Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-06-11

Naning upon MS SnOulutIt Shc SuuuNiAg
burst into tears.
Maria. you are mad quite mad. !
uuavered Oscar Despsrd Your lady
ship will not be prejudiced--"
Il think you had better hold your
tongue" said Lady Ester, drysy. ITS
no use excusing yourself to me; don't
believe single word you say. Well,
Jennings, who Is this girl, them"
Even Madeline held her breath TO
hear the answer, but It was miserably
disappointing one.
Il don't know, my lady.
"You don't knew you must know
81 don't, indeed. my lady. 1t was my
husband brought her to me and told
me to ask no questions. ! often used to
think she was daughter of his own,
but not when he left her at Miss
Joyce's. | did not think then that any
father would act so cruel to his own
child"
Lady Esler turned and surveyed Os-
car Despard leisurely and not without
touch Of amusement. Madeline raised
her head and looked appealingly into
his face, But he would not respond.
He turned away his head
ct is a trap" he said, sullenly, TO
get me into trouble. You have always
been marplot, Madeline, but / don't
think you have ever done anything
worse than your stepmother has done
now. am an unfortunate, ill-used
man." he went on, sinking into a
whine. which made Madeline shiyer,
and I don't know what | have done
to be so treated"
Lady Esler rose frcm her seat. II
am sure hardly know which is the
worst among YOU" she said, pleasantly.
whether it is the husDald who cheats,
or the wife who lies, or the daughter
who steals my jewei5-I really don't
;gcw VIII i should gi,c II palm to
o. deadnass of conjeienc can only
Soy / do not wist 10 lave anything
more to 20 with Yp; ! baS TO disown
GU as connections o. zine altogether.
7 dc not care whether your stories are
true or false. I ONLY hope may never
set eyes on the face Of 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 scene OF
fierce recrimination, during which Ma
define sat silent, almost as II she dio
not hear Only when Mrs. Despard
had been reduced to Mysteries and been
assisted to her own room, did the CIR
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 II she could not see very clearly.
You would not tell Lady Esler. but
you win tell me?"
Tell you WHAT" growled he sulkily.
e"The whole truth father"
He seemed about to answer angrily;
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 1t do you2"
ooh, If only l knew the exact truth!
Just now feel at sea, as if nobody
| had trusted in were true. Even If /
am not your daughter father-even If
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 | have already
told YOU
Because cannot believe that it is
true"
"You are as bad as any of them
YOU can't believe even in your own
father Unnatural child!'
"No, 1t is not unnatural, father, You
could surely prove it TO me, If there
We're ne mistake-if there We're abso-
lutely nothing wrongam really your
child, father?'
Despard hesitated a moment and
looked uneasily from side to side.
Madeline uttered sharp, low cry.
You have answered, she said. You
cannot look me in the face and say
that | belong to You.
Nonsense, Madeline
Tell me all, dear" she said, taking
one of his hands in her own Il will
not cease TO love you--indeed will
not Only tell me who am"
BE it on your own head, then. he
answered, taking his hand away. you
are not my daughter You do not be-
long 10 the Eslers at all"
And yet-you tried Ito make them
believe that | was?'
Yes, | tried Why should not? |
was poor and l had married one OF
them. yet they had always refused to
do anything for me II was my just