Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-06-11

Yes, my iduyt N, Jrs. was thCu
and | thought it was easier to say that
the child was dead"
How? Why easier? You went on
seeing Despard atterward you married
rim. 1t would have been more 70 your
interest to pretend that the child was
alive. suppose that occurred TO you
little too lafe?e
Hitherto Made,Ge had not spoken;
she now came forward and addressed
Lady Esler with some dignity.
II do not SIZE that you are justified in
making these insinuations. Lady Es-
| lern
DO you not? Probably not. You
are not In this business, ] am speak
| Ing to Oscar Despard, who married my
niece, and to Maria Jennings, whom he
took for his second wife And ! want
to know, Jennings, how YOU managed
to bring me copy of the certificate OF
that babys death If 1t did not die?'
Mrs. Despard's handkerchief was
still at her eyes, but behind it she man
aged TO convey glance toward her
husband glance 50 full Of cunning,
Of inquiry, Of appeal, that Madeline,
who caught it in the transmit, was
positively appalled, For the first time
her confidence in her fathers and step
mothers account Of the matter failed
her She said to herself that probably
Lady Esler was right, possibly after all
she was not the granddaughter OF poor
| old Gen Armstrong. But in that case
who was she2
IF you forged any such copy Of a
certificate" said Lady Esler, in her
calm way, you laid yourself open to
the penalties of the law" Lady Esler
knew absolutely nothing about the
law, but she thought that the phrase
sounded we'll. "You are liable to i'm
prisonment, Jennings, and if called in
a policeman from the street
"Oh, please don't. my lady" ejaculat-
ed Mrs, Despard. Indeed | will tell
you the truth now, indeed l will"
Maria, don't be a foolr said her
husband, desperately. But Madeline
laid gently restraining hand on his
arm. Suddenly he sank into silence,
though there was dazed look of terror
and dismay upon his face.
81 think I ought to know what all
this is about
Yes, of course you ought. said Lady
Esler, turning almost flercely upon her.
II have never believed you to be a
/ relation of mine, even when l was
most kind and generous 10 you; and
1t Is this woman, your step-mother--
your mother. for aught | know-who
alone can tell us exactly who you
are
Madeline stepped back with sudden
! involuntary motion of dismay She
neither liked nor respected Mrs. Des-
/ pard, Could it be possible that this
woman who was covering miserably
! iii corner OF the sofa and hiding her
face from her former mistress was
! indeed her mother--the mother whom
She had yearned for and idealized in
her heart ever since she was old enough
to think about her at all? II seemed
impossible And what did Lady Esler
mean?
Oscar Despard no longer restrained
by Madeline's land, came forward
vaIiantly
"You are mistaken, madam, he said
with his grandiloquent air, My wife
is not the only person able to give you
information. Surely | should be best
qualified to tell You the history of my
own dear child, Madeline
"Well, tell It me- said Lady Esler
sharply What did become of herr"
Your ladyship sees" said Despard,
waving his hand gracefully toward
Madeline
Lady Esler turned her back on him
with a look OF profoundest scorn.
Come, Jennings" she said You
used to be am honest woman, according
to your lights, and | haven't lost all
belief in you even now Speak out.
Did the first Mrs. Despards baby
daughter die or did she not2"
Mrs. Despard seemed to vacillate be
tween two opinions, She began with
half-uttered Eyes" and ended with
No" which seemed to be stimulated
by black look from Ter husband
"That is no answer" said Lady Ester,
inexorably Don't look at your hus-
band. but speak the truth. Did that
child die or did it not, Jennings?"
mo, no; my lady"
"Then YOU arc liable to imprison-
ment for giving me a false account of
It's death ! shall take proceedings
against YOU at once
oh, my lady, ! beg pardon. I did
not mean to say that, meant that 1t
did diet did indeed What | said
was quite the truth
"Can your ladyship not see that my
pcor wifo scarcely Knows what she is
SAYING said Oscar nespard. "She Is
alarmed by those threats Of yours,
which, as your ladyshir knows are ut
4eflv without reason Calm yourself
! NJ ia. Lady Esler can lo nothing to
yon and you had better. for ell reasons,
s.eal the truth 7