Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-30

had sunk all his savings on an an
nuity which ends at his DEATH
Don't mind her. Madeline" whisp-
cred Francestto the still sobbing girl
at the table. She is very ill-natured
at the table. she is very ill-natured.
Write home and your father will tell
you what to do
As if nerved to fresh endurance by
this mention of her father, Madeline
suddenly sat up and dried her eyes.
But she did not respond in words to
Frances attempt at comfort. She sat
white, silent and red-eyed for a time
and then proceeded to write the letter
which Miss Joyce had told her to write.
But she was firmly convinced in her
own mind that it would bring her no
answer. What her father had done
before he could easily do again. He
might not write to her for weeks and
what would Miss Joyce think or say?"
For the next three or four days Miss
Joyce said nothing on the subject. But
her demeanOr toward Madeline lowered
between cold repulsion and pity and
her brow grew daily darker. The
schoolgirls avoided her as much as
possible and conferred in school girl
fashion on tn I likelihood of "a row."
but Miss Joyc$kept a rigid silence and
was seen very little in public. On the
day she was, understood to be away
from home altogether. And Madeline
waited, with vague sense of appre-
+
astrophe which was to come.
On the fifth day she was summoned
/ to Miss JOyce's private boudoir, a room
seldom entered by the pupils except for
judgment. Madeline entered it timidly.
Lady Frances had accompanied her to
the very door and murmured encour-
agement. Don't be frightened, dar-
ling; it is sure to be nothing at all.
Very likely she only wants to see you
about your mourning"
For as yet nobody had said a word
to Madeline about black frocks, al
though Constance Esler-a much more
distant relation-was already clothed
from top to toe in the deepest and
most fashionable of mourning CARDS.
Madeline had more courage than APP
peared on the surface; and the very
look on Miss Joyce's face-the express
sion of unmitigated wrath and scorn-
served to brace her nerves. 1t was
almost relief to her that the dreaded
moment had come at last. Miss Joyce
was not alone. Her head-teacher, a
tall and rather graceful-looking
will
mouth, sat on her right hand. And il
Miss Joyce, in her large, richly carved
and cushioned chair looked stern and
grim as Rhadamanthus, it was clear
that Miss Welby's expression was care
fully modelled after that of the princi,
pal.
STAND there" said Miss Joyce
pointing sternly to the edge of the
carpet on which her little writing-tab
was placed "Stand there Now, wha
have you got to say for yourself?"
Madeline raised her pleading eyes tt
the face of her instructress.
Il have been treated shamefully, >
said Miss Joyce, "and you have known
it all along. 1 say you have, DON
contradict me, Madeline Desp,.rd. You,
father has cheated me right and left
and you were quite old enough to know
what he was doing. If you had haC
grain of honesty in you, you would
never have consented to come to m!
r school,"
8 A wave Of scarlet passed over Made
: lines face and left her white as death
F'It was Gen. Armstrong-my grand
father-who sent me here she said.
81 know that very well. He was {;
gentleman of the highest responsibility
otherwise l should not have received
| you in my establishment. But you
r father gave me to understand that you
=. were your grandfather's heiress.. Oh
: the contrary, I find that he lived OF
l an annuity and the few-very few
= articles of value that he possessed ar
: left to his sister, Lady Esler. Their
l is no provision for you at ALL"
= "Then I must go away" said Made
-. line.
+ IT. Re Continued !