Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-04-16
touch of constraint in his frank voice.
Lady Esler and-Constance."
Madeline noticed the hesitation that
preceded his uttefanee of the name.
CHAPTER xxIv,
Constance.

Madeline ont and a general interchange
OF greetings followed. For many
reasons 1t was rather curious meet
! ing. Lady Esler and her great-niece
had parted in anger but they met now
with ceremonious civility. Madeline
was little disturbed by a sudden rush
of feeling such as she had not known
for many years. the strong sense OF
kinship, the pleasure of belonging some
where, even to people who We're not
very congenial Then she was much
occupied with the sight of Constance,
who greeted her in the old cool way,
just as II they had only parted the
night before.
AT first sight Madeline thought Con-
stence was more beautiful than ever.
The perfection of her traits, the ex-
quisite delicacy of her complexion, the
grace of her figure. had never been so
apparent. But Madeline was no physi-
ognomist, and when she looked again
she was not SO we'll pleased, She saw
that certain lines in Constances face
had become hard and fixed. There was
a fold between the brows which told
of some permanent anxiety or vexation,
and the eyes We're colder and In some
inscrutable way more cautious than
they used to be- AS Madeline glanced
at her she could not help wondering
what had become of Count Rene de
Marsac She wondered also whether
Constance liked to see her at Hurst or
+ 80 ,,tt - g,aFfn
something from Miss Eslers selfishness
and Miss Eslers pride.
AS they walked to the house Made
line found herself with Lady Esler,
while Constance and Lancelot walked
together. That was natural enough,
but she could not help noticing the in
innate relations which seemed to exist
between the two. They walked rather
closely together and talked in low and
confidential terms. Lady Esler was
stiff and unbending but not altogether
unfriendly and Madeline WIS glad that
she made no oVertures of an affection
which it was impossible for her 10 feel.
She gave the girl little information
about the ways of the household and
+ then added. There are few friends
dining with us tonight. Have YOU a
suitable dinner dress?"
yes. | think so, thank you" said
Madeline, with an inward conviction
that Lady Esler would have liked her
! to say that she had not
II should like to see it before you
dress. What may have been suitable
for school party may not do for a
dinner
Miss Joyce kindly got 1t for me when
Madeline, demurely. 1T Is black net
over silk and 1t was made at Marshall
& Snelgrove's | think IL is perfectly
suitable-unless it is a very large
party
ooh, no, quite simple affair" said
Lady Esler, and Madeline noticed that
she did not ask again to see the dress
] Madelines bedroom to which she was
conducted rather soon after tea, with
the remark that she might like to UNI
pack her boxes, was small remote and
inconvenient; no offer Of maids help
was made, moreover. but she was too
young and inexperienced to notice these
Sights and she was glad of short
time before dinner in which to collect
her thoughts as we'll as to arrange her
goods. The days experience had been
exciting to her and delicate pink flush
tinged her cheek as she dressed for dim
ner and made her beauty appear more
dn1inafoly hril1fanf
black net dress was relieved here and
\ there by tiny silver spangles, which !
had a pretty starry effect and Miss
Joyce had lent her some Indian silver
beads which looked almost like rows OF
pearls on her white neck Her golden |
hair was wreathed round a silver arrow
and her lovely eyes CLEANED with soft
radiance, which was in itself sufficient
to gain her plenty Of admiration. In
deed, she was so striking and so dis !
tinguished in appearance, that, much to
Lady Esler's disgust, she eclipsed even
Constance, who, dressed In heavy white |
silk, was not looking quite so we'll as
usual and was paler than her wont.
Lord Esler was a confirmed invalid !
and never appeared IT dinner. Made |
line was surprised to see that Lancelot
vanbrugh slipped quite naturally into
the position Of host He seemed ex-
tremely intimate and at home she
thought, but of course he had known
the Eslers for many years. She was
delighted to renew her friendship with !.
Lady Frances who arrived with her
mother and father; the other guests
were not interesting to Madeline, al
though her beauty excited quite fut- /
ter OF excitement among the men.
Madeline, dear Madeline I am so
pleased TO s,e you again. said Lady
Frances litCie Lady Frances still
after dinner. as she put her hand with
in Madeline's arm and drew her away
from the older people TO the charming
Conservatives which were the pride Of
Hurst. Come here and talk; I had no
idea that you were to be here tonight"
Lady Esler kindly invited me for