Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-30

tC Snub her. But Frances led a more
powerful party in that little school
world than Constance, who was neither
rich nor good-tempeced and possessed
a sort of beauty that schoolgirls did
not as a rule appreciate: so, for the
most part, Madeline was petted and
patronized, and was very happy in her
new home. She had been at school
now for some months. Miss Joyce had
allowed her to remain during the
Christmas holidays and had treated her
so far with great indulgence. 1t was
evident that Gen. Armstrong; pay
ments were liberal. Madeline's only
grief lay in the fact that the Despards
had ceased to correspond with her. Her
stepmother, who was an 1ll1terate
woman. seldom if ever wrote letters;
but her father was a somewhat Yolum-
/ inous writer and Jenny's scraWls had
at first been frequent. These letters
had ceased, however, since the END OF
the winter holidays; and now, in March
she had received one of her own
epistles from the returned letter office,
showing that the Despard family had
Quilted their former abode and left no
address. She was unhappily conscious
of the meaning of this fact. 1t had
happened before and more than once.
When creditors became unusually pres
sing, it was Mr.. Despard's custom TO
decamp suddenly from any town in
which he was too we'll known. There
| fore, she was not so anxious as she
might have been, had she not known
of this little popularity.
| Constance Esler was uniformly
naughty and distant toward her, but
the kindness of Lady Frances gave her
courage to defend herself against I'M
merited attacks At the same time, 1t
panied Madeline to know that she had
an enemy in the school, and she some
times tried to propitiate Miss Esler by
doing her errands-eXcept when Lady
Frances interfered. But no amiabillty
or unselfishness on Madeline's part
ever rendered Constance one whit less
scornful or exacting toward her.
The girls were still bending over
their work, when, to the surprise of
every one, Miss Joyce came rather hur-
riedly into the room. She usually held
herself apart from her pupils and sent
stately messages when she wished
them to speak to her, but on this oc-
casion she came straight into the class
room, stopped short and looked at
Madeline Despard. At her entrance
again and Madelines golden head was
once more lowered over her book; but
Miss Joyces hard little eyes were fixed
upon her, with a curious expression,
of which Constance Esler alone took
note. The schoolmistress held a letter
in her hand.
81 am sorry to have to announce to
you Madeline Despard,' she said, "that
you have sustained a great loss. The
matter affects you also. Miss Esler
although in a less degree. Gen. Arm
strong has died very suddenly"
Constance uttered a sudden exclama-
ton. Madeline said nothing, but sud
denly turned pale. She hardly knew
, what to say-or what to think. She
was very sorry for the loss of the
old man who had been so kind to her
and it seemed to her all at once thai
if the general were dead her schoo
days were ended.
, 81 came,' said Miss Joyce, in hel
clear hard voice, ''to ask you, Made
lne for your fathers address. o.
course. must communicate with hin
on certain points"
Madelines face grew crimson.
Where is he now? Write down hi:
address for me, if you please"
Miss Joyce's manner was curt aht
she considered that she had reason fol
the curtness that comes of anxiety
She knew perfectly we'll that Made
lines expenses were paid by this ole
grandfather and that Mr.. Oscar Des
pard was a peculiarly impecunlous per
son; and she anticipated the remova
of promising pupil-unless Gen. Arm
strong had left Madeline some money
And there were two or three bills fol
, clothes and other expenses which still
remained unsettled; and Miss Joyce
had begun to ask herself by whom
they would be paid
Speak, child" she said, rathe
sharply. Where is your father now?'
f 81 don't know, Miss Joyce"
"You-don't-know. What do yol
= mean, Madeline Despard?"
r Lady Frances looked up with franl
, Indignation in her honest eyes at Mis-
! Joyce's tone; Constance's lips curved
! into a smile.
! 81 dare he will write soon,'' falteret
5 Madeline. II have not heard yer.
r recently"
Then was he leaving the place
e where he had resided?'
c Il think there may have been SOM
y mistake" said Madeline, with burning
cheeks. THE last letter l wrote wa
y returned to me from the deadlette
t office 1t said they had gone away"
: Gone away, and left no address
/ That is absurd
t Madeline dropped her eyes hope
lessly.
1 Il never heard of anything so extra
S ordinary" said Miss Joyce, angrily
s you must have addressed the lette
wrongly. Write again at once and asl
: your father to write to me or to COM
r and see me. Of course you know tina
!. with the death of your generous grand
4 father some of your arrangements ma.
S have to be changed. Not necessarily
e of course, but possibly So
:. Yes, 1 know" said Madeline, in
- ! low voice ST know