Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-23

culver coming into his voice, too. 4
must see her irst-I must judge for
myself. Father, know you would not
do what was unjust-but are you sure
that you understood everything?"
1t came from him as cry Of pain,
as an appeal for mercy, but to Roger
Vanbrugh it conveyed the keenest
possible reproach, did his son think
him capable of acting hastily, rashly,
in matter of such Importance? No
body could know how his estrange-
ment from Venetia had pressed upon
his heart and mind; but surely Lance
lot might at least give him credit for
having acted according to his lights.
He was bitterly hurt; too much hurt
TO answer and after a short pause he
rose from his seat, as if to intimate
that the conversation was at an end.
Lance accepted the hint. He turned
TO go and said goodnight" only when
he regained the door. without any at
tempt to shake hands. His father an
swered him in the same formal man
alone. Count De Marsac, who was pos
sessed with an Unsuitable curiosity re-
speeding the affairs of his neighbors.
kept his door aiar and a light in his
room until the dawn broke He want
ed to hear the step of his friend. Col,
Nanbrugh, along the corridor. But he
had to wait till daylight came before
h cd II
did not leave his study until 4 o'clock.
Possibly in consequence of this late
vigil he did not appear at breakfast
the next morning; but Rene was down
stairs at an early hour and was re-
Warded for his pains by encountering
Lance in the dining-room. Something
las come over the boy" said the count
He is not the same-he never will
be the same again. This is amusing.
l always had a grudge against his
parents, it is pleasant to wreak it a
little on the boy. What will he do
next, | wonder?"
You are early" he said to LancelOt,
Am Pa trifie absently. ''Oh, yes;
with great blandness.
am going to catch a train
ITO London, I suppose"
Yes, to London"
There was pause, while Lance
drank his coffee anu Rene trifed neg
ligently with one of the breakfast
dishes.
Had you not better send tele-
gram?' the count at last demanded
abruptly.
'To whom?"
My dear fellow, of course. you are
going to see Nine Zavertal."
Excuse me, I am going to see my
mother, Mrs. Vanbrugh."
ut is the same thing; she chooses
to call herself Nine. Zavertal Allow
me to remind you that she is a lady
OF many vocatlons, many engagements
and that she may be out when you
call or Inconvenience by your sudden
appearance on the scene.'
Il can wait" until my mother can
receive me-
The count raised his eyebrows. Evil
IDENTIFY the boy was determined to take
his own way. Rene resolved to stay
on at Aldersleigh manor until he saw
how things would turn out Life had
been little dull lately and he had
contemplated an excursion to fresh
fields and pastures new
Col Vanb"ugh paid him handsomely
for staying as a sort of secretary and
tutor-Rene had applied to him for
some such post, pleading extreme pow
erty, as soon as the colonel had ar
rived in England; but Rene was not
so absolutely poor as he represented
himself to be, and had intended to
quarter himself at Aldersleigh manor
for three or four months only Now,
however, events were becoming more
interesting; and if, as might happen, a
quarrel arose between Roger and his
boy, Rene's quick eye saw that it
might be to his own advantage to re-
main on the spot. Roger would want
a companion-and he was careless
about money matters.
(To Be Continued)