Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-04-09
Roger Vanbrusb's Wife. !
BY ADEIINE SERGEANT. x
BY ADEI.INE SERGEANT.


the landings and in the bedrooms at
. Westbourne house, on the last day oil
the term. Miss Joyce, with the worldly
wisdom for which she was remarkable,
always closed eyes and ears to the up
roar and untidiness Of the last TWO
days. On one she gave big break
lng-up" party, the next was devoted 70
packing and also to pranks. She liked
to send the girls home in good temper;
II spoke we'll for the school.
II was bright, warm July afternoon.
, Boxes stood everywhere, drawers were
wide open and their contents tossed up
on the beds; maid or two were help
ing the young ladies 20 collect their
; things, and, supreme among all school
girls and servants, stood the young mu-
sic teacher Miss Despard. That she
was very popular was evident from the
way in which every little matter was
referred to her, generally in the most
affectionate terms; that she could also
enforce obedience was equally evident
although no one had yet fathomed
her method OF doing IT., for her voice
was gentle and even merry and her
face was generally as bright as II was
beautiful. Only when she was quite
alone did Madeline allow the lines of
her mouth TO droop sometimes and her
eyes to gather tears; and yet there
were elements In her lot which would
tend to depress the gayest heart and to
I discourage the most persistent hopeful
ness.
Nothing had been heard of her father
( since Gen. Armstrong; death and
Madeline had remained on sufferance
at Westbourne house for close upon six
years On sufferance at first; afterward
because she could make herself useful
Before she was l6 Ii had been discoy-
cred that she mad wonderful knack
oil managing rebellious girls and that
her talent for music was remarkable
These capacities were quickly turned
to account by Miss Joyce, who was
} never niggardly when she saw that a
return for the outlay might be expect
ed and Madeline was favored with
some OF the best lessons that could be
obtained for her, on the distinctly inn
piled condition that she would make
herself useful in the school and pass
on to younger pupils the instruction
that she received Madeline's nature
was too sweet and generous for this to
be anything but a pleasure TO her.
Miss Joyee's admonition respecting the
debt of gratitude was singulary thrown
, away upon this pupil of hers. Made
j for all kindness and all benefits, and
j the older she grew the more clearly
\ she understood her Indebtedness to the
I school mistress. She showed her feel
I ing with increased warmth and open
, ness and 1t was noticed that Miss Joyce.
who was not easy to please with her
teachers although she might be bland
enough with the pupils manifested
! considerable favor to Madeline and was
/ sometimes almost affectionate to her.
I On this last day of the term when
it was SO we'll known that the girls
We're packing and even beginning to
take leave of Westbourne house for the
summer holidays, and that Miss Des-
pard was husily occupied in helping
everybody and looking after every
thing. L came quite as shock to
teacher and pupil alike when the trim
parlor maid appeared at the bedroom
door with the remark that Miss Joyce
wished Miss Despard TO come down to
the drawing room at once to see a
lady"
One OF the mothers, | suppose, said
Madeline. raising her hands Instructive
II to her head and smoothing down the
golden locks. I'm atraid that am
very dirty | will wash my han + and
come down directly Mary"
"You are not dirty one bit, said
lMtlly, feryently You look as cool
and fresh and pretty as you always do,
and YOU have not a speck on your
fingers
Mlly you are an arch fatterer.
Let me go. dear And after a mo-
uent or two given to her toilet Made
line sped downstairs 10 the drawing
room She was pleasant picture to
the eye rs she appeared in the door
way, Her slight tall figure was sim
ply gowued in blue and white cotton.
with a little dainty embroidery here
aud there and a finishing touch Of rib
bon at the slim waist, where a little
bunch OF houeysuekle had been tucked
Her FAIR complexion was tinged with
a charming wild-rose tint, deepening
into "geranium hue" in sweet curved
lins her eyes had darkened little
since the days Of her childhood, but
her hair had retained its golden hue
j aud WAS loosely eoied in a great soft
+ kpot 1T tile back 81 her head. though
round the white forehead the loose
curling hairs insisted on standing up
/ till they formed 4 sort or aureole above
/ her face, She had never perhaps looked
prettier or more graceful than at that
moment and Miss Joyce felt rather
proud Of her uuondam pupil I'm snite