Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-04-30

-hdISdc, cooIIy. he was prepared Tor
an outburst of indignation, for tears
and for stIIe; but in the end he knew
that Constance was sure to yield.
''In small things I have not minded. -
she went on. "You have told me you
would borrow them only and give them
back in time, but with the rubies it
would be impossible to do that. Why
they are celebrated, they are the finest
stones of the kind in England; if they
were missed a description of them
would be circulated at once and they
would be recognized at once by any
Jeweler; you would have to destroy the
setting and take the stones out before
they would be of any use at all"
+ Precisely, my dear. You are recov-
ering your usual perspicacity. I have
not word to say, except that l do not
know why you choose to rehearse these
little facts to me-"
ct would be stealing-not borrow
irg," Constance gasped.
/ Nonsense, ma belle 1t would be
borrowing still. The rubies will be
yours in time, will they not?"
In perhaps"
I "Certainly, you know they will. And
Lady Esler never wears them. You
are merely anticipating the time when
these beautiful jewels will be your
own. And that will not be a very long
way off, believe. Lady Esler is fail
/ ing, she has something the matter with
her heart; she might die very shortly.
Now do you not see my reason for
putting off the acknowledgment of our
+ marriage as long 2S wa car? If she
dies w. bout knowing it ycu VII be
a rich woman. If she hears o. it .-ou
will Lo left pauper.'
Rene, who told you that my aunt
was ill?"
Never mind. l know it for a fact
Don't be sentimental about her, Con-
stance. Remember that the jewels and
if you play your cards we'll; and one of
the first things you must do is to get
Madeline Despard out of the house.
could do it myself, dare say" he add
ed, musingly, "but l don't want to in
terfere just now"
You know something about Made
line Despard that the world does not
know?" said Constance, jealousy.
IF | do it is nothing to you 1t is
time for me to go. Tell me before
go whether you mean to carry out my
SUGGESTION"
May l think over it for a day or
two?" said Constance, humbly
mo, my dear, you may net. l have
no time to waste. Your conscience need
not take UP so mu4h of your attention,
surely. The rubies are practically
yours and you do not harm your aunt
by taking them. If you can manage to
involve Madeline Despard, so much the
better; you will be killing two birds
with one stone"
Il suppose 1 must do what you wish"
Constance answered. Then, in a lower
tone: eff l can get Madeline out of
the house, it will make up for a good
deal"
I'VE owe her something, do we not?"
said De Marsac, in a dry tone. eff I
could come across the father | would
bring him into the matter, too. He is
a clever hand at disposing of jewels
and if anything came out afterWard
there would be a fitness in the daugh-
ter's guilt, supposing that her father
were suspected eh?'
You are too clever, Rene" said Con-
stance, with rather a mirthleSs laugh.
She felt very cold and weak; she knew
that she must have turned very pale
She was afraid of the task before her
Now l must CO." said her husband
rising and speaking much more ami
ably than he had done before. Il will
write to you about details perhaps
you yourself will be able to devise a
plan. 1t might be we'll that 1 should
be in the neighborhood when you act
ually carry it out. l could receive the
rubies and carry them off to London !;
, 1T would be safer to get rid of them at
once"
But Constance was not listening.
Rene" she said, putting her hand on
his shoulder and speaking TREMENDOUSLY,
eff I do this thing for you-if I run
the risk-and if I am successful, you
will not talk again about abandoning
me, will you?"
He laughed good-humoredly. Very
we'll, my tres-chere-it is a bargain
If you succeed l will do anything you
like. We might take wing almost at
once and go to Paris-would you like
that? I shall be your most humble
servant-if you succeed"
And if I fail?"
They We're moving slowly down the
pathway as she spoke and she felt him
make sudden pause at her side. You
must not fall he said, sternly.
Then they stepped on in silence until
they came to the little iron gate which
led into the grounds of Hurst. Here
they were to part.
Rene, kiss me before you 60"
They were close to an open space #
lawn and in the dim starlight De Mar
sac could see his wifes beautiful, up
turned, quivering face. He was for
the moment touched by its beauty and
by its distress. He put his arms
round her and kissed her repeatedly
On the full red lips.
You witch" he said. You are
handsomer than ever. We will have
good times when we are together. you
and Ti:t'o wit There briO II