Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-03-05
CHAPTER XVI.
A stolen Interview.

clever as bIt lubNBiANF
called upon Mrs. Geryase shortly after
ward and that good lady inadvertently
let slip the fact that the two girls had
not arrived at her house until after
two o'clock Miss Joyce said little or
nothing. II was not part Of her policy
to make her disasters public; but II was
with face of awful wrath that she
summoned Miss Esler and Madeline
Despard to her presence on her return
to Westbourne house.
Now, Constance was not fayortte
with Miss Joyce She was never sub
missive, never obedient or obllging.
Miss Joyce had had her suspicious Of
the young lady's propriety Of demeanor
she thought some hard things OF Con-
stance Esler and in secret she thought
rather highly Of Madeline Despard. But
this did not prevent her from trying
to put more blame on Madeines Shout
ders than on those OF Constance. The
willy Constance made II appear that the
meeting was purely accidental and that
Madeline, who bad known the count
In Paris, was the person who instigated
the idea of a luncheon, and wanted to
90 FOR drive" Madeline's inyincible
trnthfuiness and keen sense of honor
prevented her from indicating herself
as she might have done. She received
severe rating from Miss Joyce for
her behavior; and was told that but for
her desolate condition she would have
been expelled; and Constance might
almost have escaped censnre but for
what she termed IAN unlucky acct
dent A letter fell into Miss Joyee's
hands at thai juncture, which she
would barely have understood but for
the previous incident II was addressed
TO Constance and begged her to meet
the writer once more at the stores
without that little marplot Of a Des-
lard, who had spoiled everything last
time by her threat of telling the
dragon"
Miss Joyce read and pondered. It
was not her way to recall what she
had said and Madeline never knew that
she was exonerated from blame In her
sohoolmistress eyes. But after great
elaboration, Miss Joyce sent the letter
70 Lady Esler, told her the whole story
&nd requested her to remove Constance
from the school at the close OF the
term, which was now approaching.
The girls at Westbourne house never
knew Of the catastrophe which hung
over Constance's head She went home
at the end OF the term just as the
other girls went. but was received very
coldly by Lady Esler, who took an early
opportunity OF having a solemn con-
yrrsation
Lady Esler had already taken some
decisive steps
i sent for this count as he calls
himself. at once" she said. and taxed
him with his conduct, which he did
not deny He made great professions
of affection and so on, but | let him
know my opinion of his behavior A
fortune-hunter a needy hanger on
should not hope. told him. TO marry
Lady Fsler's niece"
You need III, have insulted him :"
said Constance in 4 stfled voice
''lnsnlted Nonsense He Is not very
likely TO trouble us again. / told him
that yon would not have a penny from
me II you married him Marriage
with child like you What folly. DO
You want to emulate poor Madeline
Armstrong; fate?'
Madeline Armstrong married man
who was beneath her, the Count dc
Marsac Ii not beneath I'LL
Indeed Wen he II 4 friend Of tho
man Despard kGow that. sent him
about his business very speedily and
! wrote to Col Vanbrugh
oh Aunt Selma" Constance
checks were crimson now,
Yes / did: ana had very nice
ietter from him, in which he told me
thai lie had spoken to tie Count de
Marsae and that the count was leaving
hts house al once III disgrace. evil
denils You know that yuur precious
count was only Cnl Nanbugh's seere-
ials nor much better Than valet.
believe
Constance was vanquisbed. She burst
INTO tears OF yeNauon and spite
lie has left the rcighhorhood. said
her amt Tranquility, SO I don suppose
that 81 sAall be troubled BY him again
Pt.5 daa mate tool Of Yourself I'LL
that ra iu Constance. fealB
fhaash aa ya hai nort sense
Noa aa ,old anybody al8e '
Cons aafe #9HH3 between her sahs.
M inle@ shuu1a be ve1g sorry
g Let an4Aaly cl know Yen would