Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-03-05

movements. Hence it came that be-
tween IL and II o'clock a white figure
fitted out from a side door and made
its way into certain shrubbery, where,
close by an iron gate, Rene de Marsac
lurked in the shadows, waiting for his
lady love.
constance, my beautiful one
She was clasped in his arms and by
the light of the moon he saw her
smiling tenderly into his eyes.
Darling Rene" she whispered, L
have had such trouble to get here.
thought 1 should never get rid of my
l.artners. Was it not good idea of
Lime to tell you to come tonfght?"
Good enough in a way" said De
Marsac, a little sullenly. But l ought
TO be among the guests. l should have
been but for your friend, Madeline
She is no friend of mine
Why did you bring her with you
that day? 1t ruined everything. And
then you dropped that letter-well,
do not wish to reproach you, but you
know, Constance, that you have in
ficted an irreparable injury upon me.
''Oh, Rene, don't say So
Il must say it when it is the truth.
Your aunts letter to Col. Vanbrugh
was about the worst thing that could
happen to me. l could not deny that
THAT l loved you, Constance; and he
accused me of dishonorable conduct
|, a De Marsac-and called on me to
apologize and to give you up
How could he?" cried Constance,
Indignantly.
''Of course, refused" he said, twirl-
ing his mustache. And then we quar-
relied | could not remain in his
house any longer" CAS- matter of fact
Col. Vanbrugh had requested him to
leave it, ut is a tremendous loss to
me, as he had promised to obtain a
permanent post for me ana you know,
dearest, that although I shall ultimate
ly succeed to a great estate, l am at
present in somewhat straitened circum-
stances; but for your sake, I mind
nothing"
ct is very hard for both of u.s. said
Constance, plaintively. eff only we
could have managed it-and gone away
together-they would have forgiven us
then"
She spoke hesitatingly, but De Mar
sac knew we'll enough what she meant.
She believed in him thoroughly and
would have gladly married him and
gone away with him to share all the
difficulties of his life if he would have
allowed it. And he had not been I'M
willing to bind her to him by secret
marriage, although he had never in
tended to take her away from her home
until he saw prospect of advancement
in life.
Rene de Marsac was simply a needy
adventurer, who preyed in turn upon
any persons who were imposed upon by
his pleasant manners and amusing
/ tongue, but Constance thought him the
most heroic and chivalrous of men.
Little did she fancy that when she
spoke to him of marriage he was cal
culating the chances of Lady Esler's
generosity and the depth of her purse;
and was half-inclined to give the girl
a last kiss and disappear from Alders-
| leigh and Hurts forever.
Quite unconsciously she herself in
fuenced his decision by the next few
words.
II wish I were not so young. When
I am of age I shall be able to do as
I like and l shall have money of my
own"
money of our own, dear? Thirty
| al "A
De Marsac, with hooking little laugh.
Nonsense, Rene. Ten thousand
pounds. Lord Esler gave it me-settled
it on me or something of the kind,
when | was a child. I believe it is
more than that now" saidConstance,
vaguely, because of the interest and
all that heard Aunt Selma say it had
age we could be independent of every
one, could we not"'
The clasp of his arm round her waist
frightened little "You are IS, are you
not?" he said. Three years. Will you
wait for me, Constance"
Indeed, will"
I'VE must meet from time to tine.
And perhaps were interrupted the
other day by that wretched girls inter-
ference, but another time"
Yes, Rene"
Another time we will carry the MAJ
ter through, will we not?-and l must
arrange it; we must see each other
again. And now, darling, I must CO.
81 must go, too. Aunt Selma will
miss me-" said Constance, with back
ward glance at the brilliantly lighted
house. "Good-by, Rene, good-by."
"Ma bien aimee, good-by."
And Constance sped swiftly back to
the side door whence she had issued,
while Rene de Marsac remained for
time in the gloom of the shrubbery and
finally made his way by a circuitous
route to the inn which was at present
his abode