Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-06-11

~ deadEass Of confcIchC. can only
go l do no. wisF, ~ 1--we anything
more TO 10 with W.; ! i,H. TO disown
GU as connections o. ma, altogether
I dc not care whecher vNUr stories are
true or false l ONLY hnie may never
set eyes on the face CT any Of you
again"
She swept from the room, without
giving them time TO reply and the Des-
pards were left to themselves. Oscar
Despard and his wife began a scene OF
fierce recrimination, during which Ma
define sat silent, almost as if she did
not hear. Only when Mrs. Despard
had been reduced to Mysteries and been
assisted to her own room, did the girl
rouse herself and turn toward the man
who called himself her father, although
his behavior had not been very like
that of a father.
Dear father" she said, stretching
out both hands in a blind sort Of man
ner. as if she could not see very clearly.
You would not tell Lady Esler. but
you will tell me?"
Tell you what?" growled he sulkily.
"The whole truth, father"
He seemed about to answer angrtly:
then he looked at her silent face and
was silent.
Father tell me. When you were
speaking TOTO my stepmother, just
now, you seemed to admit the truth of
what she had said. You reproached
her for speaking at all-not for saying
what was not true. Father, for my
sake, tell me-"
why for your sake? What good
would it do you?"
"Oh. if only l knew the exact truth!
Just now I feel at sea, as if nobody
I had trusted in were true. Even if I
am not your daughter, father-even if
I had been picked up in the street or
taken out of workhouse-forgive me,
Oscar Despard's face expressed doubt,
apprehension, dismay.
why can't you be content?" he said,
harshly, with what I have already
, told you
Because I cannot believe that it is
true
you are as bad as any of them
you can't believe even in your own
father Unnatural childr'
mo. it is not unnatural. father. You
could surely prove it to me, if there
were no mistake-if there were abso-
lutely nothing wrong-am | really your
child, father"
Despard hesitated a moment and
looked uneasily from side to side
Madeline uttered a sharp. low cry.
you have answered" she said. you
cannot look me in the face and say
that I belong to you
Nonsense Madeline"
Tell me all, dear" she said. taking
one of his hands in her own. 81 will
net cease to love you-indeed l will
not. Only tell me who I am
BE it on your own head, them he
answered, taking his hand away. you
are not my daughter. You do not be-
long to the Eslers at ALL
and yet-you tried-to make them
believe that l was?''
Yes, I tried. Why should I not? 7
was poor and I had married one of
them, yet they had always refused to
do anything for me. It was my Just
claim which 1 made them recognize at
last, through YOU
Madeline hung her head. She had
loved her reputed father well. but this
revelation of fraud and deceit struck
cold to her heart.
''Tell me- she said, family, 'who I
am
Your mother was an Englishwoman
whom [ never saw. You were brought
up by your father till you were nearly
2 years old; then he died and I adopted
you. Virtually have been your father
ever since, Madeline"
What was my fathers name?" she
asked, with face half-hidden in her
hand
He was not an Englishman. He
was a man of advanced views-a So
cialist-a revolutionary. His name
was Leon Zavertal.''
But the name meant nothing to Mad
cline.
Leon Zavertal?' she repeated,
dreamily. He was not an English.
man. ?''
mo, he was a Pole :.
For the first time Madelin- felt
thrill of mingled pain and pleasure.
Was not Lancelot also of Polish origin?
How strange that they should both be
of the same racei
Tell me more" she said, with sud-
den eagerness. Did you know him
well?'
mo, not we'll" Despard lowered his
eyes. He was an exile from his native
land-exiled for conspiracy of course
and the police were generally on his
track. I knew him through De Mar
sac"
de Marsac?'
But he wasn't of De Marsac's kind
at ALL said Despard, hurriedly. HE
was an enthusiast, a fanatic, of the
purest life and, in spite of his nihilist
plots, the kindest heart. II liked
Leon Zavertal. I am sure I never
meant to do him any harm"
What harm did you do him." said
Madeline. with dilated eyes
Oscar Despard WINGED and fidgeted
with hands and feet.
We'll, it was not my doing; it was
De Marsac. 1t was he who told me;