Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-05-21

larly unpleasant for him 70 know
about it,
''Of course it is said her aunt, after
a moments reflection. L quite under
stand you. But how can we get him
away?"
IF you leave it to me- said Con-
stance modestly, Il think l could bring
it about
Very well. dear, do as you like
about it. l am going to see your I'M
Gle"
Left alone, Constance dropped the
amiability from her face and allowed
an expression of malignant triumph 10
appear. Il have done for her at last
she muttered to herself Il have de-
stroyed her reputation with Aunt Sc
line and shall get her turned out. and
when she is gone / think l can work
upon the old womans feelings aud
make her put me down for a good
round sum in her will. Rene won't
have me penniless dark shade
crossed her handsome face. "Pah. if
it were not for him. would I soil my
fingers with this dirty work-this plan
ming and plotting and conniving? It
is for Rene's sake-for my husbands
sake. What would Aunt Seine say if
she knew that had robbed her myself
and that my husband had carried
away one-half the spoil and Oscar
Despard the other. l think she would
have fit. | really do"
1t was with the same malignant.
unpleasant smile that she went down
the corridor. Rene and 1 will be
equal with Miss Madeline before long"
she said to herself; land she shall not
have Lancelot Vanbrugh, though I do
not want him for myself
She was playing a dangerous game
and she knew it; but she had many
reasons at work within her First.
her husband-as Count Rene de Mar
to work with him and for him in the
matter of rubies, and had fatty de-
clared that he could not have her to
live with him unless she provided him
with means. Constance was heartily
was safe; whether any one had got
sick of her present life-which she had
endured for fear of the pinch of pow
erty and OF Rene's sarcastic tongue
rather than FROM any more heroic mo-
tive; and she was ready to take almost
any method of prcclaiming her mar
riage. She would not have been very
sorry even if Madeline had spoken
about it to Lady Esler; it would have
relieved her of a disagreeable task
looming in the near future. And then
for many reasons she had always dis
liked Madeline. She had begun with
despising her when she first came to
Miss Joyce's school, but contempt was
useless when Madeline was so pretty
and, in spite of her misfortune, so
much admired Constances friend /
ship with Lady Frances also had
never been what it used to be after
Madeline came on the scene. Then |.
the accident by which she felt herself
in Madeline's power had intensified /
her hatred of the girl and made it ten
times more dangerous and she felt now
there was nothing she would not say,
nothing she would not do, to precipi- /
tate her downfall
The first thing now was to persuade |
Lance 10 go away for the day, and she |
did it rather skiltully. Madeline, she .
said, was lying down with bad head
ache and very much wanted peculiar .
remedy which could, according tc Con-
stance, be obtained only at one shop in .
London. How she wished some one
were going to London that day and .
would fetch it. Lancelots spirit was
fired on the spot with a desire to OBJ .
tain the required medicament and he .
declared that he was wanting to go to .
London that very day-that nothing in
heaven or earth could keep him from
going and so On. In half an hour
Constance had the triumph of seeing
him start off at full speed for the sta
ton, and turned from the door in full |
conviction that before he came back .
Madeline would either be in custody
:lr expelled from the house in disgrace