Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-12-08
CHAPTER XXXvI.


dams pavenir;
Espere ct chaque fois que sleeve
l'aurore,
Soyons la pour prier CONNIE Dieu
pour benir.
Victor Hugo
LADY Worthingron and Frances
we're away at the time OF the acct
dent; there had been a wedding in
The family, and they had been from
home week, but the news of the
disaster reached them very SOON and
LADY Warrington first object when
she returned to chichester was to go
At once to see Esperance. Frances
thought it best to defer her visit,
and left her sister alone at the Spread
Eagle, after hearing at the door that
Mr.. Magney was no better
There was something very sad in
that first visit. 1t was scarcely three
months since Lady Worthington had
seen Claude and Esperance happily
settled in their London home, and
hsd rejoiced in the happiness of her
two proteges; now everything was
grievonsly changed. She was shown
into the deserted sitting-room and
looked sadly round. The room had
that peculiar air of desolation which
hangs about any place where work
and living has been abruptly stopped.
Claude's palette and brushes were
eft on the sideboard just as he had
thrown them down on the afternoon
of that fatal day; his easel and an
unfinished picture stood in the corner
opposite. Would that canvas ever
be used again? Lady Worthington
could not bear to look at it, and
turned to the other side OF the room:
but It was only to see what touched
her even more-a skein of soft, white
WOOL some knitting-needles, and a
tiny babys hood, evidently just made
The tears were in her eyes, when
Esperance came quietly Into the
room with the hushed manner which
people bring with them from sick
ped; she was very pale, but her smile
had lost none of its radiance as she
FASTENED forward to kiss Lady Worth
ingpon.
1T was very good Of you to come
I have so wanted to see you!"
MY poor child! l have been so
anxious about you! We only heard
on Saturday, and could not come
back till this morning. l am afraid
YOU have no better account to give
-me?"
No" said Esperance, YEARLY. "On
Saturday evening there was change.
and Inflammation set in. Now he has
sunk again into a quiet, insensible
state, and there seems so little one
can do. The dean has telegraphed
this morning for some London doctor
he has been very kind"
Was he any the worse himself? l
did not hear If he was injured at all?"
mo, he Is unhurt." And Esperance
gave Lady Worthington all the de-
tails OF the accident. While she was
still talking a servant came in with
the midday letters-two directed to
Claude Magney, Esquire" which Es-
perance put down with a quick sigh,
and one to herself from Gaspard,
The tears rose to her eyes then-it was
the first letter she had had from him
since Claude's illness, and he OF
course knew nothing of her trouble;
she could not bear to open it.
Il am very weak and silly today"
she said, sadly. "But ever since that
dreadful night have had such a
longing for Gaspard-it is the feel
ing of having to stand alone, / sup
pose You see, I have been so taken
care of--and now 1t IS such an effort
20 think and arrange!"
MY dear, you are not fit for It
YOU are worn out already"
II am only tired" said Esperance,
in 4 weary voice. ON va bien loin
dep,ris qu'on est las'-there Is great
ruth in that proverb."
But you will be very careful, dear
you will not over-exert yourself?
VIII not Comelia see that you are
prudent?"
Yes, oh, yes, Cornelia has been
eSerything TO me-she takes care OF
Noel-she does everything to save
met was wrong Of me to complain.
I must keep well for Claudes sake.
But this Is enough about 1t! Do tell
me about Frances-it is good for
me to think of other things
Lady Worthington could not
enough admire the resolute way In
which she turned from her troubles.
Frances came back with me this
morning" she said. Il wonder
whether you have heard any rumors
OF her piece OF news"
What" exclaimed Esperance: is
it really true. then, heard true re-
port that she was going to be mar
Tied"
Trust Rilchester TO be beforehand
with gossip" said Lady Worthing-
ton. smiling. But this Is really true.
Can you guess whom she is going TO
marry"
Esserance thought for minute.
A clergyman OF some sort, | sup
pose Frances would make such a
model clergymans wife"