Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-06-04
BY ADEI.INE SERGEANT.


YOU were always above the rest OF us;
always ready to forgive-and We've
haven't behaved well to you, my dear.
Never mind all that, father, 1 can
forget it all if only you will send back
the case of garnets.'
MY dear girl, can't; De Marsac-
he-he would wonder at me if l did
such a thing"
"Then will you show them to me,
father? I want to see them-to see il
they are stones l have seen before.
You have seen the real rubies, l
self and breaking away from his
daughters arm.
Eyes, I have seen Lady Esler wear
ing them"
"And you would know if they were
the real things Or not? Perhaps they
are only quilting you to get the stones
back, Ell? You'll tell me truly if they
are the rubies?"
YES" said Madeline, sorrowfully.
"Then I'll get them for you. I'll
show YOU
He left the room lightly and returned
in a short time with an oblong parcel
in his hand. He turned the key in the
lcck and then placed the parcel on Mad
eline's bed and proceeded to unfasten
it,
The case was opened and revealed
a goOdly show. The ornaments were
undoubtedly of garnets only, but they
were prettily set and mounted, and al
though worth a mere trif1e in cOmpari-
son with the rubies, were in them
selves extremely curious and beautiful
We'll" said Despard eagerly, "are
they the rubies?"
ooh, no; garnets."
'Ah, confound it. All this fuss for
a set of worthless garnets. De Marsac
will swear when he sees them"
Madeline shut the case with a reso-
lutte air and laid both her hands upon
it.
'M de Marsac will never see them, )"
she said,
what do you mean, Madeline?"
Il mean that I do not intend to part
with them. It is no use saying any
thing, father or trying to force them
from me; you shall kill me first
She had already thrust the case I'M
der her pillow and was looking at her
father with all the determination of
which she was capable in every line
of her white face.
Give me back that case! I will not
be domineered over by my own child.
Do you hear? Give it me backr'
The old fury had revived in him,
but Madeline did not quail He raised
his hand as if to strike her and then
let it sink mOtionless to his side. And
while the father and daughter still
faced each other with set lips and
blazing eyes, there came a knock at
the chamber door and Jenny's shrill
little voice sounded outside.
There's a gentleman in the paclor
wanting to see Madeline. How soon
shall you be ready, Madeline? His
name is Mr. Vanbrugh."
Directly Ask him to wait for me :"
said Madeline, clearly.
Give me the case" said her father,
in savage undertone.
Never. 7 shall send it back to Lady
Esler. Leave me, father. I promise
not to compromise you, but I must do
what I know to be right"
And Oscar Despard collapsed. CAS-
YOU like" he said, sullenly 81 sup
pose you want to involve your poor
father in De Marsacs disgrace? I sup
pose it is your revenge?"
Revenge, father?"
For abandoning-for leaving you at
Miss Joyces school l assure you
what I have gone through on your az
count, Madeline. Girls have no idea.
! They don't understand the world"
| Father, I have not blamed you more
/ tnan I could help" said Madeline, sor-
/ rcwfully. But you know that I would
rather have shaved with you than have
been indebted to strangers for charity.
And now-now-now even though the
garnets are not of much value, what
/ does that matter? They are not ours
and they must be given back"
you have always thwarted me-
cried her father, in a passion Of i'm
potent rage. You want to see me in
a prison, suppose?"
Lady Esler will not prosecute, :"
Madeline said, with hanging head
Father. don't say more" with an ir-
repressible sob, don't make me de-
SDiSe Won
She lay back and hid her face. Her
tears streamed between her slender
fingers and for some moments Oscar
Despard stood watching her, with a
look of mingled despair and compunc-
ton on his face.
Gone" he said at last, as he turned
toward the door, "let us have no more
Of this. Get up and see this young
Vanbrugh and for heavens sake let us
hush up the matter as much as we
can. 1t seems to me that between you
and De Marsac and the Vanbrughs ]
shall presently find myself in a nice
scrape-and for once without being
particularly to blame"