Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-05-21


nocent." The fire in her eye was
quenched by a sudden rush of tears
and she clasped her hands with ges
ture of appeal such as ought surely tC
have softened Lady Esler's heart.
But Lady Esler was impervious tC
appeal. She sat looking straight be
fore her, with an expression of the
face. Il must consult my husband,
she said, coldly.
LAS to belief in you, Madeline, OF
course l cannot forget your unfortunate
history. Your father is VIGOROUSLY
dishonest man and your antecedents
before you went to Miss Joyce's-"
you may say what you like of me
but not of my father cried Madeline,
passionately. Your injustice to me
is nothing-but 1 will not listen TO
anything against him. I would rather
leave the house"
Il dare say" interpolated Constance,
very quietly. Lady Esler heard and
looked at her, but Madeline did not
hear.
y
please" she went on. 81 would rather
not stay here any longer-indeed l
would rather not. [ will go today and
although | am grateful to you for your
kindness, Lady Esler, please do not
ask me here again
Il am not likely to do So said Lady
Esler, after surveying Madeline majes-
tically through her eyeglasses for a
moment or two, and | think you do
not quite understand the state of the
case. Do you really suppose that you
can leave the house when you please,
so long as this mystery remains unex-
plained?"
DO you mean to keep me here
against my will?" said Madeline,
breathing quickly and casting rapid,
startled glance round the room, like
that of a wild animal that sees itself
entrapped.
Il certainly do not think that you
can be allowed to go away until you
have answered the questions of the DO
lice inspector" said Lady Esler. 1T
is of course very dreadful, very annoy
ing; but l cannot sit down calmly and
bear the loss of those rubies, which
have been for SO many years in my
family, without doing something to
recover them"
Lady Esler was more anxious to
brighten Madeline than to conf1de her
suspicious to the police; and the girls
pallOr and dilated eyes showed that
hnT oh
then her cOnstancy of purpose did not
fail her. Her lips might be white, but
her voice was steady, as she replied:
IF you think it necessary, of course |
shall not think of leaving the house"
Lady Esler stiffiy inclined her head.
1T would be well perhaps if you re-
manned in your room until l send for
you. [ presume [ can depend upon
your promise to remain?"
certainly" said Madeline, with a
curling lip; but pray do not hesitate
to turn the key on me if you have any
doubt"
Lady Esler WINGED a little; The tone
was too proud, too defiant to please
her; innocent or guilty she thought
that Madeline ought to be more hum
bic in her tone.
NO" she said, L do not wish TO do
that. l do not desire to treat any one
as a criminal unless proved guilty
least of all person connected with my
own family. You can go. If you
know nothing about the matter 1 can
not understand why you do not explain
~, Ii;
Il was not here!'
Excuse me. Constance saw your'
Constance did not see me!'
DO you accuse my niece of telling
lies?"
Yes, do. You nave accused me of
stealing, Lady Esler!''
Constance had been standing in the
background. Her face was rather
cuIiously white and her eyes had
strained look as she now stepped for
ward, to say, in her smooth, calm
voice:
1T is quite natural that Madeline
should say l am telling lies. dear aunt
There is nothing else for her to say,
is there? l only wish l had not been
questioned at all. would so willingly
have kept silence-if l had thought it
right
Right said Madeline, her eyes
growing dark with Indignation do
you know any difference between
right and wrong?"
she walked out of the room with the
carriage of a princess and Lady Esler
was so much taken back by the fiery
Indignation of her look and bearing
that she did not think of calling her
back. Even Constance was abashed
for moment, but she soon recovered
her self-possessiCn.
L hope she will not walk ont of the
house she said, as if to herself, when
Madeline had gone.
She gave us her word that she
would stay"
"Ah. you are sc good, so trnstful."
said Constance, pensively, 'I should
lave beer afraid that she had the
rubies in one OF her boxes and L should
have wanted 10 search them, and
should have felt inclined to take good
care that she did hot get out of the
house without my edge-whether
she liked being locked in or no."
Il believe you are right" said Lady
! Esler, but much more irresolutely
than she generally spoke. Still
can hardly do it unless of course your
uncle insisted or it"
I Constance smiled IN borCa1f T ord