Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-07-02

4
lovelier one. Something hard and
wild and fierce that had often been seen
I in venetia's face seemed to have died
out OF it and left only the sweetness
and tenderness that had once won Ro-
ger Vanbrugh's heart And, although
/ Nine. ZavertaPs voice was weak and
( her hands painfully wasted. she re-
tanned her old charm OF manner which
had fascinated husband and son and
scores of men beside.
"Ah. yes, there is no mistake about
4 it," she said, looking into Madeline's
face. You are Icons child"
Can you speak his tongue?" she
went on softly. you must have heard
/ ii often when you were baby girl Z"
She said a few words in strange
foreign tongue and smiled into Made
\ lines face "Dost thou understand
little one?"
/ Madeline looked confused almost
4 frightened; she put her hands to her
ears and took them away again. How
is it?" she said, II seem to understand
Did you saywhat did you say? Please
say it again"
The elder woman murmured a few
words and almost inyoluntarily, as 1t
seemed, Madeline murmured syllable
or two in reply. A look of triumph
passed over venetia's face. She turned
joyously to Lancelot, who was stand
4 ing near.
ut is all right, you need not be
afraid She is Icons daughter, with
out doubt. Ny child, your father al
ways used that phrase to those he
loved. Dove of my heart nestle here.
my darling he would say. 1t is part
of an old song that he learned when he
was child. And the refrain is
Hearts dearest, hold me fast'-those
are the two words you said
but ! did not know what they
meant. | have often said them over,
thinking that they were part of non
sense verse"
'Ah, no, they are part Of the lullaby
with which | dare say he often sent
you to sleep He did not tell me of
his marriage, but that does not matter
4 have you now, my child, and I
know that you belong to him. Stay
with me, Nadia, will you not?"
Call her Madeline, mother, she
knows that name best"
''She will be Nadia to me" Venetia
murmured. ut was our mothers
rame. DO you know of her, my Ma
dia?"
Il know nothing. | fear" said Made
line, softly and sadly.
"You will soon learn. Lancelot will
tell you. Your grandfather was killed
beaten to death by the Russian ty-
rants. That was why Leon and hated
them. You must not blame us for
that"
mo, indeed
my husband blamed him. That was
partly why we quarreled. | knew
Icons nobleness of soul. but my hus-
band had never seen him-only read
OF him in newspapers and thought of
him as a criminal-but he was wrong
Her voice had grown very weak and
she looked so white and frail that Ma
defines heart misgave her. She
glanced anxiously at Lancelot. Did he
know that his mother was literally
i'll? But he had turned aside and she
could not see his face.
Nine Zayerta1 insisted that Madeline
must stay the night; indeed, she saw
that she would never let her return to
the Despards; and Madeline was glad
to remain, especially as she saw that
she might be Of some use to the in
valid, whose state seemed to her to be
a very serious one.
She sat with Lancelot by the sick
womans side for part Of the evening,
but little conversation passed between
them, for Venetia was inclined to sleep
and they did not like to disturb her.
About II o'clock, however, she open
cd her eyes and returned to full wake
fulness and decision.
'Lancelot" she said Il have been
thinking that should like to see your
father"
Yes, mother Shall ! telegraph for
him?'
81 fancy that it is too late tonight.
hut do II early tomorrow morning,
Lance. and send message. Say | am
very ILL.,"
Mother. do YOU feel i'll? Shall l.
send for the doetor?"
mo he will come in the morning.
know what to take; you need not be
afraid. But make him understand"
Perhaps she said. with the fever
ishness which sick persons sometimes
manifest, perhaps If you went now
the telegraph people could be made to
understand how very urgent 1t is and
se4d it by special messenger. You
might try, Laneelot? 1t is worth
while"
IF It is possible ii shall be sent to-
night, mother" said Lancelot, gravely,
and then he said word of caressing
farewell To Madeline and left the room
For time Yenetia kept silence: then
rba 4all.a1 n Ift4ln 80 Madeline bt,4 in