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

Jenny into the tiny little room which
the sisters were to share, and there, on
pretext of unp2cking, they sat with
their arms round each other on the
bed and discussed family affairs and
their respective histories. Jenny had
always adored Madeline and the great
est grief of Madeline's childhood had
been her separ2 ton from Jenny; the
meeting was therefore a delight to
each of them But Jenny was alarmed
and amazed when Madeline after a
time turned so white and faint that
she was obliged to lie down and close
her eyes, though any one who knew
what Madeline had passed through on
that day would scarcely have been sur
prised She was forced to go to bed
early and as Oscar Despard did not
come home till midnight she had no
interview until the following morning.
And by that time the impulse to tell
him the whole story had died away.
1t was a difficult matter for a daughter
to tell her father-even such a father
as Oscar Despard had been-that he
y
thought she not to warn him ?
She tried circuitous methods first.
Father" she said, as he sat at her
bedside next morning, for she was far
too much exhausted to rise, will you
tell me one thing? Where we're you
the night before last? Were you at
home?"
Was it a fancy or did a startled and
terrified expression cross his face?
Where was /, my dear child? I was
- at home. No, | am wrong I was
dining with a party of friends at Hol-
born restaurant and we went to a quiet
little club afterWard." said Mr.. Des-
pard, rather nervously. Several men
there that I knew-De Marsac and
others"
De Marsac? Then Madeline knew
that her father was not telling the
truth
mo, father" she said, in a low
clear tone, 81 know that the Count de
Marsac was not at the club that night"
HOW do you know? What non
sense! Why, you were
II was at Hurst and looking out of
my window saw" she said, sadly.
He grasped her arm suddenly. "You
did not betray him? You did not
say
/ said nothing" said Madeline, look
ing him full in the face And that is
why | am here Oh. father. father,
they think it was they think I took
the jeWels-and gave them to you. If
only could believe that you had moth
ing to do with the-the robbery
''What-what is that you say? Sent
YOU away? YOu?"
Yes. father-for helping you. they
say. They found pocketbook. with
your name on the flap"
She was sorry to see him thrust his
hand involuntarily into his breast
pocket, as if to search for the missing
p0cketbook.
Cad he burst out. az never miss.
ed it
Then, father. YOU were there?"
He attempted a little prevarication.
a little buster; then awed by the grief
and the candid earnestness of Made
lines blue eyes. he suddenly broke
down.
And if [ did-if | did-it was quite
fair" he cried. "They were Constance
Esler's jewels and her old bag Of an
aunt would not let her have them. She
took them herself and brought them to
me De MarSac had been to her that
night to persuade her to do so. You
dc not mean to say that they had the
audacity to pretend that it was you?"
YES, father"
And they turned you out for that?'
yes"
1.-The scoundrels! The wretchesr'
No. father, be just; Lady Esler was
not to blame, but I should not have
cared if I could have looked them in
the face as I did yesterday and said
that my father was incapable of such
a crime"
The pathos of her voice made Des-
pard vince
1T was no crime on my part" he
said. doggedly. II received the jewels
in good faith"
now"
He hesitated and hung his head
"Oh. let us restore them. father
There is still time. They have been
generous TO us; let us in one turn al
least be honest with them
MY dear child" said her father, I'M
easily: 81 accepted only what Miss Els
Ter gave me- I was to take charge Of
it until De Marsac asked for it again
you know I suppose. that she die
not give YOU the rubies?" said Made
line. quickly.
Did not give me the rubies?" STAN
mered Oscar Desp3rd.
''Yes. only some garnets in mistake
You have-not even the excuse o
thinking that they are hers. The!
have been in the Esler family for gen
erations"
Despards lips grew tremulous &c
did not know" he almost whimpered
u swear I did not know. I did no
want to be mixed up in felony"
'They made a tool Of you, poo
father" said Madeline, putting one arr
round his neck and drawing his fac
down TO her shoulder 1t seemed I
her just then that he was more YEA
than base; that his faults were thos
of an ill-nurtured child. Then sh
continued in a gentle. coaxing tone
Wont you send them back. father
Wont vO,, Criva +bor,, n mo ooJ lot -,