most extraordinary
way" said Despard, with sneer.
Women upset everything" answer
ed De Marsac, without noticing the
! implied taunt. "As it happened
could tlirt as we'll as Vanbrugh. There
| was a handsome girl at Hurst, one of
| the Eslers, and she, was soon desper-
/ telling you, Despard, that matters went
pretty far, but the matter got wind and
there was a tremendous uproar I was
almost expelled from the house and
Vanbrugh turned the cold shoulder to
me ever afterward."
Didn't the girl stand by your"
Would you expect it of a woman?
The storm was too severe. Constance
swore that she did not care a rap for
me and all that kind of thing and made
her peace thereby. | might have said
good deal, but l thought it would be
more profitable for me to hold my
tongue. Constance has paid for it
since"
Paid for it? How?"
Never mind how" said Rene, with
a sinister smile. But for her | should
be worse off than [ am now"
You have hold on her." said Des-
pard, with increasing interest.
Rene shrugged his shoulders. Which
would be gone if l impaired the secret
20 any one else" he said. Take a
cigarette and something to drink, Des-
pard, and don't be inquisitive What
did you want to see me about?"
Il called on that young Lancelot Van
! brugh the other day-a little matter of
business between us-and he induced
me to show him the documents relat-
ing to Madeline's relationship to the
ESleTs."
He did? | thought your little game
was played out there. By-the-bye it
was an awfully clever stroke of yours,
Despard, to desert the girl in the way
you did. Old Joyce was softer-hearted
tnan | expected. She kept her, as no
doubt you know, and educated her for
nothing"
4 know that, and the girl is worth
money now. She could earn any
amount And it's just my luck-I've
been to Westbourne house and could
not hear anything about her there; they
spirited her away somewhere or other
and I can't find out where she has
gone
you were never very clever, Des-
Fard. Can't you guess?"
"Guess?" said Despard, setting down
the glass of brandy and water that he
was mixing for himself and staring
helplessly at the count
You fool! Did you not give the
papers about your daughters birth.
etc, to Lancelot Vanbrugh?"
He paid me for them I did not let
him have the originals He had copies"
Don't you know he is hand and
glove with the ESlers? He has been
telling them about her and inducing
them to take her up"
There was a cold smile on his face
as ne spoke; it suggested to Despard
that Rene knew more than he cared to
! impart. He sprang up in absolute fury.
You know where she is? Tell me
or Pll-I1l strangle you with my own
hands,
You would have considerable diff
Guilty in doing so, mon cher" said Rene,
! cColly. Therefore I advise you to alb
stain from useless threats
Il know know am a fool said
! Oscar Despard, sinking down again,
| with his elbows on the table and his
face pressed between his hands. But
to think that I and my children should
! be absolutely wanting the necessaries
of life, while Madeline, who could help
us SO much, is simply walloWing in
! luxury"
For once Rene de Marsac laughed
aloud from pure amusement.
| What an expression! Wallowing in
! luxury" he exclaimed. MY poor Des-
pard, can you not choose your words
| better? Is it wallowing in luxury to
live on charity at Miss Joyce's school
or to be received as a sort of unpaid
companion at Hurst?"
Us she at Hurst? The Eslers' placer"
she is
And how do you know?"
From my friend and correspondent,
Constance. She keeps me we'll posted.
| like to know what is going on in the
neighborhood"
And she told you that Madeline was
there?"
She has been there a week.
Il shall go and see her." said Mr..
Despard, with decision. Il shall ap-
peal to her generosity
by the memory, I suppose. of your
desertion of her six years ago? You
had better throw yourself on her pity,
Despard."
In some way or other, I shall sue
coed in getting hold of her. She was
always fond of my Jenny and Jenny
) is still fond of her. She will work for