Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-04-23
Continued.

a moment; and in that moment Made
line discerned the alteration OF which
she spoke. The bloom had not faded
from Lady Frances Alymer's cheek ant
vet something of her youth was already
gone; there was a shade of care or sor'
row in her eyes and little OF her i'm
petuosity had vanished. But the in
creased gentleness did not impair hel
charm in Madeline's eyes.
"And what do you think of Con
stance? Tell me-"
"She is very handsome"
But harder, is she not? Or is il
fancy?"
Il think you are right"
"And you know what gossip says
about her-that she is to marry Mr.
Lancelot Vanbrugh"
81 have heard so, but can't believe
it,"
why nOt?" said Frances, curiously
and Madeline scarcely knew how to re-
ply.
Il scarcely think that they are suited
to each other" she said.
well, they are not much alike; but
suppose it would be suitable mar
riage in one sense; as Constance will
have some money and Lancelot will
have the Aldersleigh estate
is Lancelot's father back YETI" said
Madeline who did not want to discuss
the prospects of his marriage with Con-
stance, believing as she did that it was
impossible.
Lady Frances shook her head. mot
yet, he is expected soon," she answered
in a very quiet voice.
Are they good friends now?"
Il hope they will be, when Col. Van
brugh comes back. 1t is sad to see
such division in a family"
Just then Constance began to play
and sing and the two girls returned
TO the draWing-room.
Constance had a well-trained, mezzo-
soprano voice rather thin in quality,
but she sang with correctness and some
measure of expression. Remembering
school days, when music of all kinds
had been Miss Esler's bugbear, Made
line was amazed at her proficiency.
She was more amused, however, than
amazed by Constance's evident satisfac-
ton with her own performance; she had
never been lacking in belief in herself.
1t was with an air of supreme conde-
scenson that she asked Madeline to
sing.
Madelines voice was one of her
strong points. 1t was not so powerful
n If a
public singer, but it was pure sweet,
with a pathetic thrill which was apt
to bring tears to the listeners eyes
Frances offered to play her accompani-
ment and the men trooped in from the
dining-room when those exquisite bird
like notes penetrated to their ears. She
sang first of all a beautiful German
composition and then, when asked to
perform once more, she glided iuto the
plaintive air of AUD Robin Gray
The tender melancholy of the words
and the feeling which the singer threw
into them electrified the company.
People crowded round the piano to
thank her and to say how delightful
were these simple Scotch or English
headed, kindly man, added his com
pliments to the rest.
You arc quite right in choosing
songs of that kind if you want to please
your hearers, Miss Despard," he said.
They give far more pleasure than
elaborate French or German things"
That young lady sings very charm
inc caiH 40 TO T u ,lo
in gracious tone Did hear that she
was relative of yours?"
Yes; a great-niece- Madeline Arm
strong's daughter"
You don't say so?" said Lady Ste
venage, looking at Madeline through
her eyeglass. Not much likeness, is
there?"
I don't know; the coloring is very
like" said Lady Esler, stifiy.
Yes, but the features are not This
girl is prettier than your niece, if ]
may be allowed to say So Introduce
her to me, Selma"
Lady ESler complied, but by the icy
tones of her voice and the rigidity OF
her attitude it was very plain that she
was ihLog GU L hS SouAlCSS was Wei
gracious to Madeline, much to Lady
Frances delight, and did not in the
least recognize the fact that Madeline
was the girl whom she had once de-
creed was not quite the proper youns
person for her beloved Frances tt
know.
At last the evening was over. Lady
Esler babe her great-niece a cold good
night and sailed away to her owl
room. Madeline stayed behind
moment to collect her music AS sht
stood by the grand piano, turning owe
the scattered sheets, she heard tn
rustic of dress, the sound of a voic
in the conservatory. Looking up, sh
saw that Constance and Lancelot wer
standing there. Surely her hand wa
clasped in his and their heads were YER
close together. He bent so low tina
Madeline felt almost certain that h
had kissed her, but she could not b
sure. Involuntarily she made som
movement which the couple heard; the
started guiltily asunder and Lancelo
disappeared by a side door, while Con
stance advanced slowly into the diml
lighted drawing room
She came straight up to Madeline
Il have wanted to speak to YOU sh
said and her voice was cold and harI