Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-02-27


He drew her aside and whispered
few tender words, while Madeline stood.
pressing her hands together and feel
ing extremely miserable. Constance
was then handed into the cab and Rene
gave Mrs. Gervase's address to the
driver Madeline scrambled in by her
self.
Constance kept silence at first and
the ycuuger girl yentured at last to
touch ner arm.
Constance, | am really very sorry"
she said
Constance turned upon her angrily.
You little marplot You sneak. You
toad. | hate You, Madeline Despard.
And I'll be revenged on YOU, too. some
day shall have the chance, know.
And YOU need not expect me 10 spare
YOU when do get the chance"
Constance, indeed. only want to do
what is right But NJ. de Marsac is a
bad man.
"oh. indeed, you have had great
deal of experience, no doubt. l suppose
You are going to Miss Joyce with the
whole story when we get baek?"
Madeline hesitated. Il told you that
would not tell II you came back with
me and if It did not happen again."
she said. "And shall keep my word.
but you must not expect me to say what
Is not true If / am asked questions"
IF you say a single word" said Con-
stance deliberately, Il will prevent
every girl in the school from ever
speaking to you again.
II was childish threat, but Madeline
shiyered little at the look of hatred
in Constances beautiful eyes.
They spoke no more until they were
walking up the avenue to Mrs. Ger
vases house And then Miss Esler said
coldly:
you can leave all explanations to
me. | know what to say to Mrs. Ger
vase"
Madeline dared not protest and could
only hope that Constance would not
call upon her to confirm her state
ments.
Fortunately she was not near enough
to hear distinctly what Constance did
say when she arrived
Dear Mrs, Gervase, was so sorry.
you know wrote to you that we could
not come to lunch | had to go to the
stores to meet my aunt, who wanted
to order frock for me and | knew we
should never be back in time"
l.. 4
letter from you TO say that you could
not come"
Constance fell into very graceful
attitude Of surprise. "But wrote--in-
deed did, wonder whether the letter
never got sent Off Indeed, it was my
fault dear, Mrs Geryase. am so
sorry"
''Oh, never mind, my dear, 1t does
not matter" said Mrs. Geryase, fat
comfortable-looking woman, with a
smiling face. only there is no lunch
for YOU
I'VE had lunch at the stores. thank
you. And please, Mrs Gervase, Please
don't mention to Miss Joyce that you
did not get my letter. She would be
so angry, she would say | had been
careless in sending it or something
Would you mind not saying anything
to her."
"Of course, won't my dear, would
not get you into trouble for the world
And who is this pretty young girl with
you? ] have not seen her before"
Her name Is Madeline Despard, ;"
said Constance, negligently. She has
very few friends and does not go out
much, so Miss Joyce thought 1t would
be so nice for her to come with me
today, ! hope you do not mind"
Mind" said Mrs. Geryase, warmly
1T is a pleasure to look at her. What
a charming face"
"0h, do you think so?"
Quite different from your style, Con-
stance, SO you need not be jealous.
should like to see more of her She
has sweet expression, but rather a
sad one, too"
Mrs. Gervase moved away to talk
with her younger guest, leaving Con-
stance meanwhile to be entertained by
her daughter. But the good lady did
not, somehow, find Madeline very re-
sponsive. She thought her chilly, ST.
lent, almost stupid. The fact was that
Madelines mind was given to the ques-
ton Of the position in which she stood.
What ought she to do? She had never
been so miserable In her life.
We'll, my dears," said Miss Joyce,
in an unusually amiable manner, when
the two girls returned home about 4
O'Clock, did you have pleasant lunch
con party?"
VERY, thank YOU said Constance,
demurely.
And you, my dear, did you enjoy
yourself?" said the schooImistress,
turning severely to Madeline.
Poor Madeline turned very red and
stammered ont something incoherent.
which made Constance long to box her
ears
Poor Madeline is so shy" she said,
patronizlngly. 81 think she does not
enjoy going out"
Whereupon Madeline disgraced her