Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-16
Continued.

There were several girls in the room.
Madeline, her fair, delicate face slight
ly flushed, her golden hair hanging
loosely upon her shoulders, came for
ward with down-dropped eyes. Con-
stance Esler stared at her and seemed
disinclined to speak; then thought bet
ter of it and held out two fingers.
How do you do?" she said.
4 will leave her here with you to
make acquaintance" said Miss Joyce,
with a bland smile, las you Go not
seem to be particularly intimate.
have put her into your room, Con-
stance"
She swept out of the room and Made
line felt a sudden sense Of loneliness,
Of chill desertion and alright. There
was a pause and then Constance Els
lers voice fell frigidly upon the still
ness, as she turned her back upon Mad
cline and spoke to one of her friends.
Intimate I~shOuld think not. Gen.
Armstrong; daughter ran away from
home and made a low marriage years
ago and this is her child, | suppose
| wonder how she came here. Miss
Joyce generally makes such a fuss
about having only the daughters of
gentlemen"
There was a vicious emphasis on the
last word The girls clustered together
and whispered among themselves Mad
cline shrank back and tide of burn
ing color overspread her face. What
could she say? How could she defend
herself and her father against these
insults? She was struck dumb before
the terrible necessity of having to as
sert in SO many words that her father
was "a gentleman" to her delicate in
stinct, it seemed like PROCLAMATION.
She stood trembling. The room was
bright and pretty and its occupants
were yon: g, well-dre3sed, graceful
girls, who ought to have been sympa-
thetic, but who, for the most part,
gaZed at her with cold aloOfness, is if
she belonged to some other world. The
scene swan before her eyes, she turned
giddy and caught at a chair to save
herself from falling. And then it was
that pair of warm tender arms came
round her and a soft face was laid
close to her own and sweet voice
said in her ear:
ooh, don't mind Constance None
or us mind what she says Don't cry,
dear. You will soon get to know us
better. Won't you tell me your name?"
And Madeline found the world bear
able again, as she looked into the low
ing eyes of little Lady Frances.
Il am Madeline Despard," she said.
And | am Frances Aylmer Come
and talk to me. I am sure I know
your name"
She drew Madeline into the embra-
sure of a large window, looking out
upon the sea and made her seat herself
on the low cushioned window-seat. The
movement drew the eyes of the other
girls upon her and there was an i'm
mediate laugh and an exclamation from
Constance: Another of Lady Fanny S
little fads'
4 won't be called Lady Fanny,
Frances Aylmer called back good
humoredly. And then she settled her
self comfortably beside her new ac-
quaintance, and took her hand Nov
where have | heard of you? Madeline
Despard-Gen Armstrong; grand
daughter? At Hurst of course, Where
Lady Esler lives. Why, of course-you
must be surely'-and Lady Frances
colored a little-'you must know
Lancelot Vanbrugh."
''Lancelot Vanbrugh"
1t was the name that she had
thought she never could forget. She
turned eagerly to the elder girl.
''Oh, yes, | know him-he was so
kind to me. | only saw him once and
l thought he was quite, quite gone
that l should never see or hear him
again
I know him quite Well" said Fran
ces. He told me about meeting you
on the pier, You do not mind dc
you? Lance tells me everything"
I do not mind your knowing" muir
INJURED Madeline. But her eyes strayed
anxiously toward Constance
She does not know We need not
take her into our confidence" said
Lady Frances, with little air of SUI
periority. ut does not do to chatter
about everything But you and | will
NC II lSlluS, dlluOlSH ain 81 uluCI
older than you, because you like Lance
lot and so do t.
Il never met any one so kind-and
so beautiful said Madeline. Franc s
laughed
THAT is because you haven't seen
his father, there Col. Vanbrugh is ter
times handsomer than Lancelot"
And nicer?"
Il don't know him so we'll as I know
Lancelot. But Lance is only boy
and the colonel is a grand gentleman
| can't admire Lance as l admire his
father"
She spoke quite seriously, is if hel
opinion were of profound importance
to the world at large.
I'll show you his photograph" she
said, and had slipped away out of the
room before Madeline could protes
against being left alone. AS soon as
her protectress had vanished. Con.
stance left the group of girls and de.
liberately walked up to her
$50 you are Madeline Despard." she
said; Il have heard all about you. Sc
YOU need not mt on any airS with m o