Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-03-12
Continued.


showed that he wished the colloquy to
end as soon as possible.
Because, you know there are some
things which don't bear talking about"
Il know know, and l suppose that
was why mother told me to be silent"
said Frances, who was almost in tears.
"But I have always been friends with
Lance and you are mothers and
fathers friend, too, and it seemed as
if you belonged to US"
Eyes" said Roger Vanbrugh, in
gentler tone. Yes, my dear, I see
and Lance has been unfriendly and you
are vexed with him, that is it, | sup
poser"
A new idea struck him and he Won
dered at his own blindness in never
piercing it before. A marriage between
LancelOt and Lady Frances-it might
not be out of place; at any rate it
might not have been thought so, while
Lancelot was living peacefully at Aid
ersleigh. His flight to London, this
Identification Of himself with his
mothers friends, had probably put
spoke in the wheel, as far as the
Stevenages approval was concerned.
And the girl was fretting about it and
had turned innocently enough to
Lance's father for help. He felt an adj
ditiOnal kindness for her, IS he turned
once more to hear her words and he
entirely acquitted her of impertinence,
which he had been inclined to suspect
when she first began to speak.
But Frances did not answer quite as
he had expected. She opened her eyes
and looked little surprised.
Il don't know that he has been par
tiCularly unfriendly to u.s." she said.
II am vexed with him-yes; but not
because of ourselves-only because I
think he has behaved badly to you and
put you in a wrong position"
How sop
81 am sure you do not need me to
tell you," said Frances, Indignantly
"YOu must know that he has raised up
all the gossip of the county and that
everybody is specializing about the rea-
son Of his leaving home. Lance was
rather a favorite in the neighborhood,
you know; and you have been a great
deal away and people don't know
you"
People don't like me, you mean"
"How can they like anybody they
don't know?" said Frances, adroitly
1T has made them say very disagree
able, unjust things; and when I heard
them, | was so angry about it that
mother told me I must not say any
more-except in private; it did not
look we'll, she said, for me to be al
ways defending you'll am sure I don't
know why"
$50 you were defending me-" said the
colonel, tenderly. He was moved by
her words, by the spectacle of this
child-a child in his eyes-taking up
the cudgels for him and fighting her
battles against her little world. Fran
ces Alymer was intrinsically loyal and
true. How do you know that I am
worthy your defense, Frances?" he
went on. "How do you know that
what they said was unjust?"
Because I am perfectly sure" she
said, with feminine want of logic, chat
you would never be cruel or unkind, I
know"
"Do they say I am cruel? To
.whom?"
Frances flushed scarlet and did not
answer,
ITO Lancelot?" the colonel asked, in
exorably.
''No-nOt to Lancelot."
Tell me, little friend. You are the
only person who has been brave and
true enough to speak to me on this
subject. Now that you have begun you
must go on. Tell me what people say.
To whom have | been cruel?"
The answer came almost in a whis-
per: "To your wife"
There was a short silence, Frances
held her breath and looked down.
When the colonel spoke again it was
in slightly strained, unnatural voice
do they mention the way in which
I was cruel to my wife?"
They say-different things"
GO on, my dear I am quite used to
hearing rumors of this kind-indeed. |
am. 1t is always the case when hus-
band and wife do not live happily to-
gether. And-don't you see?-it is
much better for them to speak i'll of
me than of her"
Il don't think so when it is untrue, -
said Lady Frances, in a choked voice,
Il am sure you never struck a wom-
an
mo; so far you are right. 1 never
did,
"Nor shot-her-"
''Wait 81 moment, Frances, there is
half truth il that story. I did not
intend to shoot her, certainly; but a
weapon which I was holding went off
accidentally and she was wounded
20 my bitter regret"
But nobody blamed you them"
mot so much as they do now, l
fancy" said the colonel, sadly.
ut was generally admitted then
that the affair was a sad accident. /
will speak more frankly to you. my
child, than I have done to some people
If my wife had treated it as an ac-
cident and had remained with me !
should never have been harshly judged
by the world at large; but she-un-
fortunately believed that meant to
wound her-perhaps to kill her-and
she never forgave me-" He stopped
short for moment and added in a
lower voice. tThera were nerhaDS