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


crafty the old lady, and before he
left it was arranged that he should
come every afternoon to carry on his
work
Of course while he painted he talk
ed, and Esperance, who was never
quiet for long at a time, talked too,
and blushed, and showed the most
puzzling varieties of expression,
sometimes even forgot herself so far
as to gesticulate, so that had she
been an ordinary model, Claude would
have been enraged; as it was, how
ever, he was all the more delighted,
and in spite of her delinquencies,
the picture was a great success. He
found it very hard now not to tell her
of his love, but he remembered Lady
Worthington's advice, and with a sigh
resolved to respect French customs.
He asked her instead for Gaspard's
address in Dickoya, hoping she might
perhaps guess why he wanted it, but
she only looked provokingly innocent,
and began to talk of coffee planta-
tons.
One day, however, when he walked
out to the priory, he found Esperance
Enthusiastically grave and sad; he now
tancled she had been crying. In the
course of the afternoon it transpired
that Mrs. Mortlake had sent for her;
Bella was poorly, and they were going
at once to the seaside.
Il do not want to leave grannie,"
she explained, regretfulIy; sit is so
quiet and happy here at the Priory
Besides, tomorrow is my jour de
naissance, and we were to have
fete"
But the tears were not altogether
for the lost fete, and, after all, the
eighteenth birthday proved a day of
strange dawning joy. Claude came to
say goodbye to her just before she
started, bringing with him some ex-
quisite flowers. He would not have
ventured to do SO at another time,
but the fete day made happy excuse,
and his parting words sent a glad
thrill through Esperance.
you will not be at the seaside all
the summer, | hope, for l shall be in
Rilchester again in two months time"
Her presence would make a diff
ference to him, them She was glad
to have the railway carriage to herself
that day, for she could not help burst
ing out into little ecstatic snatcbes of
song.
Gaspard had had a rough, cross
country ride on his mare Blanchette.
1t was Sunday morning, and he had
been to a store twelve miles off to SER
vice; now he was coming back to Mr..
Seymour's bungalow very hot and
tired and hungry.
Mr. Seymour was standing at the
door as he dismounted. He himself
diu not manage to get to a Sunday
service more than once or twice in the
year.
you have had a hot ride, Gaspard,"
the name of De Mabillon was too
long to please him. Il hope your par
son gave you something very super
fine in the way of sermons to make
up for it.
1.-TWO in one" said Gaspard, with a
yawn, lasting just an hour, and out
of congregation of thirty, twenty
two were nodding before the end"
Mr.. Seymour made a gesture of COM
passion, then held out two letters.
The post has come; there is a re-
ward for you
Gaspard took the letters, scrutiniz-
ing them eagerly while he led Blan-
Ghetto round to her stable, then, hay
ing handed her over to one Of the
coolies, he entered the bungalow,
threw himself back in a wicker chair
and opened Esperance's letter. He
was much startled by her news of
Bertha's marriage, and shocked to
think of her night of loneliness and
terror in the cathedral; but the end
of her letter treasured him. He liked
to think of her with kind old Mrs.
Passmore, and with Claude Magnay to
enliyen her every afternoon; there
was a brightness of tone, too, about
her writing which made him feel
happy about her. However much she
tried to make her letters uniformly
cheerful, he always managed to find
out in what mood they had been writ
ten, and about this letter there was
an unusually buoyant happiness.
He opened the next one more
leisurely, wondering whom it was
from, then seeing the signature, was
glad and yet surprised that Claude
should write to him. His bronzed face
wore a startled expression as he
slowly deciphered the large, irregular
characters. He read on, however:
My dear De Mabillion,-When we
parted I did not know how very soon
| should have to come upon you for
that promised favor, which you were
so pleased to have suggested to you
last summer. | am taking you at your
word, however, and am going to make
a very serious and great request.
But first for a little explanation.
was staying at Worthington Hall last
Christmas, and saw your sister twice.
l realized then for the first time how
much l loved her, and since then
time has only strengthened these con-
victions. l write now to ask if you
will consent to my proposing to
your sister? | shall not dwell upon
my love for her-I can not write of it,
and l believe you will understand me-
l think l could make her happy, and
most earnestly beg that you will al
low me to speak to her. With regard
to money considerations, you already