Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-30
, Roger Vapbrugb's Wife. !
BY ADEIINE SERGEANT.

BY ADELINE SERGEANT.

strong relief the delicate fairness or
her complexion, the beauty Of her halo
of golden hair. The face was worn
with thought and sorrow, but 1t was
exquisitely sweet and the deep, gray
eyes with their long lashes and pen
ciled eyebrows startled Lance by
likeness to some one-he could not tell
Wholesome one whom he must recent
" have seen, who had the same sweet
ness of expression, the same candor OF
regard, as the beautiful woman who
held oIt her arms to him now.
He did not need to say a word. She
held him in her arms; but he-more
exhausted by emotion, perhaps, than
he had known-fell on his knees be-
fore her and broke into passion OF
sobs. Mother, mother" he said. And
it was all that he could say.
For, at the first sight of her face,
he was absolutely certain that he saw
before him a noble woman, good, pure,
high minded; stainless in heart and
soul, one who had suffered in cause
which she thought holy; one who had
done her utmost for others and had
only failed to secure her own happi
ress. And he had not even known OF
her existence for so long, Venetia Ia
vertal did not weep. Perhaps she had
wept all her tears away long years
/ ago. But she drew her sons head
close to her and pressed soft kisses
on the chestnut head, until at last the
passion of tears had spent itself and
he could listen to the tender words,
uttered in voice which he thought
the loveliest that he had ever heard.
MY darling. My own boy. My
Lancelot SO you have come to me
at last"
Mother, I never knew till yester-
day"
You did not know l lived, dear one.
All, that was hard
Il should have come long ago, if l
had known"
YES" said his mother, softly, sit
was easier for me. [ knew the hour.
l knew that. I always felt that there
was a tie between us-a tie of sym
pathy and comprehension well as
of relationship"
THAT made it all the harder that
we should be separated" said Lance,
impetuously.
NO." she said, softly, cit was easier
for me. | knew the hour should come
when my son would return to me-"
He kissed her hand. A reverent
adoring kind of affection seemed to
have burst into blossom within his
SOUL Nothing more could have com
WINGED him that his mother was any
thing else but a heroine and saint.
who told you about me?" she
asked, almost in whisper.
The Count de Marsac."
"Ah, she said, drawing back a little
'He is still there"
HE has been with us a few weeks
only. Since my-my father-came
back from London. M. de Marsac ap-
peared at Aldersleigh soon afterward
by invitation, l suppose"
You do not like him." said Mrs
} Vanbrugh, quickly.
No
You are like me again. 1 never
trusted him. Yet he has been youl
fathers friend for years.
do you thinks he your enemy?'
asked Lance.
She smiled and stroked his head
Yes, think so. l do not quite know
why. So he told you my story. How
was that?"
MY rather wished him to do So"
His mother drew in her breath
quickly. "Ah, it would have beer
fairer if he had spoken to you himself
Rene de Marsac may have told the
ry-differently-"
Tell it me yourself, mother; theT
l shall understand"
My dearest, there is little to tell
l was-I am still, passionately attach
, ed to my own countrymen. One o.
r them begged me to assist him-to con
. ceal him from the pursuit of his enc
mics and l did so; that was all. YOU
! father, with insular prejudices, forbade
| me-he even brought the police upo1
r us, and the consequence was that Leo1
died at my feet rather than be takeT
> alive. Was there no reason in thi:
for me to feel hardened against Roge,
2 Vanbrugh?'
2 Mother, he did not bring the polio
t upon you-at least Rene de Marsat
t did not say so. l cannot believe it.
t, who else brought them, them"
| Rene de Marsac himself, perhaps,
v said Lance. There is no telling. Blu
: my father-he is an English gentle
4 mani don't think he would. AnC
e this man Leon, mother-was he-wha
e was he like-was he a criminal?'
He put the question doubtingly AM
n was surprised to see the tremulou
e smile that rose to his mothers lips a
\ she made reply:
e 81 have never answered that ques
e ton before, she said. when Roge
e asked me-ne asked me with distrust
4 But you are my son; and you looket
t at me with eyes of love. Leon wa
). a patriot, a hero, and no criminal; b.
|, was my brother-my only brother
v Lancelot, and he shot himself befor
|. my face. Now do you understands
+. CHAPTER X.