Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-07-21

pard was starving? So she sobbed on.
while Cornelta scoIded without any
effect, until at last, alarmed at the in
ereasing paleness of Esperance's face,
she asked suddenly the startled mat
ter-of-fact question, Have you had
any dinner?''
A half-impatient NO was the an
swer.
What! nothing at all since the
1norning?'
Some Coffee" sobbed Esperance,
still impatiently.
"You foolish child, then Of course
you are faint with hunger. Why can't
you take proper care Of YOURSELF"
DO you think I would not rather
bear that than take anything from
Gaspard?' said Esperance, indigna-
ton for q moment checking her tears
You rich people have no conception
what real poverty means! would you
have me take cure Of myself, when he
has been starving for months OF
bread and eau sucre?"
rs that really a fact?" asked Cor
nelia, greatly shocked, while the dean,
hearing an unusual noise, looked I'D
from his paper. and bent forward to
, listen. EsperanCe was just sufficient
I ~ alive to feel that a crisis had
come: with an effort she raised her
self, grasped the arm Of the seat, and
l oh hna 1z GET
have done wrong, Cornelia; he would
not wish any one to know of his
privations; pray forget what said
q can make no such promise, -
said Cornelia, coldly; besides, if, as
I infer, this is really true, it is not a
thing to be forgotten"
Esperance had fallen back to her
former position, but through her tears
Cornelia caught the words. ''He would
mot like-more obligations
Perhaps her veXatiOn at this &C
counted for the very severe way in
which she administered wine from
flask to Esperance.
Now pray drink this and stop
cying at once; if you had a 1.-THE of
y Jul 'UiOCnSl pOWtES OIL
this would not have happened
1t was certainly neither compli-
mcntary nor conso1ing, but Esper-
ance's loving nature was more pleased
by the reference to Gasperd's virtues.
than stung by the reproach to herself
She swallowed the wine, revived a
little, dried her eyes, and covered
r i1otO hos,
fell asleep.
|, Cornelia sat watching her gravely:
stern and unsympathetic as she had
seemed, her heart was really touched
and Esperance's outburst. with its
pride and pathos, had awakened her
compassion. She was genuinely sorry
for the poor child, but to let this ap-
pear IN word or deed seemed to her
impossible, and after the sa1utary
scolding she had administered, she
would not change her tactics; so that
1t was not until Esperance was
last asleep, that she undid her cloak
straps, and spread warm shawl over
her.
Then she moved to the seat beside
the dean, and began in her business
like way, Father, wish you would
help that poor boy to some work, he
looks so i'll. Do you not know Of
something he could do in Rilchester?
Did 1 not hear that the Librarian want
ed some copying done?"
1--WE do not want him at Riches
ter, - said the dean, a little sharply
i have had foreigners to my house
once too often; we don't want your
poor aunt Anly's story acted over
again."
"Bertha!" exclaimed Cornelia, ooh!
that could never be; he is a mere boy,
tOO.''
"A thorough De Mabillon,'' said the
dean. The very image of his father,
manners and all; a substratum of
pride, then a coating of dignity, and
over all that, detestable French polish.
Pshaw! why can't a man be plain
spoken? 1 hate palaver"
CorneEia smiled at her fathers un-
wonted energy.
But you would scarcely wish to
leave even a Frenchman to starve,
and I am afraid it has nearly come to
that with Gaspard de Mabillon."
My dear Cornelia, you are quite
mistaken if you think l am going to
adopt both Monsieur de Mabillon's
children. I have taken in the little
girl for your poor aunt's sake, but
further than that will not go.''
so her first-born must starve, be-
cause of that limit you put upon your
goodwill" said Cornelia, with more
sarcasm than respect.
To be Continued.
PRINCESS CHEMAY DEAD.