Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-05-26
Won by w aiting.
EDNA LYALL

turn Mrs. Mortlake's uncomfortable
speech to some different meaning, but
she was too quick forhim, and the
next moment the conversation was Gu
tirely in her hands.
Il was wanting so much to ask you,
liz you had seen that magnificent al
tar-piece of Perugino's in the Church
of st. Peter, Perugia. You were In
italy last winter, were you not?"
Whereupon ensued long account
of Nr. Magnay's Italian tour, stimula-
ted by Mrs. Mortlake's peculiar form
of questioning.
Esperance meanwhile had recovered
herself and sat proudly erect, without
betraying any desire to join in the
conversation. She was wounded by
her cousins most unfair speech, for
it had assumed that she was In the
habit Of talking about her suferings
in the siege, whereas the subject had
scarcely been mentioned since her ar
rival, and she had, moreover, made
an unjust insinuation as to her good
taste.
Horrors at the tablet" the
very idea of being suspected of men,
tioning anything Of the sort made her
blush anew.
Her indignation gradually died
away, however; the mention OF Paris,
and other familiar names, had re-
, called all her sad memories, and it
] Ef-
from the effects OF Mrs. Mortlake's
snub that she answered all Claude's
further attempts at conversation in
monosyllables
Only once was she at all reused. 1t
was at dessert, the dean was advis-
ing Claude Magnay to explore some Of
the old parts of Rilchester, thinking
that the half-ruinous and very ancient
buildings could not fail to please an
artist This led to a comparison of
cathedral cities with ordinary towns
wherein Claude expressed his opin-
ions so very candidly that Esperance
quite trembed for him. To her dis
may she found herself implicated in
the conversation Claude and Mrs.
Mortlake carried on quite a little ar
gument, as to the dangers of narrow
ness in a limited community, Mrs.
Mortlake unfolding her beloved cathe-
dral town In everything. OF course,
the discussion was perfectly good-hu
mored, but unluckiy Claude, glanc-
| ing round the table with his quick ar
/ list eye to gather the expressions of
the different people, was attracted by
| EsperanCe's sad wistful face, and
without thinking asked, And what is
your opinion? you are a comparative
stranger, and must be unbiased, Do
you think cathedral towns SUPERIOR
Esperance was in great difficulties;
she would not willingly have offended
her relations, but truth was truth
and she was too tired and sad-hearted
TO be ready with any slillful counter
question or laughing alluslon with
which TO change the subject.
With an appealing. How can you
ask me?" in her eyes she replied
quietly, 81 love the cathedral as much
as ! dislike the town"
Cornella looked up quickly.
Your reasons?"
Esperance looking much distressed.
tried TO confne her remarks to the
material town, though the previous
conversation had related to the soci-
ETY.
The streets are so narrow and
dirty, and there are so very few peo-
pie" she paused and for once was
greatly relieved by one OF Mrs. Mort
lakes cutting little speeches.
oh. yes, we know your ideas Of the
beautiful are different; you care for
nothing but boulevards."
Again Esperance flushed crimson.
again Claude felt sorry for her. and
this time he was vexed that she
should suffer from his rashness: how
ever. he had no opportunity for maxi
ing amends for the ladies' left the Ia
N'e almost directly, and IN the even
ing the dean carried him of TO his
observatory, and kept him so thor
'nehly interested with his telescope
hat an elise was forgotten.