Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-03-12
Continued.

,-.ad that he WlSneu INC ooiioA"s "
" soon as possible.
en "pacause. you know there are some
.,iags which don't bear talking about.
NM rnow--I know, and suppose that
Inv mother told me to be silent,
sai5 Frances, who was almost in tears
nm ! have always been friends with
,Dnce and you are mothers and
i-,hor,s friend too, and it seemed as
Yyou belonged to US
ives" said Roger Vanbrugh, in a
uo,t,er tone. Yes, my dear, | see
snd lance has been unfriendly and you
10 vexed with him, that is it, sup
pose
aorad al his own blindness in never
niercing it before. A marriage between
Toncelot and Lady Frances-it might
rot be out of place; at any rate 1t
.,igbt not have been thought so, while
Tancelot was living peacefully at Aid
ers1eigh. His fight to London, this
Identification of himself with his
motber's friends had probably put a
snoke in the wheel. as far as the
steyenage's approval was concerned.
And the girl was fretting about it and
had turned innoeently enough to
Iapce's father for help. He felt an adj
ditional kindness for her. as he turned
once more to hear her words and he
entirely acquitted her Of impertinence,
which he had been inclined to suspect
when she first began to speak.
But Frances did not answer quite as
he had expected. She opened her eyes
and looked little surprised.
n don't know that he has been par
ticularly unfriendly to us" she said.
Il am vexed with him-yes; but not
because Of ourselves-only because
think he has behaved badly to you and
nut you in wrong position"
How 500"
~ am sure you do not need me to
tell you' said Frances, Indignantly.
eYou must know that he has raised up
an the gossip of the county and that
everybody is specializing about the rea-
son Of his leaving home. Lance was
rather favorite in the neighborhood,
you know; and you have been a great
deal away and people don't know
yon.
People don't like me, you mean"
Cow can they like anybody they
don't know?" said Frances, adroitly.
1T has made them say very disagree
able, unjust things; and when / heard
Il a
mother told me | must not say any
more-except in private; it did not
look we'll, she said, for me to be al
ways defending you'll am sure don't
know why"
so YOU we're defending me" said the
colonel tenderly He was moved by
her words, by the spectacle of this
child-a child in his eyes-taking up
the cudgels for him and fighting her
battles against her little world Fran
ces Alymer was intrinsically loyal and
rue How do you know that | am
worthy your defense, Frances?' he
went on, How do you know that
what they said was unjust?"
Because I am perfectly sure" she
said with feminine want of logic, that
you would never be cruel or unkind, |
know"
Pc they say l am cruel? To
Tbom?'
Frances flushed scarlet and did not
answer
ITO Iancelot?' the colonel asked. in
eZOrahly.
No not to Lancelot."
"lcIl me, little friend. You are the
only person who has been brave and
Haa h6ngh to speak to me on this
subject Now that you have begun you
mus go on. Tell me what people say.
~ whom have been cruel?"
Ihe answer came almost in whis-
pr @ your wife"
lera was a short silence. Frances
le1 her breath and looked down.
8hen tde colonel spoke again it was
slightly strained, unnatural voice.
do hey mention the way in which
was Hel 10 my wife?"
hoE different things"
1o 9p my dear. am quite used to
.4ne amors of this kind-indeed, |
IA Y a always the case when hus-
oal0 ana wife do not live happily to-
.s.aeF And-don't you see?--it is
VIVID astter for them to speak i'll OF
~ taao Il her"
.aH think 50 when it is untrue"
@ 4 Frances, in choked voice
s'a ere YOU never struck a wom-
far you are right. never
Nar la, her"
moment Frances, there is
n In that story. I did not
a.a shoot her, certainly; but
tsoa Which I was holding went off
and she was wounded
~ OTTER regret"
a aaody blamed you them"
nj III much as they do now, 1
a.9 the colonel, sadly.
generally admitted then,
s ltair was a sad accident. |
aa more frankly to you. my
a have done to some people.