Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-03-05

and had constituted itiSSlA 90 Ai'~it :
nower for good as Constance Esler had
been a power for evil. To Madeline
her going was an unmitigated evil.
poor little thing" Lady Frances had
said pltifully to her one day Never
mind. | will persuade mother to invite
you TO okeley some day and then we
shall have fine times together and you
win see Lancelot Vanbrugh again II
YOU care to see him"
Don't you care TO see him." said
Madeline, struck by some aloofness OF
/ Lady Frances tone.
81 think he has behaved abominably
to his father But mother told me not
to talk of it. Oh, dear, / wish things
did not change in this world"
AND so do !, ;" said Madeline, mourn
( fully. For they never seem to change
/ for the better-a always for the worse +"
! AT which Lady Frances laughed in
/ spite Of herself.
| The day came when Madeline was
! left behind once more, much to her
! desolation and Miss Joyce's impotent
wrath. Miss Joyce did not scruple to
reproach her with her fathers sins and
! lad no conjunction in reducing her to
utter misery Madeline's happiest hours
were those which she spent over her
| favorite story books when the school
mistress was out or away from home
ii was in reading that she forgot the
I discomforts OF her own position and
ceased to wonder what Frances and
! Constance and the rest Of her school
! fellows were doing in their happy
homes Several of them sent her
Christmas cards and gifts, even Lance
lot did not forget her, as she had half
expected that he would-he sent her
delicate filagree brooch, with his in
| itials only inside the box that contained
it--and these remembrances gave her
a good deal OF quiet happiness.
II Is quite possible that she had more
real enjoyment of the holidays than
( little Lady Frances, whose stormier
nature involved her in some trouble
some scenes when she was home again.
To begin with, she surprised and rather
fIieved her mother by her vigorous
/ interest in the affairs of the Vanbrugh
family and then by her craftsmanship
of Col, Vanbrugh's cause. The countess
had at last to take her to task very
4 seriously.
\ Frances, my dear child, you must
not express your opinions quite so
+ freely. Your father was quite shocked
at your outburst last night"
[ The outburst had been at Lancelot
Vanbrughs expense. Some references
had been made to him at dinner and
Lady Frances, regardless of her
mothers reproying glance, had openly
declared herself Of opinion that he was
d heartess, undutiful son and that his
father was one Of the best men in
the world.
II only said what was true" said
Lady Frances.
"Yor had better leave 1t to your eld-
ers. my dear You do not know all the
facts"
Mother, you do not mean that you
have left off being friends with Col.
Vanbrugh?"
Lady Steyenages fair cheek flushed
slightly. NO dearest. no; | respect
Col Vanbrugh very highly. But you
had better leave his defense to older
people. 1t is not quite becoming on
the part of u girl like you TO speak
so warmly in favor of any man"
III you or my father would speak up
for him | should not want TO say any
thing" said Lady Frances, but when
YOU are silent, don't know what to
tdo"
Il shall hope to hear no more about
Il from YOU, said the countess grayely.
please understand that you are not
expected to speak on the subject OF
Col. Vanbrugh's relations with his wife
and son, except in private. VIII you
promise me this, Frances"
YES, mother. II you wish 1t, said
Frances. with sigh She was very
submissive to her mother, but she went
away and wept some bitter tears over
her own incapaoity to do anything for
her friends.
suddenly new thought struck her.
she Vat up. dried her eyes and set
her mouth,
Mother said in private may say
anything | like In private. | will do
i'll shall have chance this very
afternoon"
she wept no more. but went about
the house with a light In her eyes and
Il determined expression on her little