Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-06-09
Won by w aiting.
EDNA LYAIL

| so as to take away from the effect
A dusky foreground, just showing a
tattered curtain and moldering wall
a easement window, through which
the moonlight was streaming, and a
glimpse of wide plain, glimmering
here and there with the faint bright
ness of light reflected in a watery
marsh. Standing by the window, her
/ hand on the fastening, as if in the
act of closing it, stood Esperance, her
face plainly revealed by the cold
light Of the moon, and full of hope
| less misery, while disappointment and
WEAKNESS were expressed in her list
less. dropping figure
Gaspard gaZed on as if he could
never take his eyes from her face.
and Claude, who had not intended
| him to see it at ALL was both vexed
and puzzled That he had recognized
| his sister was undoubted; he could
| hardly fail, then, to know the full eX-
tent of her unhappiness. 1t was GER
| tainly a most unlucky accident.
1t was relief when at length Cas-
| pard spoke, though his depressed
voice was not reassuring.
You painted it at Rilchester.
| then?"
No; oh, no. I merely got an idea
from your sisters face, made a
sketch of it, and am now working it
! up as Mariana in the Moated Grange
[ hope you will not think I took a
great liberty. You must allow for the
license Of an artist.
DO you think mind that for an
instant" said Gaspard. But that
| hopeless wretchedness and dejectioni
Has she really come to that? I knew
| she must be changed, but that is
| surely exaggerated"
Claude would have given a great
| deal to have been able to answer in
the affirmative, but it was impossible;
nor would he equivocate. After a
moments thought, he answered, ~
saw that expression On her face, but
of course it was not always there: at
times she was quite bright and mer-
| ry"
She used to be the merriest child
in all France" sighed Gaspard.
He was still looking sadly at the
picture, when the door was opened
by Claude's Child Angel" who an
nounced, with truly cockney pronun-
ciation-"Lady Worthington.
Claude fastened forward to receive
his visitor, and Gaspard, recognizing
the name, and looking up rather GU
riously, saw a tall and peculiarly
graceful woman, middle-aged, yet
still young-looking, her fine, classical
| features, bright, humorous eyes, and
ready smile full of attraction, while
her complexion, though a little worn,
| retained much Of it's bloom.
There was something very fascinat-
ing about her manner, and Gaspard's
opinion of English women was raised:
he only stayed for moment, how
ever, not sorry for the opportunity of
escaping, to indulge in his sad ref1ec-
lions about Esperance, and to revolye
impossible schemes for releasing her.
Il feel as if I ought to know that
young Frenchman," said Lady Wor-
Ellington, when Gaspard had left the
room; yet l can't remember where ]
have seen him before"
His name is Gaspard de Mabillon,
and he is nephew of the Dean of
Rilchester," said Claude.
"Of Dean Collins0n? De MabilIon?
Oh! now I remember it all; his father
married poor Amy Collinson. H~w
terribly one forgets names: t
have seen this young man years
years ago, when he was a child. BIT =.
of course it is the likeness to his
father that I mus, have recognized
Is he in London, too?"
mo, he is dead-killed in the siege
Of Paris replied Claude. Little
Mademoiselle de Mabillon is living
| at the deanery, and she told me all
about it,
How shocking. l had no idea of
| that" exclaimed Lady Worthington.
Eve had so completely lost sight of
them. He was a undetermined man.
and was most unjustly treated by
Dean Collinson."
you knew him, then, personality"
asked Claude
"Yes-slightly, that is. My mother
was very fond of Amy Collinson, and
about two years after her marriage
we were travelling in France and
spent a night with them, in their
curious old ruined castle. I was
quite a girl then, and really had for
gotten the name Of the family. Poor
/ c+n o1+
What induced them to come to Eng
! Iand?"
I hardly know; but they seem to be
very poor. I believe the dean has
adopted the little girl
Indeed! I must go and see her
when we go back to Worthington: the
! exodus is already beginning; the
! hrst installment of nurses and child
| rem went off this morning, and I
/ only meant now just to come in and
wish you goodbye, but as usual I
have been betrayed into gossiping'
Lady Worthington was quite an
! old family friend of the Magnays.
| and since they had been left orphans.
| she had taken them specially under
! her protection. Claude owed a great
! deal to her; she was undoubtedly very
! fond of him, and after his sisters had
! gone to India, and he had been left
| to himself, she had spared no pains
/ in helping him, constantly inviting
him to her house, and what was bet
J ter, really winning his confidence.
and giving him almost a sons place