Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-02

showed no signs OIL perturbation DIS he
came to meet her. His dark face had
more animation and brightness in it
than usual; his head was held high
and his eyes sparkled. Lady Frances
looked at him wistfully, missing the
usual resemblance to her fayOrite
picture, yet not displeased with the Vi
yacity which he displayed. She was a
very sympathetic little person and she
liked to see her friends happy. There
was something about Col. Vanbrugh's
face and manner which had always
made her count him as friend.
She noticed that Lance's handsome
face, usually so bright, was full OF
storms, and she resolved to ask him
why; for she and Lance were old play
mates, and had few secrets from one
another. But at present she had to
stay with her mother; and she was a
little diScOmposed on looking round to
find that Constance had found another
companion, with whom she was begin
ming to make the tour of the garden.
who is the man Constance is walk
ing with?" she asked OF her mother
in an undertone.
Il think he is a French gentleman,
who is staying with Col Vanbrugh for
a time as his secretary" said Lady
Sewerage.
Dear me-" said Lady Frances, why
does Col. Vanbrugh want a secretary"
He is Lance's tutor as well, l be
lieye,' said her mother, smiling a little.
&c
CROSSE" asked Frances But Lady Stew
enage had turned to speak to a neigh
Dor and could attend no longer to her
daughters questions. And a game at
tennis having been proposed the girl
eagerly accepted an invitation to play
and secretly congratulated herself on
not wearing a fine frock like that of
Constance, but one in which she could
use her arms and feet with perfect
ease. Poor Constance. How dull Of
her" she said to herself
Perhaps Constance was not so dull as
Lady Frances thought. But it is to be
questioned whether she enjoyed herself
so much. Frances played a capital
game with Lance for her partner,
/ against couple of her acquaintance
from town, whom she was delighted
TO beat. And when the game was over
she came back quite innocently and
+ gayly TO her mothers side. with an
evident appreciation Of her mothers Sc
Ciety, which caused Lady Esler to lock
at her in some amaZement. Constance
never cared for her society, although
she had been brought up from her
babyhOOd in the Esler's house and
treated as their only and petted child.
She was the daughter of Lord Esler's
fGVorite nephew, who had died with
his wife from cholera at an obscul e
station on the Indian frontier. They
had previously sent their one child 10
The Bsler's; and when Constance was
isft alone in the world Lord Esler had
announced to his wife his intention OF
bringing her up rs their own. Lady
lzslcr had not received this announce
wCnt with any enthusiasm. but neither
had she opposed il. They lad no
children, no very near relations. except
her brother, Gen Armstrong, whose
daughters marriage had turned CIT 50
disastrously. If Constance had been .
boy Lady Esler would have been better
pleased, as she could then have inherit
ed the title; failing male heirs, the title
would become extinct and in earlier
days beth Lord and Lady -Zsler had
hoped for its continuance Lord Els
ler's father had been IIe drst Baron
and it was a disappointment TO think
! that there would not be a third But
as there was nobody but Constance, it
! was generally supposed that she would
inherit the Esler's wealth, il she could
not inherit their patent Of nobility.
There was no one else, the county said,
on whom the Eslers could bestow it.
And Constance was considered an heir
! ess accordingly.
As she grew up Lady EsIer became
exceedingly proud of her grace and
beauty. In her cold way she even grew
fond Of Constance and certainly no girl
was ever more petted and INDUCED
Friends indeed sometimes whispered
that Constance was unbearably spoiled
not that she was kissed and fondled.
but that she expected everything to
give way before her and to have the
best of everything. Pretty dresses,
| costly toys, the best governesses and
masters, the most suitable and eXpen-
. sive maids all these came to Con-
stance as a matter of course Her life
was full of sunshine and yet, as even
Lady Esler came to say, Constance
could never be satisfied. She was never
happy, never grateful, never content.
About a year before Col Vanbrugh's
return to England, however, a change
had been made. Lord Esler met with
an accident which invalided him for
life and in the first months of suspense
and nervous suffering. it was found
that Cons 'ance was a difficult young
person to have in the house. She
grumbled openly at the seclusion and
the stiffness; and was, in fact, so I'M
reasonable and so unsympathetic that
Lady Esler caught eagerly at a Sugges-
ton emanating from Lady Steyenage
that Constance should accompany
Frances for a year or two 20 a school
near London kept by a lady Who had
Cnce been Lady Stevenage's governess
+ IN days gone by. Ordinarily, the Es-
/ lers would have secuted the idea of a
school for their darling; but under the
circumstances, every one felt that Con-
, stance would be better away from
home. Lady Stevenage's choice Of a
school was felt to be- u0imDpa rbahle