Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-06-02
Continued.

would have made her fond of Claude
He was really interested AMI
touched by her sad history, and lei
her see it.
Your brother is in London still
then?" he inquired, when she had
finished the story by telling Of her
arrival at Rilchester.
Yes, he is still at PentonVille, but
he has not heard of any work yet.
There seem so many French exiles in
London, and that, of course, makes
it more difficult for him.
Il am afraid I can not be Of much
use in helping him, but still 1 will
bear it in mind. You must give me
an Introduction to him, and then /
shall be able to give him an account
of you and your Rilchester home"
oh, thank you, you are so good,
said Esperance, gratefully; then, with
a sudden look of fear, ''but you must
not let him think l am unhappy. You
will not tell him anything that could
trouble him?"
Claude promised to be most careful,
and delicately turned the CONVERSE
ton, though he was not a little curl
ious to know if the 'Moated Grange
were a real necessity for Mariana"
One afternoon, early in October, Es-
prance, as a most unusual favor, was
invited to take a walk with her uncle.
He was in the habit of taking a "con-
stitutional" every day, accompanied
by Cornelia, his favorite daughter,
but on this day Cornelia was unable
to go, and the dean had himself
asked Esperance to take her
place. Half pleased, half fright
ened, she set out, suiting her
pace to her uncIe's slow and rather
infirm steps, and now and then ven
turing little remarks, which, however,
failed to attract the deans notice.
1t was not till they had walked for at
least half a mile that. he even heard
her voice, but then he reused himself
from his brown study and looked
down at her kindly.
Il am used to such a silent com
panion, my dear, that I am out of the
habit of talking. But go on, for I
like the sound of your voice, it is like
poor Amy's."
us it?" said Esperance, much
pleased. Il should like to be like my
mother. Am I in other things?"
But the topic was not a good one
for conversation. The dean shook his
head and sighed deeply. then again
relapsed into profound meditation.
Esperance was disappointed. She
he'd hoped to hear something of her
mother; but though she talked obedi-
emily, half to herself, half to her I'M
Gle, she could not obtain any answer.
1t was certainly a little dull, and it
was scarcely surprising that her
heart gave a great bound of delight,
when in the distance she perceived
Claude Magnay and one of the minor
canons coming toward them. Some
one who could talk would be such an
.neltimable blessing! and her pleasure
was complete, when on their approach,
the dean, suddenly starting from his
reverie, shook hands cordially with
the two young men, said it was time
he should be turning home, and enter
ing into conversation with Mr.. White
the minor canon, left Esperance to
follow with Claude.
I have been enjoying your fiat
landscape" began Claude. "Mr.
White has taken me a glorious walk"
He looked so fresh and cheerful
that Esperance quite envied him.
DO you really like the country
about here?" she asked, wonderingly.
I think it is the ugliest I ever saw;
so bare, and fat, and wide, it quite
tires ones eyes"
I think it has a beauty Of it's
own" said Glands, though, perhaps,
you have to look carefully to see It.
Of course 1 don't mean to say 1 pre-
fer it to a mountainous country, but
l think it is unjustly abused.
Whatever people say, l shall always
maintain that there is beauty in
" The level waste, the rounding
gray "
All! that just expresses it." said
Esperance. 1T is all so gray, and
somber, and dreary"
Not ALL" said Claude, pausing be-
side field gate which commanded an
extensive view. Nov, look at this:
here is the greenest of grass in the
oregrOund-cOws grazing-as much
color as you could wish in that tiled
cottage, and the faint blue smoke
rising into that perfect sky; then out
beyond you have a boundless expanse.
Soo-this side is flooded with light,
while over there you have the dark
shadow of that cloud; then quite in
the distance it does all fade into the
rounding gray but you must own
now that it is beautiful"
Esperance drew a long breath
Eyes, it is, indeed; but I should
never have seen all that by myself l
am glad you showed me-"
Il am proud to have introduced you
to your own country" said Claude,
smiling.
Not my own!" she exclaimed, in
dignantly
All! of course not; I forgot" said
Claude, amused by her earnestness
Your Auvergne scenery is, doubtless
much more beautiful, but will no
not call this ugly any more?"
mo, indeed, | will not; and you
will tell Gaspard when you see him
that you have quite converted me
for | have sent him most unfavorablt
accounts of the country"
Il will certainly tell him." sait
Claude. Il shall try to see him mex