Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-05-21
CHAPTER xxx.
Characterization.

Discrimination
Madeline did not cry out or faint.
Her tears were dried as if by magic
and she stood with so pale and pas
sionate a front that Lady Esler lifted
her hands in Mortified amazement.
Shameless quite shameless" she
muttered to herself then in a louder
tone: Have you nothing to say for
yOurself?"
You cannot believe me guilty of
such wicked conduct, Lady Esler?'
said Madeline. Surely it is impossi-
BILE? You can't think that [ would do
such a thing?"
The pleading ring of her voice, the
tears in her eyes, moved Lady Esler a
little. She looked uncertainty at Con
stance
1T does seem very extraordinary,
she said. 81 must say l can hardly
believe it of one of my own relations"
perhaps Madeline will kindly tell
us what she was doing in this room
last night?" Constance said. 1T was
her refusal to tell me that excited my
suspicious. So. very peculiar Why
could she not have said what she was
Going?"
The very refinement of malice was
in her eyes. Madeline looked at her
piteOusly for moment, then looked
away and wrung her hands together
"Oh, Constance" she said. How can
you be so cruel?"
Constance is not cruel" said Lady
Esler's judicial voice; "she is perfectly
right Why were you in this room last
night?"
II was not in this ROOM
But. Madeline, you know l saw you
in the CORRIDOR" said Constance, in
the gentlest of tones.
Yes, in the corridor; not in the
room"
And, pray, what were you doing in
the corridor?'
'I-came to see whether the house
were safe; whether any one had got
in" said Madeline. Even to herself
the explanation sounded lame. Yet
what could she say?
And what made you think that any
one was in the house? Did you hear
noises of any kind?'
Lady Esler spoke in less icy tone.
She had remembered that Constance
also had spoken of noises in the house.
Perhaps there was here a possible eX-
PLANTATION for Madeline's extraordinary
conduct. But 70 her great surprise,
with appalling lips and with dOwncast
eyes, Madeline answered: "No.
heard no noises
Did you see anything, them"
For a moment Madeline hesitated
1t seemed to her there was way of
answering this question quite truly,
yet without betraying Constance. Not
i'll the house." she began, in a Lesitat-
ing tone whereupon Constance caught
her up mercilessly.
IF not in the house. what did it mat
ter? The fact is you heard nothing
you saw nothing-but yourself. Aunt
Selma, wonder at your patience with
such prevarication.
Madeline looked up with Hash of
the eyes which made Constance feel
that she had perhaps gone TOO far.
What might Madeline not say next?
turns and biting her under lip, low
cred her eyes and did not speak. She
dared not. Had she spoken at all in
that moment of temptation she would
have launched the whole story straight
in the face of the two listeners. But
her sense of honor keenly tried, We S
sufficient to uphold her in the moment
of its probation; and she kept also
lutte silence-a silence which told
against her in the eyes of Lady Esler,
who would have understood mysteries
and wild accusations and appeals much
better than Madeline's proud quietude.
Il repeat" said Lady Esler, malesti-
cally, what were you doing in the
corridor between Constance's bedroom
and my dressing room? There was no
necessity for you to be there at that
time Of night.
Il can only say what l have said be-
fore-that l came to see whether any
person was in the house who ought not
to be there" said Madeline, firmly.
You cannot possibly connect me with
the loss of your jewels?"
Il am not so sure Of that" Lady Els
Ter was losing her temper You were
the only person. according to all ac-
counts, who is likely to know anything
about them. l must make inquiries
I should have sent for the police di-
rectly if it were not that did not wish
to make the matter more public than
can be helped-seeing that a relation
of my own is concerned
Make every inquiry, by all means,
said Madeline, turning to her aunt
with flushed cheeks and blazing eyes
Il should like every possible inquiry
to be made; but do not say-oh. do MOI