Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-04-09
, Roger Vapbrueh's Wife. :
ADEIINE SERGEANT.
Il
BY ADEI.INE SERGEANT.
Continued.

Continued
Oscar Despard said nothing, but
turned away with hands that shook a
little as he thrust the pocketbook back
into its place. 1t was evidently with
the idea of last appeal that he said
in low, sulky voice:
You scarcely know the harm YOU
are doing to that poor girl IN prevent
ing me from laying before her and her
friends the proof of her birth"
Il should not think they were par
ticularly Important said Lancelot
with laugh.
AT any rate, I cannot believe that
they have been brought forward as
they might be. You will remember
Mr.. Vanbrugh, that my Madeline is
Lady Esler's grand-niece"
In spite of the almost comical
solemnity of the man Lancelot was in
terested. He had almost forgotten the
fact.
Gen. Armstrong was her grand
father, then? I remember Lady Esler
said something about it."
Exactly, Mr.. Vanbrugh. And you
know that Gen. Armstrong nobly
acknowledged her claim upon him
Whether Lady Esler has done so, too
| do not know; perhaps you can tell
me-
Not tc my knowledge" said Lance
lot, hastily, and then was sorry that he
had spoken.
eff Lady Esler knew
What papers have you got?" said
Lancelot, with startling abruptness
Can you show them to me?"
Mr.. Despard professed that he would
be delighted. He had not the papers
with him, but would bring them on the
morrow. And SO he departed, leaving
Lancelot in curious state of mind
'How fond l was of her and how
quickly VIC managed to forget one an
other. Two letters from her-and nc
more. Well, the better, perhaps, con-
sidering this relationship to Oscar
Despard. Mother was right when she
told me to have nothing to do with any
of them. l should not like to have old
| Despard for my father-in-law.
THAT foreign trip put new life into
me. l don't believe l have thought OF
Madeline since | was in Italy. But she
is all right grinding away at Miss
joyce's still, as Lady Frances tells me-
l must prevent Despard from going
over to Westbourne house if I can
And l will look at his papers if he
| brings them. | may be able to do
Madeline a good turn; and | shall not
be solry, although I think she treated
me rather shabbily. [ wonder if !
shall ever see her again and if she is
as pretty as she promised to be?''
And then he turned with a smile to
a photograph in fine plush frame,
which stood on his writing table. The
face it showed was not the face of
/ Madeline. 1T was that of a proud
calm, self-possessed-look beauty,
with magnificent clark eyes and a won-
derful throat and neck, with a very
low dress set off to advantage. Lance
lot looked at the photograph fer a mo-
ment with a whimsical smile. "YOa
are handsome enough for twenty
women" he said, nalf-aloud, land the
worst is that you know it. | remem-
Der that it was little Madeline's IN
consciousness of her beauty that made
it so attractive"
He waited anXiCusly for the next
day, scarcely expecting Mr.. Despard TO
arrive. But he appeared at an early
hour next morning, bearing with him
a sheaf Of papers, into which Lancelot
threw himself with the eagerness of a
detective. And after a careful eXamin-
alton of the documents he looked up
with a serious eye.
There is apparently no doubt about
it. The papers are all right, Despard.
Your daughter is Lady Esler's grand
niece, but | doubt whether Lady Esler
realizes it,
"Sir, she is too proud to acknowledge
it,
II think she should be made to
acknowledge it." said Lancelot, more
to himself than to Mr.. Despard.
so she ought, sir, so she ought. In
deed, you are right"
And if you will leave these papers
with me for a day or two I will see
what I can do with her. 1 should like
to show her one or two of these letters.
[ am an old friend of Lady Esler's, you
know
Despard bowed and assented. And
as it happened that Lancelot wanted
"a breath of fresh air." he Travelled
down on Saturday night to Lady Es-
lers country house, with the papers
respecting Madeline carefully packed
in his portmanteau.