Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-04-16

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it would have seemed like a piece of
deception to Miss Joyce If she had
known and was glad that you gave 1t
up"
~" said Lancelot, holly. 4 never
gave it up"
q wrote last" said Madeline, proyok-
ingly.
Indeed you didn't. l wrote at least
six times, tell you, before l gave it
up"
Madeline put on little air Of in
creduhty 1T is so easy to say that.
l never had the letters. OF course you
forget"
mo, did not forget. Madeline, You
believe me, surely?"
Il am grown up now. Mr.. Vanbrugh,
am generally called Miss Despard,"
do you wish me to cali you, Miss
4 Despard?"
IF you please"
But If uon't please?"
Surely this Is our station" said
Madeline, demurely, whereupon there
was a good deal of hustle in getting out
of the train and extricating the luggage
from the van. Then Madeline noticed
a footman in livery, who was touching
his hat to Mr.. Vanbrugh and looking
at her in some doubt, as if he were
not sure whether or no she were the
For the servants at Hurst knew all
lady of whom he was in search.
about Miss Despard and the doubtful
ness of her position and the dishonesty
of her father and were prepared to
treat her with varying degrees of in
d. ference and dislike. Servants have
too often prejudice against the poor
relations of the household But Made
line, with her tall, svelte figure, with
( the becoming hat on the hair of burn
ished gold and the gait of a graceful
princess-Madeline was not in the least
the type of poor relation that the foot
man knew. Therefore he hesitated a
little, until he heard Mr.. Vanbrugh
speak:
They have sent a carriage for us,
see Miss Despard. Let me take you
to it: the porters will see to the lug
gage. Henry, bring Miss Despard' 5
bag"
And then Henry condescended TO
touch his hat.
An open carriage, drawn by two beau
tiful bays, waited at the station door
1t was empty, fact at which L.ancelot
expressed some satisfaction.
"They know don't like to me met :"
he said to Madeline, as he took the
vacant seat at her side, 80 they have
discontinued the practice"
"Ah,' thought Madeline to herself,
that shows how often he is here"
Are there any other visitors?" she
asked, when they were bowling along
the smooth white country roads.
Sure to be. Lady Esler likes to have
her house full Of visitors. She cannot
leave home much, you know, because
Lord Esler suffers from q spinal COM
plant, which makes him complete
invalid; but she gets all the variety she
wants by a succession of guests.
wonder if she has found a new COM
panion? Six to M knowledge, have
left within the half-year."
Il shall make the seventh" said
Madeline, with composure. "Only am
going TO stay two months"
You? But what do you mean?"
Lady Esler has invited me for the
holidays, with the understanding that
| will help in little duties, such as a
companion generally performs. 1t IS
all right; would not have come on any
other footing. l would not have come
at all if Miss Joyce had not wished it. ;"
But, Madeline, Lady Esler is your
aunt"
She has been my aunt for the last
six years, has she not? She has not
suddenly become my aunt. No. Lance
lot, don't expect me to care for her or
to feel any pleasure in coming here. If
could have stayed away would"
Good heavens, and / thought was
doing you a service
your"
Yes. Didn't you know IL was ! who
brought ii about? Your father came
TO me, said Lancelot, with some en-
baTassment, and | asked him if he
could show me any papers about your
relationship to Gen. Armstrong and so
on. 70 had them all, of course, and the
relationship was perfectly clear, so
brought the matter before Lady Eslers
notice"
q suppose l ought to be obliged to
you"
And yon are not?'
She sighed.
81 often feel very wicked" she said,
plaintively.
You don't look 1t. at any rate. Made
line, tell me one thing-do you want
to see your father? l refused to give
him your address. thought I would
wait until | had asked you"
THAT was kind of you" said Made
line, thoughtfully. Does he wish to
see me?"
Yes, very much"
And did you hear anything Of the
others?"
i.