Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-03-05

for the better-always for the worse. y
At which Lady Frances laughed in
I spite of herself.
The day came when Madeline was
left behind once more, much to her
desolation and Miss Joyce's impotent
wrath. Miss Joyce did not scruple to
reproach her with her fathers sins and
lad no conjunction in reducing her to
utter misery. Madeline's happiest hours
were those which she spent over heT
favorite story books when the school
mistress was out or away from home
1t was in reading that she forgot the
discOmforts of her own position and
ceased to wonder what F-ances and
| Constance and the rest Of her school
fellows were doing in their happy
homes. Several of them sent her
Christmas cards and gifts, even Lance
lot die not forget her, as she had half
expected that he would-he sent her a
delicate filagree brooch, with his in
itials only inside the box that contained
it-and these membranes gave he1
a good deal of quiet happiness.
1t is quite possible that she had more
real enjoyment of the holidays than
little Lady Frances, whose stormier
nature involved her in some trouble
Sc me scenes when she was home again
To begin with, she surprised and rather
s1ieved her mother by her vigorous
interest in th= affairs of the Vanbrugh
/ family and then by her partisanshiI
Of Col. Vanbrugh's cause. The countess
had at last to take her to task very
seriously.
Frances, my dear child, you must
not express your opinions quite Sc
freely. Your father was quite shocked
at your outburst last night"
The outburst had been at Lancelot
Vanbrugh's expense. Some references
! had been made to him at dinner and
Lady Frances, regardless of her
mothers reproving glance, had openly
declared herself of opinion that he was
a heartless, undutiful son and that his
father was one of the best men in
the world.
Il only said what was true" said
/ Lady Frances.
/ You had better leave it to your ED
Crs, my dear. You do not know all the
facts
Mother you do not mean that you
have left off being friends with Col
Vanbrugh?"
Lady Stevenage's fair cheek flushed
slightly. mo, dearest, no; I respect
Col Vanbrugh very highly. But you
had better leave his defense to older
people 1t is not quite becoming on
the part of a girl like you to speak
50 warmly in favor of any man.
eff you or my father would speak up
for him I should not want to say any
thing" said Lady Frances, but when
you are silent, l don't know what to
do"
81 shall hope to hear no more about
it from you" said the countess gravely.
please understand that you are not
expected to speak on the subject of
Col. Vanbrugh's relations with his wife
and son, eXcepI in private. Will you
promise me this, Frances?"
Yes, mother, if you wish it," said
Frances, with a sigh. She was very
submissive to her mother, but she went
away and wept some bitter tears over
her own incapacity to do anything for
her friends.
Suddenly a new thought struck her.
She sat up, dried her eyes and set
her mouth.
Mother said in private I may say
anything I like in private. I will do
it shall have a chance this very
afternoon"
She wept no more, but went about
the house with a light in her eyes and
a determined expression on her little
face which caused her observant
mother to wonder what piece of mis-
chief was brewing now"
But Frances did not consider that
she was doing anything at all incon-
sistent with the obedience she owed
her mother
She was going that night to a dance
"a small informal dance, for she was
rot yet considered out" and went only
to small parties and her plans of action
depended greatly upon the guests who
might be there. The party was given
by Lady Esler, at her charming country
house, and Frances was nearly certain
that Col. Vanbrugh would be there.
Certainly he was there, looking very
stiff and grave, as if nothing on earth
would make him smile again. Little
Lady Frances, watching him by stealth,
wondered whether it was his loneliness
which made him so solemn and so
sad.
For by this time it was we'll known
in the county that Lancelot had left
home in order to live with his mother
the mother about whom opinions
varied so widely; and it was generally
understood that he had been rebellious
and his father stern. There was quite
a party in favor of Lancelot and his
mother and a smaller one whose SYM
pathies went with Col. Vanbrugh. 1t
was also noted that the count now went
about alone; the foreign count who
had made himself rather popular, was
no longer to be seen at Aldersleigh.
But the secret of De Marsac's departure
was a secret from the world at large.
Some few persons knew, however,
that the count had not left the neigh
borhood. He was staying quietly at a
little village inn, whence he kept up
a frequent and imprisoned correspond
ence with Constance Esler; and ne had