Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-08-11

Worthington If he had breathed a
word of it to me this morning I
should not have caught you so nicely.
! Was ever the pride Of independence
so sold. Take it back? No, indeed;
I don't unmake bargains so quickly"
But, indeed, Magnay, I can not
take it now; there is no need; I have
no right to it."
Don't talk of business in my
studio" said Claude, pretending to
take up his palette and brushes. at
| defles the air, and testing apart, De
Mabillon, can not take this back
! again. Give me the pleasure Of max
g it really useful to yourself; there
must be hundreds of things you want
for Ceylon, and when you are there
you won't live upon air for the first
six months. Besides, you will be
wanting to go up to Rilchester before
you sail-why not take a week there
at the Spread Eagle? Confess now,
that you are longing to do So"
ITO see Esperance? Yes, indeed!
you should not put such temptations
before me-"
mo temptation, but a duty" said
Claude, who saw this was the only
way to win his point. Il should think
you culpably neglectful if you did not
see your sister first-why, you are
her guardian, are you not?"
Yes, with poor Lemercier. Per-
haps I ought to see her, as you say;
and it would be hard work to go
without. I will then accept your gen.
erosity. on the understanding
THAT I ask a favor at the next
opportunity interrupted Claude:
''to which I pledge you my word of
honor There! a truce to business.
am going to hear Don Giovanni
tonight; come with me?"
This, however, Gaspard declined
without hesitation, nor would he
even accept a proffered cigar; to be
under an obligation was to him only
bearable when Esperance was in
some way concerned. The two part
ed with the greatest cordiality Gas
pard more light-hearted than he had
been for months, and feeling that the
sense of obligation was not too
crushing with so frank and genial a
helper; Claude more than ever con-
WINGED that life was, and ought to be,
thoroughly enjoyable, and heartily
glad that he had overcome Gaspard's
scruples.
All this time, at the deanery, Es-
perance was toiling on, with a fixed
resolve not to break down till every
thing was made ready for Gaspard.
Her powers Of physical endurance
had been we'll trained in the siege,
and she bore pain and fatigue bravely
and patiently, only the dull gnawing
pain at her heart overmastered her
sometimes. This very evening,
which had been so momentous to
Gaspard, found her more exhausted
than usual. There had been din
ner-party, and it was almost twelve
o'clock before she YEARLY mounted
the stairs to her attic room, her
flushed cheeks and weary, yet too
brilliant eyes, betraying her fatigue.
The rooms had been very hot and
crowded, and the constant standing
had left her tired out. YEARLY she
set down her candle, and throwing
open the window, leaned out into the
cool night air, resting her aching
head against the open lattice, and
looking very much like Claude's
Mariana" She began to count the
days; it was the Goth of May, and
Gaspard's ship was to sail the second
week in June; there was but little
time, and her head felt so heavy that
she knew she could get on but slowly
with the last of the shirts which she
had resolved to finish that night.
With a long-drawn sigh she closed
the window, and, taking her work,
sat down to the table, stitching away
at her wristband at first very quickly,
but gradually with more and more
difficulty. The clock struck one, but
she toiled on; then two, but she was
only beginning her first button-hole
so that faint glimmerings Of dawn
were beginning to show themselves
before the shirt was really finished;
two candles were burned down to
sockets, and the poor little worker
was almost too tired to cross the
room to her bed.
But with rest came no relief to her;
indeed, she looked upon this time as
the very worst of all, when, her work
being done, she had nothing to divert
her mind from the coming trouble
She threw herself on her bed, moan
ing cor Gaspard, now that there was
no fear of being overheard, and long
ing-with an almost intolerable long
ing-for the relief of tears But
Cornelia's stern exhortation seemed
to have set up a barrier against these,
and nothing would come but long
fearless sobs, which hurt instead OF
relieving her.
So the night wore away, and, after
YEARLY tossing to and fro, she fell
! into a restless sleep just as the sun
rose. The morning call reused her
! before she seemed to have had any
rest at all, and, stiff ard unrefreshed,
she came down to the breakfast-table,
to the paraphernalia of silver dishes
and smoking viands, which was her
daily bugbear.
No one but Cornelia noticed how
very pale and i'll she looked, and Mrs.
Mortlake made plans for morning
shopping expedition, in which Esper-
ance was to be her companion. Cor
nelia tried to interfere.
No, no, Christabel; I know what