Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-09
Continued.
Under A Cloud.

Lady FRANCES ndu pldyeu Ieilulo uh-
til she was tired and had been escorted
by Lancelot to her mothers side,
where she stood dutifully and wonder
ing what had happened to her friends.
Where was Lillian Maxwell? What
had become of Alice and Ethel Wester-
ton? And how was it that Theresa
Beaufort, the most ardent tennis play
er of the country, had kept away? She
was puzzled And then her attention
was caught by something that her
mother and Lady Esler were saying
to each other, in guarded tones.
ct is a great pity. l thought that
Roger was little premature. But the
very notion of being under cloud
set his blood boiling. He said that
he would face the country and see for
himself"
"He sees rather too we'll now, |
should think" said Lady Esler, grimly.
my husband has great faith in Col.
Vanbrugh, but l always felt that
should like some explanation"
An interruption occurred here and
Lady Esler never finished her sentence.
Frances, moving backward a little,
with a sudden horror of hearing what
she was not supposed to hear, found
herself close to Lancelot, and knew
at once from his white face and burn
ing eyes that he also had overheard.
Full of impulsive pity, she slipped her
little hand into his and squeezed it
tight.
Laurie, dear, don't look like that
don't. Everybody will think that
something is the matter"
In a moment he seemed not to hear,
then he returned the pressure of her
hand so fiercely that she had much ado
to prevent herself from crying out.
"You hear, too?" he said.
Eyes, but l don't know what they
mean" said little Lady Frances.
There was a moments silence. Lance
had turned his back to the lawn and
no one but herself could see the work
ings Of his angry agitated face.
Lets get out of this" he said, sud
denly. Its intolerable, Come with
me to the house, will you, Frances,
You don't mind?"
mo, not at all. Mother will not
mind if | go with you
He strobe away to the house, with
scant ceremony; but Frances SKINNED
the grass beside him so lightly and
easily that he did not outstrip her.
They reached the open glass doors OF
the dining-room and there LanCelot
drew back with a look of repulsiOn
his father was inside the room, waiting
upon a lady whom he had just brought
in But before Lancelot could escape
Col. Vanbrugh had seen him and his
companion and turned to the window
with a pleasant word.
'You have brought Lady Frances
that is right. Come in-there's a cor
ner for you her by the window"
81 am not coming in said Lancelot
in so strange-one might have said SO
offensive-a tone, that his father
glanced at him in evident wonderment
"Then I Will take care of Frances
Will you have some tea?" he said, adj
dressing himself kindly to the girl.
"She does not want anything" Ian
celot answered, sharply. Come with
me, Frances"
Poor Frances was in a dilemma. She
could not we'll refuse to go with him.
for he was in trouble and her heart
yearned to comfort him and yet by
going she would perhaps offend her
new hero, the gallant colonel, whom
she secretly called "the cavalier" RO-
ger Vanbrugh looked at her and at his
son in annoyed surprise What had
Lancelot done with his manners? he
wondered. Ard the girl, too.
But Frances raised her eyes to his
face with q look which he could not
wholly misunderstood. 1t was a look
of piteous pleading, of mingled sorrow
and tenderness and regret, and, al
though she turned to follow Lance, yet
Col. Vanbrugh at once knew that she
would rather have stayed behind at
his bidding. 1t was only loyalty to her
old friend that took her away.
Roger Vanbrugh looked after the boy
and girl as if something had stunned
him, for a moment or two he did not
even move. He guessed the meaning
of Lances hostile attitude: but there
was something in Frances face which
he felt he could not fathom-something
that recalled memories of love and
hope and happier days. Then he threw
off the sensation and laughed a little
to himself. What was there left fol
him in life that he should care fol
the sweetness of a young girls SYM
pathetic eyes?
Lance strobe away with his com
panion to a side door, which led into
the great hall of the house. Thence
he passed to another door and a wind
ing stair, which Lady Frances knew
well. Lance was bound for the picture
gallery. Why? she asked herself. But
since he was going she might as well
go, too.
The boy led the way, with his head
high in the air. to the picture of Sil
Rupert, the cavalier ancestor, of whom
he had always been so proud. Frances
glanced at him; his face was white az
death, his eyes were full of tears.
There" he almost gasped. "Lool
at him. Look at his face-the soul OF
honor and truth. Could you doubt it?'
Frances turned to the picture.
1T is beautiful" she said softly
1T is more than beautiful-it is good
And your father is just like it, Lance
dear"
Il know he is" said Lance, vehe