Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-06-04

4
Won't you send them back, father?
Won't you give them to me and let me
send them2 You would not like TO
keep what was not yours?"
"Oh, Madeline child, nave been a
bad father to you, said the man, with
an odd choked sob in his voice. Not
a father as | should have been. | did
not mean you any harm, my dear, al
though l did leave you at Miss Joyce's
and treated You so bad sometimes be-
fore that. But you don't bear malice;
you were always above the rest of us:
always ready to forgive-an we've
haven't behaved we'll to you, my dear. .
Never mind all that, father, / can
forget it all If only you will send back
the case of garnets."
my dear girl l can't: De Marsac--
helhe would wonder al me if / did
such a thing"
Then will you show them to me,
father? l want to see them-to see if
| they are stones have seen before
you have seen the real rubies, I
suppose?" said Despard, raising him
self and breaking away from his
| daughters arm
Yes / have seen Lady Esler wear
ing them"
And you would know If they were
the real things or not? Perhaps they
are only quilting you to get the stones
back, Ell? You'll tell me truly If they
are the rubies?'
| YES" said Madeline, sorrowfully.
Then I'll get them for you. I'll
show you"
He left the room lightly and returned
in short time with an oblong parcel
! in his hand. He turned the key in the
lcck and then placed the parcel on Mad
eline's bed and proceeded to unfaSten
| it.
| The case was opened and revealed
a goodly show. The ornaments were
undoubtedly of garnets only, but they
were prettily set and mounted. and al
though worth mere trifie ia COMPARE
son with the rubies, were in them
selves extremely curious and beautiful.
well" said Despard, eagerly, fare
they the rubies?"
ooh. no. garnets.
set of worthless garnets De Marsac
will swear when he sees them
Madeline shut the case with reso-
lutte air and laid both her hands upon
il.
IN. de Marsac will never see Them
she said.
What do you mean, Madeline?"
81 Il can that I do not intend to part
with them. 1t is no use saying any
thing, father. or trying to force them
from me; you shall kill me first"
She had already thrust the case un-
der her pillow and was looking at her
father with all the determination Of
which she was capable in every line
of her white face.
Give me back that casel l will not
be domineered over by my own child.
| DO you hear? Give 1t me backt'
The old fury had revived in him,
/ but Madeline did not quail He raised
his hand as II to strike her and then
let 1t sink motionless to his side. And
while the father and daughter still
faced each other with set lips and
blazing eyes, there came knock at
the chamber door and Jenny's shrill
little voice sounded outside.
There's a gentleman in the pa.lor
wanting to see Madeline. How soon
shall you be ready, Madeline? His
name is Mr. Vanbrugh."
Directly. Ask him TO wait for me, I
said Madeline, clearly.
Give me the case" said her father,
| in a savage undertone.
"Neyer. l shall send it back to Lady
Esler Leave me, father. ] promise
not to compromise you, but / must do
what know to be right"
And Oscar Despard collapsed. AS
! You like" he said, sullenly. II sup
pose YOU want to involve your poor
father in De Marsac's disgrace? sup
pose 1t is your revenge?"
Revenge, father?"
For abandoning-fo leaving you at
! Miss Joyce's school assure you l
did 1t for the lest You don't know
what | have gone through on your az
count, Madeline. Girls have no idea.
They don't understand the world"
Father, have not blamed YOU more
tnan could help" said Madeline, sor-
rcwfully. But you know that would
rather have shaved with You than have
been indebted to strangers for charity.
And now-now-n even though the
garnets are not Of much value, what
does that matter? They are not ours
and they must be given back"
You have always thwarted me"
cried her father, in a passion of i'm
potent rage. you want 10 see me in
prison. suppose?'
Lady Esler will not prosecute, +"
Madeline said, with hanging heal.
Father. don't say more" with an ir-
repressible sob don't make me de-
spise you
/ She Law hack and hid her face Her