Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-07-14
Continued.

il is so clear. AND you Will stay
won't your" turning eagerly ito Els
perance. TT will be such fUn, ant
we may help to let them off, and
you can, too, you know
Esperance looked bewildered, til
Frances explained.
1T b.. : been long-talked 81
treat for the children, and nay broth
er-in-law has laid in store of fire
works. You will stay, will you not
1t will be delightful to keep you foI
the night"
ITO stay here for the night" and
Esperance started to her feet in such
an ecstasy that Frances hardly knew
whether she felt inclined to laugh or
cry at the sight.
Then you will stay?" questioned
Kathie, eagerly.
Yes, indeed-that is, if there is
really nothing to hinder it" said Els
peranoe. My cousin"
Suppose you go downstairs and
settle it, said Frances. "Kathie,
take Esperance to the drawing-room,
and mind you don't let her run
away"
The two hastened away, hand in
hand, while Frances was left to muse
over the conversation, marveling at
Esperanee's utter want of reserve,
and wondering if she had given good
counsel.
In few minutes she heard the
deanery carriage drive off, then after
a pause, in which she grew a little
impatient, steps were heard approach
ing and Lady WorthingtOn opened
the door. Her face was a mixture
of triumph and amusement.
She stays?" asked Frances.
Yes, she stays, replied her sister,
laughing. Bat if only you had been
downstai to have seen it all! Mrs.
Mortlake was all anxiety to put
stop to it, but was quite non-plussed;
i only hope she is not offended with
But why did she object?"
'Oh, she invented all sorts of eX-
cuses, from the cathedral service up
ward, and really, when it came 10
the dean not liking her to be absent
/ was afraid we should have to give
II up, though a more lame excuse I
can't imagine. AS if he ever attended
to such sublunary matters! However,
then Henry came in and took just the
right line, laughed at me for not
even knowing whether Esperance
would like to stay, and sent Kathie up
here with a message"
Poor Esperance, l pity her coming
down to such conclave."
ooh, she was quite self-possessed,
and, | fancy, very much enjoyed being
quit of Mrs. Mortlake. 1t was great
fun to see them together, though I
am afraid they might have been more
plain spoken if they had been alone.
AS is was, Esperance deferred to her
cousin just enough, but made it very
evident that she would like to stay.
putting in half a dozen pretty little
speeches about giving trouble and
want of preparation, while Mrs.
Mortlake was stumbling over one.
Henry was enchanted with her, and I
have left him doing pater familias,
with Esperar ce in one hand, Kathie in
the other, and boys everywhere, going
TO see the exhibition of rabbits"
Poor child, she will enjoy it. Oh,
Katharine, she does want spelling
q little. She must have a dreadful
time of it at the deanery"
Il am glad you have come to my
way of thinking" said Lady Wor-
thington, with a smile.
"NO NOT oItooetbor 1,o,-o +r;od
my line, but it brought to light so
much unhappiness, that I am sure we
must give her al the love we can, to
counteract the de2nery influence"
II quite agree with you. Well. I
must not waste any more time in
gossiping; there will be just time to
so down to the village and ask the
school children to come up this
evening to see the show
Il am glad they are coming; but
what will Miles say to his beloved
lawn being trampled on?"
My dear, what is the use Of hav-
ing garden if you can't do what you
like with it? | have conquered my
coachman. and don't mean to be
slave to my gardener. I shall give
a general invitation to the whole vii
lage.
It seemed that the whole village
accepted tie invitation, for by seven
o'clock the lawn was crowded with ex-
pectant watchers, Mr.. Miles himself
being one of the number good-na-
turedly willing to make the best of
this invasion of his territory, and
secretly enjoying the little excite
ment as much as anybody. On the
terrace Sir Henry had arranged his
apparatus, about which Harry and
Fred lowered Importantly, while
kathie. half afraid of such unknown
things, kept fast hold of Esperances
hand, and when the first rocket was
let off with a mysterious whiz and
upward rush, fairly dragged her away
There was something weird anC
wonderful about the whole scene. ant
the awe-struck silence, or murmurs
Of admiration of the rustic spectators
were equally impressive Esperance
though she had seen far grander dis
plays at Paris, had never enjoyed
any so much, and she was as cage
as the boys were to try her hand a
letting off squibs or crackers. Will,
Kathie soon lost her fear and pleade
for Catherine wheel" ito do al
herself Then after a shower @
brilliant. many-colored snakes. an,
an elaborate device, the assembl
broke m the vilIaoers poipp boro