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

don't want to take me, Gus, I will go
/ back to mother"
| But of course 1 will take you" said
Gus, greatly wondering why this ex-
plosion Of wrath had descended upon
him, for Lady Frances was generally
serene enough. Come this way. Don't
you see the old duffGr under that
clump of palms,"
Lady Frances detached her arm an
g1ily from his and gazed on him with
unspeakable wrath.
''Old duffer, indeed she calculated
at length. why, Col Vanbrugh is one
of the most distinguished men in the
service and he is not at all old. Really,
Gus, you schoolboys are very vulgar
She walked away with her pretty
brown head in the air and Gus was
left to whistle softly to himself and to
wonder how it was that brown-faced
colonel with hair that was actually
turning gray, could inspire enthusiasm
in the heart of a girl like Lady Frances.
Roger Vanbrugh was not in a So
basket chair in a secluded corner of
the Farmhouse and was wishing him
self back in his study at Aldersleigh
when he saw the little figure of his
old friends daughter approaching him,
with outstretched hands and a smile
upon her lips. He started up and gave
her an answering smile as he shook
hands.
why are you alone? 1 saw you
dancing just now"
yes, with Augustus Alymer, he is
cousin of mine. He brought me to
the door. I saw you here and wanted
to come and speak to YOU
THAT was very kind of you said
Col. Vanbrugh, in the grave, benignant
tones that he reserved for Frances Ally
mer and one or two young favorites,
to whom he had something of a father
ly feeling. 81 have not seen you for a
long time. VIII you sit down here ?
So you have left school and are quite
grown up, are you not?"
81 am not nearly so grown-up as
Constance" said Lady Frances, with a
smile
mo, one would certainly think that
Constance was some years your senior -
''She is about Lancelot's age" she
constrained herself to bring Lancelot's
name into conversation.
eyes. You know that Lancelot is in
London now?"
'T-I know" she fa1tered. How
quietly he spoke. Was it possible that
he did not take Lancelot's departure at
all to hearth"
81 had hoped that he would come
home for the shooting, but he seemed
to prefer staying in London"
'You must miss him. said Frances,
clasping and unclasping her nervous,
little hands together and looking anx-
iously into his face.
ooh, little, we have not been much
together of late years and we had, per-
haps, scarcely got used to each other
when he went away"
''Then you don't mind? You are not
unhappy? 1t is not as people say
that he ran away from home against
Your wishes and that you will never
speak to him again.
Col. Vanbrugh's dark face changed
color. A light came into his eyes and
his brows contracted a little.
'Is that what people say" he ex-
claimed, as if involuntary; then he
folded his arms and turned away his
face.
ooh, forgive me-" cried Frances, the
! tears rushing to her eyes, "but I
thought you knew or that you ought
/ to know: I have always said that
Lance was very wrong to so away and
! that it was impossible for you to have
been unjust or unkind to him; but
mother says I am not to talk about
it any more"
Does she? Lady Stevenage is al
ways very wise" said Col Vanbrugh,
with rather a stern smile But why
then are you talking to me now?'
ooh, that is quite different. That is
no harm at least if you are not offend
ed. I do hope Ihave not offended you,"
said Frances, anxiously, ''but wanted
so much to say one thing"
To Be Continued