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

so that Jhere was nice empty room
for you, Maddy, dear, when you came
in"
Even Jenny discreetly vanished. for
she scented possible lover for her
darling Madeline from affair; only she
sat on the stairs and cried FOR the loss
that she felt sure was speedily in store
for her
Madeline came slowly into the sit
ting-room. She was very pale, except
for two spots of burning color over her
cheek bones and in her hand she car
ried the jewel case. But Lancelot saw
nothing save herself-her sweet, sad
face, her pensive eyes-and without
waiting for permission he simply
threw his arms round her and folded
her to his breast.
For a moment Madeline yielded to
the embrace. She felt his kisses on
her eyes, her hair her lips and she
gave way to a delicious self-abandon-
ment. But for a moment only. Then
she drew herself resolutely away.
my darling! Ny poor. sweet Made
line, How they have misjudged you,
Don't tear yourself away, dear. You
are not afraid that I should misunder-
stand?"
''No, Lancelot. No, it is sweet to
hear you say so.'
She spoke very gently, but kept her
self away from him He did not at
first attach much importance apparent
ly to this coldnesS and aloofness. He
attributed it to a kind Of shyness which
a few warm words of trust and affec-
tion would speedily dissipate.
"They carefully got me out of the
way first" he said. "They knew I
should not stand by and see you sac
rifced. Do you know how they got me
away, Madeline? Constance Esler said
to me that you had a headache and
wanted some particular medicine that
could only be obtained in one partic-
ular shop in London. Well, whether
she did it on purpose or not, one cam
not be sure-I am inclined to think
she did, but I think l went half over
London before I could discover this
shop And then the man laughed in
my face and told me I might have got
it at any country village dispensary.
[ came back to Hurst, seeming mis-
chief, and when I got there you were
actually gone"
Constance must have wanted you to
be away" said Madeline.
She had seated herself, with her
hands crossed over the jewel case. He |
locked at her and his heart went out
afresh to the pathetic beauty of her
face
MY darling, how i'll you look! How
cruel they have been to you?"
you heard it all, them"
Eyes, it came out after dinner that
evening. Lady Esler and Constance
would have kept their own counsel a
little longer, if not altogether but Lord
Esler let it out. I don't think I was
ever in such a rage in my life. |
spoke out Madeline. [ threatened i,
them with an action for defamation of
character and I said that you were 60
ing to be my wife"
Did you-did you-really saw that, |
LancelOt?"
81 did, indeed. I defied them all
politely, you know-and only wished
that there had been a man in the party
with whom I could have it out. I
should like to have tnrashed somebody,
[ know
you were always generous, Lance
lot-always chivalrous."
"Who would not fight for you that
loved you, dear? You are the very
light of my eyes, the lodestar of my
heart"
81 must not listen said Madeline, |
turning slightly away. 'fLancelot, you
must not say these things to me-
Mustn't I, darling? Are they too
much for your sweet modesty to bear?
Never mind, it's such a satisfaction to
me to feel that I may say them openly
and honestly now. I have put it quite
out of anybody's power TO say that
Constance Esler ought to be my wife.
But, Lancelot, you don't understand
me. | mean that you must not say
these things because I can never be,
your wife,
There are two words to that, dar-
ling I say you shall"
mot against my will?" !
1 Eyes, against your will, Madeline.
Only not against your heart. My dear
est, know you love me-"
yes, Lancelot," she said, in a soft,
tremulous voice. 81 love you dearly;
butt must not be- must give you
up"
Because you have been accused in
] this wretched way?"
/ NO she answered, with hesitation.
81 Think think I might have got
over that, when you love me and trust
me so much. Only"
! only, what? Darling, don't make
mountains out of molehills. Don't
trif1e with your happiness and mine"
She raised the case in her hands.
! See what I have here. There is no
molehill about it, Lancelot. I want
you to take this back to Lady Esler.
But I cannot marry you afterward."
Lancelot looked at the morocco case
with some repulsion.
What is it?' he said. "Why have
you got it here?"
ct is the missing jewel case. 1t con-
tains the ornaments that were lost
A red flush leaped to LanceIot's
brow. why my dearest" he ex-
claimed, in unfeigned surprise, where
= j :