Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-23
Roger Vanbruab's WIFI. :
BY ADELINE SERGEANT.

Continued.

stepped out luIO Lne gdTQ6U. LOuUSIuS
across the soft turf, he soon came up
to Lance, who was standing beside a
flower bed, where the open white flow
ers of the tobacco plant made the
night heavy with their fragrance.
Something enervating about that
perfume, | always think" he said, in
his light, airy way, as he stood at
Lances side.
DO you think so? | like it, said
the lad, briefly. He was not very fond
of his fathers friend, Rene, Count de
Marsac, and he often answered him
with considerable brusqueness.
We do not often like the same
things, do we, dear boy?" said the
count, with a caressing information Of
the voice which tended to irritate
Lancelot. But you are like your
mother in that way; your father and
| always agreed your mother and l
never"
Lance turned on him sharply But
he seemed to restrain himself on sec
ond thought; he turned away, folded
his arms and said nothing
You were going to say" said Rene,
did you know my mother? | will
answer your question which you did
not ask. | did know your mother. |
knew her WELL she was one of the
loveliest women of her time. | CON
slider her very handsome still"
"What?" said Lance, in tones of
thunder. But again he tried to re-
strain himself. Excuse me, | did not
mean to say that. | get my informa-
ton about family affairs from my
father"
quite right, / admire your feeling,
dear boy" said the count, glibly. But
as a matter of fact, | have a little
statement to make from your father
himself The colonel is a man OF
action, not of words. | am essentially
a man of words and abOminate action.
Therefore it falls naturally to my lot
that | should tell you the story of the
colonefs early life"
Lance was pale with anger. II do
not wish to know what he does not
tell me himself" he said
For moment, the count put his
hand on Lances arm and the grip was
of steel. Don't be a fool" he said,
In grave, quiet way, which produced
an unWonted impression on him be
cause it differed SO widely from his
usual methods of speech you must
hear this story sooner or later and
your father shrinks from the pain of
telling 1t to you himself"
DO you mean that he has deputed
you to do it,"
Precisely So
There was a little silence. The
count tried to see his compani0n's face.
but it was sedulously turned away.
And when Lancelot spoke it was with
the decision and the firmness of a
man 20 longer with the petulance of a
half-srown boy.
F." | will listen, if my father desires
1t There is a seat here; sit down and
tell me the story But if 1t contains
a word against either of my parents
| shall refuse to hear it from other
lips than his own"
Or from hers" suggested Rene,
softly.
DO you mean to say that she-she"
THAT she is alive? Certainly. She
IS living in London at this moment
under her maiden name. She is known
as Nine Zavertal."
He could not understand Lance's
ejaculation of establishment
'She Nine. Zavertal"'
You know the name?" said Rene,
,~irning toward him with interest as
Trey seated themselves on the garden
bench, to which Lancelot had led the
way. you have not seen her, surely?'
I have heard the name; that is all, "
said Lance, stolidly. He was not go
ing to say when or where, but he
remembered keenly and wildly the
fact that his father had sent a tele-
gram 10 Nine. Zavertal, from Dover,
on his arrival in England.
Il almost wonder at that" said the
count, crossing his legs and taking his
cigarette case out of his pocket will
you smoke? No. | think a cigarette
might enable you to hear my story
more dispassionately. 1t is a difficult
thing either to tell or to listen to
rather tragic tale without being I'M
duly proposed on one side or the
other
IF you are going to tell me anything
that | ought to hear" said the lad
rather fiercely, will you be so kind
as to get to your point?"
Rene laughed quietly to himself
What you mean he said, softly, lis
that you cannot imagine why | should
have anything to tell you at all, or
what tie should subsist between your
gallant father and myself. Speak out;
your British frankness -mind, l tell
it frankness, not insolence-does not
offend me. | have been your fathers
friend since we were lads of your age
together. We met for the first time
when | was amusing myself in Paris,
and your father was studying French,
in preparation for the staff corps In
spite of years of separation, we remain
friends STILL Is it so remarkable"
4 beg your pardon, if I was dis
courteous NJ. de Marsac," said Lance,
with quiet dignity which almost
made the count laugh, since it was so
like that of his father, but | trust
you will make allowance for my being
taken by surprise. And now-may
| hear your story?"
THE boy has strength in him. said
Rene de Marsac TO himself. He will