Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-11-10

when he put down the letter. He liked
Claude exceedingly, and felt that he
could give Esperance to HIM more
willingly than to most men, but in
any case her marriage would involve
There could be no happy visions of a
home in Ceylon now. But Gaspard
had unlearned his selfshness in a
hard school, and he loved Esperance
far too much not to rejoice in this
prospect Of happiness for her. Be
fore the Sunday was over he had writ
ten brotherly letter to Claude, in
closing another TO be given to Els
perance when he had spoken to her;
and somehow the more he thought
over this new suggestion the more
he liked it, nor had ne much doubt
what Esperance's answer would be-
CHAPTER XXI.
By the end of July the family at the
-deanery were all at home again; the
dean seemed much better for his
stay in Germany, and Mrs. Mortlake
had recovered her spirits, too; it was
only Cornelia who was permanently
altered by that time of grief, and
shame, and self-reproach. She never
lost the lines of sadness which gath
cred then around her firm, compressed
lips, but the expression rather soft
ened her face than otherwise
Bertha's marriage had now of
course been published. 1t was gen
orally known in Rilchester that she
had been married abroad to her
cousin, but that her family did not
approve of the connection, so the sub
ject was avoided with the Collinsons,
and, with the exception Of Claude
Magnay, none but the very nearest
relatives ever heard the real story.
Claude waited impatiently through
those summer months for Gaspard's
reply to his letter, working hard at
his painting, and alternating between
hope and despair. At length one
morning he found the long-expected
letter on his breakfast table; it was
all that he could possibly wish; Gas
pard was apparently pleased and
gratified by his proposal, and wrote
most affectionately. Claude's happi-
ness was complete long waiting
had been rewarded; he would lose no
more time. He rang the bell at once
and ordered the ''angel-page" to call
hanson, then unable to touch his
breakfast, he rushed up to his room,
tossed a few clothes into a pOrtman-
teau, and in ten minutes was on his
way to the station to catch an early
train to the north
The journey rather quieted him
down. By the time the fiat barren
plain warned him that he was near
chichester, he had become far less
hopeful and confident, and when the
magnificent pile of the cathedral au-
peared in the distance, a dark mass
against the blue sky, he even began to
feel doubtful as to the wisdom of
going to the deanery at all. Should
he write to her instead? He sent his
portmanteau to the Spread Eagle, and
walked slowly away from the station.
chichester looked as peaceful as ever,
and even more deserted, for it was a
very hot afternoon and few people
were stirring; you might have fired
cannon down the High Street with
out hurting a soul. Claude walked
on, trying to make up his mind, till
at last he found himself close to the
wears Court, then with the sudden
perception of his nearness to Es-
perance, his hesitation disappeared:
he walked quickly through the silent
court, and across the square, graveled
approach to the deanery, and rang the
Understanding bell. He asked
boldly for Mile. de Mabillon. She was
at home; he entered the blue-and-
white tiled hall where he had seen
her last Christmas with her holly
wreath, and felt his courage rising.
/ ne footman, who, of course, re-
membered him well, turned just as
they were crossing the hall-there
were visitors in the drawing-room-
he believed ma'mselle was in the din
ng-room-would Mr.. Magnay see her
there? CLAUDE eagerly assented, bless
ing the thoughtful footman, and
registering a mental VOW that he
would ever after tip him in gold;
then the heavy door was thrown back,
he caught a momentary vision of
mahogany and crimson rep, and the
next moment was only conscious that
he was in the same room with Espe-
rance, that he held her hand in his
They sat down near the open window,
he heard her speaking to him in her
clear voice, and was vaguely aware
that she looked cool and beautiful in
her white dress, among the hot, ugly
surroundings, and that she wore
deep crimson rose, like the one he
had given her at the Priory. She was
telling him of their stay at the sea-
side; then she asked if he had come to
paint another picture in the cathedral.
To be Continued.