Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-07-07

| her eyes as she answered, Thank
| you for warning me. Christabel but
| in the present instance it was unnec-
| essary; We, too, are of the noblesse."
Mrs. Mortlake looked blankly as
| tonished for a moment; then, seeing
| that she had been worsted, took
| refuge in silence.
Esperance, feeling triumphant and
| naughty looked at the fiat land
scape from the carriage window and
pretended to be enjoying herself very
| much, though in reality she was not
quite happy, conscious that her retort
had not been in good taste. and sure
that her faher would have disap-
proved of the little piece of ostenta
ton
1t was a relief when they reached
Worthington, passed the green gates
and unpretentious lodge, and drove
through the pleasant wel-timbered
grounds.
How beautiful it isl" said Esper-
| ance, breaking the silence rather, as
she glanced at the sunny slopes.
"A very poor approach" said Mrs.
Mortlake, they might have made it
at least half a mile longer by little
arrangement.
After this nothing more was said
and Esperance gave a sigh of relief
when the carriage drew up before
the large, plain substantial house,
more comfortable within than artis-
tic without.
In the drawing-room they found
Lady Worthington and her little girl.
Esperance looked eagerly for Frances
Neville, but she was not there.
Frances has such bad neuralgia
to-day" explained Lady Worthington,
as soon as the greetings were over.
Il wonder whether you would mind
going up to her little sitting-room,
Esperance; it is the only warm room
in the house, and she is rather afraid
to leave it.
This was a delightful arrangement,
and Esperance gave a glad consent,
while little Kathie. at a word from
her mother, ran on before her to
show the way.
Frances's sitting-roOm was the
most coy of retreats; the bay-win-
dow facing south was filled with ferns
and brOad-leaved plants, the fire
seemed to throw out more heat than
ordinary fires, miniature easy-chairs
stood exactly where they were wanted
and books and pictures filled every
10 n
ces herself was lying on a couch
drawn close to the fire, looking very
white and exhausted She did not
get up when Esperance came in.
II shall not treat you as a visitor"
she said in French, looking up with
her peculiarly winning smile, This
is quite an unceremonious visit,
consider Kathie dear. bring Esper-
ance the little Spanish chair, will
you?"
Then after the double kiss-a little
consideration Of her nationality which
was greatly OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
found herself comfortably installed
beside Frances,
Is your head no better?" she
asked half timdly. for Frances real
" looked very i'll.
Well. it is bad just now, but you
will talk and make me forget it,"
The womanly instinct was strong
in Esperance, AMI in a second her
dainty little gloves were of, and she
was stroking Frances's burning fore
head with that soothing, half-mes-
meric touch in her cool hnger-tips
which seems the only remedy for
neuralgia
Where did you learn this delicious
spell?" asked Frances, 1T makes the
pain almost unfelt" /
Esperance laughed a little. /
Il don't think there Is anything 10
learn. did it once or twice to Soeur
Angelique when she was i'll, and she
used to like it,
who is Soeur Angelique?"
"One Of the sisters in the convent
at home; she used to teach me, and .
loved her dearly I think you must
be a little like her, for I always think
Of her when I see you"
Tell me about her-what was she
like" 4
She was dark and pale. and her
eyes were brown and always shining
No, she can not really have been like
you, but she had look on her face
as If she were always thinking Of holy
things It must be in that vou re-
mind me Of her.
Frances c0lored a little
And were the other sisters like
herr"
No, Soeur Therese was very cross,
at least I thought so then She al |
ways talked OF observation-disclosures !
while Soeur Angelique never talked at
all like that, but only loved I'll
seems so long since had those
afternoons at the convent school |
Sometimes I feel as IL it had been an
other Esperance Of whom had read |
not myself at all
4