Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-08-25

The light is in my eyes, cousin.
! Then move; now then."
Ca what is Miss Lowdell sing
ing for?"
Don't talk; go on"
"C-a--t- Oh there's a wasp on the
window"
Bella, go on!"
viii you give me a chocolate if
say It right?'
no, certainly not; now, quickly"
Mamma always does, said Bella
with an ominous dropping at the cor
ners of her mouth.
Are you going to read this word OF
not?'
mo; you're only French, and you
don't know a bit how to teach me, -
whined Bella.
Whereupon Esperance shut the
book and carried her provoking little
pupil to the corner, where she roared
with all her might
"A very difficult child to manage,
| | should think" said Mrs. Lowdell,
with commiserating glance, as she
hastily left the room to be out of the
sound of Bella's screams.
Esperance, heartily ashamed that
her pupil should be driving people
away by her naughtiness, longed to
take her up to the nursery; but this
was against Mrs. Mortake's rules,
and Miss Bellas two hours down
I Sfa ire Of 10 sisif :,
hasty retreat to their bedrooms.
She screamed on without the small
est diminuendo for some minutes, and
| Esperance sat down despairingly with
her hands clasped over her forehead,
half distracted by the double noise of
, crying and singing.
On and on it went like some fright
full nightmare.
But men must work and women
must weep from Miss Lowdell.
Roar, roar-from Bella,
Though storms be sudden and
waters deep. "
Ooh, hoo, ooh, hoo! hate
youl" from the corner
Why must people sing those fright
full sea-songs-on this day, of all
others? And, oh! why would Bella
scream so numerically? The physi-
cal and mental pain together We're al
most maddening.
Just as Miss Lowdel left the draw
ing-room, Mrs. Mortlake came back,
veXed at hearing Bella's screams.
oil
ways go wrong if I leave the room Tor
minute. Come to me- my precious;
what Is it them"
Bella could not speak for sobbing,
but by degrees Mrs. Mortlake caught
the words, II hate her" and "choco-
late" intermiXed with the bowling
You always do manage to irritate
the poor child. Esperance; of course
she may have some chocolate If she
likes. You really are most provoking;
she has been as good as possible with
me, and now you have upset her
Why was she in the corner?"
"She was very inattentive and
rude" said poor Esperance looking
down
Rude, indeed! it is your ridiculous
pride which is so ready to take offense
she is never rude to any one else, ano
I'm not going to have your French
system of punishments brought in;
please remember, no one Furnishes
Bella but myself. Nothing tends
more to make a child deceitful than
constant punishment; your national
characteristic is quite accounted for. "
Then, as Esperance would have be
gun an indignant remonstrance:
mo, no, l will not have argu-
ing before Bella; you have wasted
quite cough Of my time already; the
best thing you can do now is to leave
! the room, for the child can't bear the
sight of you. l wish, instead of sit
ting up at night burning other people s
candles, you would learn to make
yourself useful by day You think SO
much of French manners; but for my
part"
Mrs. Mortlake broke off in dismay
for looking round she saw Gaspard
standing in the doorway, and from
/ the expression of his face, she knew
he must have heard most of her angry
speech.
Esperance turned, too and with a
cry Of relief ran to him
"Gaspard' Gaspard," and she chung
to him as if for protection
He put his arm around her holding
her closely, deaf to all Mrs. Mortlake's
greetings, and only growing more and
more angry as he felt how Esperanc
was trembling AS soon as he could
trust himself 10 speak he turned upon
Mrs. Mortlake, but Christabel, with an
instructive dread OF what was coming,
tried to intercept his speech.
"Good-morning; you are later than
usual to-day; have you come to take
Esperance for a walk"
Her cool clear voice so angered him
that he dared not speak to her He
just bowed an assent.
Christabel fairly trembled before
that calm, dignifled anger, and she
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