Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-02-27

If it is all right, you will not mind
my telling her that we have lunched
with you today"
Tell her if you like" said Constance,
furiously. I'VE shall not be bound
down by little child like you. But
If you say a word, Madeline Despard.
| will have you turned out of the school
in disgrace vow, will
II can't help it." said Madeline. Her
face was white, but it wore now the
lcok of resolve to which her father in
old days had grown accustomed you
had better come back to Mrs Gervase's.
Constance. If you will do that; won't
say anything unless know of it hap
pening again.
L knew this would be the result OF
your coming out with me instead of
Ethel" said Constance "A tfresome
underbred, little fool
IF Ethel would have kept silence
Ethel is a very wicked girl" said
Madeline, passionately. 81 won't do it
Constance began another angry IL
rade, but De Marsac quietly inter-
posed
We are attracting attention here he
said, Come outside. Let me speak,
Constance. Now" he said, turning to
Madeline, when they reached the pave
ment, tell us what you mean-what
it is that you won't do
Il mean said Madeline. looking him
steadily in the face, that | know you
to be bad man; and that unless YOU
let us go straight to Mrs Gervase's now.
L will go straight to Miss Joyce when l
get back and tell her all about this
morning, and all about you"
What does she mean, Rene" said
Constance, in rather a frightened tone
"She is a spiteful little devil an
swered the count, viciousIy, ''and she
means that she had heard of my play
ing cards with her father and losing
ntoney-that is all
More than that" said Madeline.
cooliy
More than that, Ell? Well, my
pretty little vixen you had better keep
your tongue STILL" said DeMarsac.
quietly. But there was a slight change
in his face which showed Madeline that
Ter shaft had gone home You will
find it the worse for you if you let
it Wag freely" He put his hand on her
arm and drew her aside little. What
were you going to say?' he asked, look
ing her straight into her eyes.
Il shall not say it unless you make
me-and | shall not say it to you
In a moment the expression of De
Marsac's eyes was absolutely murder
Gus. He knew very we'll that Madeline
had heard him accused of cheating at
cards and had seen him once kicked
out of a room on that account. It was
impossible that he might be able to
SubStantiate her statements and in
that case, if they came to the ears Of
Col Vanbrugh and Lady Esler, he
knew that ruin would stare him in the
face. Roger Vanbrugh would never
tolerate him in his sight again and
where would be his hopes of Con-
stances dowry? He swore to himself;
but from that moment he was as in
hands and back to her school as he had
before been anxious for her company.
1t was a mad scheme, after all, he
reflected-this plan of a secret mar
riage at the registrars; and certainly
it could not be carried out on this 0c-
inevitable; but if ever he had the
chance of paying out Despard's girl
He did not finish the sentence, even
to himself. He turned to Constance
with suave smile and a lift of the
eyebrows which expressed a half-hu-
mOrous despair.
ut is impossible to do anything to-
day." he said to her "You had better
go back. Your fair companion is i'm
practicable"
Madeline, how can you be so unkind
so disagreeable-so cruel?" cried Con
stance, almost weeping at the downfall
of her hopes. ''It would do you no
harm to go with US"
"Where?" said Madeline, quickly
Constance was silent; she bit her lip
1t was better not to say where.
1--WE shall be very late" Madeline
went on, recovering herself as she Sc y
the evident discomposure of the two
'"The cab is waiting; let us go back to
Mrs. Gervase's, Constance, please. We
had much better go at once"
Constance locked at Rene and he
looked at her He tried to smile, but
his pale face was twitching with an
noyance; and the tears were absolutely
falling from Constance's eyes.
Never mind" he said to her in an
undertone. ut is only putting it of
little while. I will write-you know
where"
He drew her aside and whispered a
few tender words, while Madeline stood
pressing her hands together and feel
ing extremely miserable. Constance
was then handed into the cab and Rene
gave Mrs Gervase's address to the
driver Madeline scrambled in by her
self
Constance kept silence at first and
the younger girl ventured at last tC
touch her arm.
Constance, I am really very sorry
she said.
Constance turned upon her angTily
"You little marplot. You sneak. You
toad. I hate you, Madeline Despard
And I'll be revenged on you, too, some
day. I shall have the chance, [ know