Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-04-09
Continued.

oscar DeSpAFu Sdlu HOlulhst VuL
turned away with hands that shook a
little as he thrust the pocketbook back
into it's place, It was evidently with
the idea OF last appeal that he said,
In low, sulky voice
You scarcely know the harm you
are doing to that poor girl IN prevent
ing me from laying before her and her
friends the proof OF her birth.
II should not think they were par
ticularly important" said Lancelot.
with laugh
AT any rate. | cannot believe that
they rave been brought forward as
they might be. You will remember.
Mr.. Vanbrugh, that my N e line Is
Lady Esler's grand-niece.
In spite of the almost colnlcal
solemnity Of the man Lancelot was in
terested. He had almost forgotten che
fact
Gen. Armstrong vas her grand
father then? l remember Lady Esler
said something about It,,
Exactly, Mr.. Vanbplgh. And you
know that Gen. Armstrong nobly
acknowledged her claim upon him.
Whether Lady Esler has done 50, too,
do not know; perhaps you can tell
me"
Not to my knowledge" said Lance
lot hastily and then was sorry that he
had spoken.
III Lady Esler knew"
What papers have you got?" said
Lancelot. with startling abrup,ness,
"Can YOU show them to me?"
Mr. Despard professed that he would
be delighted. He bad not the papers
with him. hui would bring them on the
morrow. And 50 he departed, leaving
Lancelot 10 a curious state OF mind.
'HoS fol j | was of her and how
quickly ~ managed to forget one am
other Two letters from her and no
more Well, the setter. perhaps, con-
iidering this relationship to Oscar
l)espard Mother was right when she
tpld me To have nothing TO do with any
o. them. | should not like to have old
Despard for my father-in-law.
That foreign trip put new life into
me | don't believe ! have thought Of
Madeline since was in italy. But she
is all right grinding away at Miss
Joyce's still. as Lady F,ances tells me.
/ must prevent Despard from going
over to Westbourne house II | can,
And ! will look at his papers II he
brings them | may be able TO do
Madeline a good turn; and shall not
be sorry, although think she treated
me rather shabbily. wonder If |
shall ever see her again and II she Is
as pretty as she promised 10 be?'
And then he turned with smile to
a photograph in a fine plush frame,
which stood on his writing table The
face II showed was not the face OF
Madeline. II was that OF a proud,
calm possessed looking beauty,
with magnificent fark eyes and Won
derful throat and neck. with very
low dress set off 10 advantage Lance
lot looked AT the photograph for mo-
ment with d whimsical smile you
are handsome enough for twenty
women, he said half-aloud and the
worst is that you know H. | remem-
ber that II was little Madeiue's an
consciousness Of her beauty that made
il 50 attractive
He waited anNiCusly for the next
day. scarcely expecting Mr. Despard TO-
arrive But be appeared al an early
hour next morning bearing with him
2 sheaf Of papers, into which I.ancelot.
threw himself with the eagerness of a
detective Andafter il careful eNamin-
alton OF the documents he hooked up
with d serious eye
There Is apparently no doubt about
II. The papers are al right. Despard
Your daughter Is Lady Esler's grand
niece, but doubt whether Lady Esler
realizes il.
Sir she II 100 PROUD to acknowledge
IL.
= think she should be made to
acknowledge it, said Lancelot. more
"a himself than TO Sir Despard
So she ought sir. 50 she ought In-6
deed. you are right Z
And IL you will leave these papersf
with me Ter day OF Two | viii see
what | cun 10 with her should like
TO show her one or two Of these letters
am ali old friend OF Lady Esler's YOU
know
Drspard bowed and assented Audi
as Il happened that laneelot wanted
"a breath OF fresh air he Travelled
down on saturday night to Lady r.
ler,s country house. with the papers
respecting Madeline carefully packed
tn his portmauteaU
CHAPTER XIII