Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-04-14

ceived her caresses in gloomy silence.
and finally rose, with an impatient
exclamation seized his hat and strobe
out of the room without a word of
farewell or explanation.
1t would be hard to say which was
the more miserable of the two; per-
haps Esperance had less cause for
self-reproach, but certainly her re-
Elections were sad enough, as hour by
hour she sat watching and hoping
for Gaspard's return.
She listened and waited in vain,
however, for he did not come home
at all that night, Esperance's words
were ringing in his ears, tormenting
him. haunting him, do what he
would. Must he indeed leave France
just at this most exciting moment
Would his father have exacted such
a promise IL he had foreseen all that
would happen? M. Lemercier had In
doctrinated him, to some extent. In
his communistic principles, and he
could not fail to wish to be present
during the coming, struggle,
And then to add to his difficulties
poverty began to stare him in the
face. He had been too much occu-
pied OF late to spare many thoughts
for money matters, but he was aware
that their income was Of the smallest
How could they manage the removal
into another country? How could he
support himself when once they were
there? Was not England already
swarming with exiled Frenchmen?
In the midst Of his reverie he was
accosted by M. Lemercier, who was
walking excitedly in an opposite di-
rection
DE Mabillon! the very man !
wanted. Our little affair is progress
ing most favorably; tomorrow we
may expect fracas that will make
all Europe ring. Come, then, with
me, you shall be initiated, And
linking his arm in Gaspard's he
walked off in the direction Of the
Faubourg st. Antoine.
But in spite of the all-exciting plots
and wild schemes which were that
night revealed to him, Gaspard was
persistently haunted by Esperance's
pale, reproachful face; and, though
he listened with excited pleasure tc
NJ. Lemercier's proposals, he felt ar
uncomfortable twir se when he re
membered how he had panied hi
sister
I Esperance slept little that night
she was sore at heart, and full o
anxiety for Gaspard. Neither he no
/ M Lemercier had returned mex
, morning, and the day wore on slowl
and gloomily Madame, by way O
distraction, took Esperance TO tn
cemetery; but the visit to her father
grave only renewed her grief an
made her long more than ever TO
his help and advice. She wept s.
passionately that Nm. Lemercier wa
quite distressed, and began to apollo
gize profusely for her foolish idea
her ill-conceived plan
On the way home they heard con
fused reports of a Communist insur
rcection, but nothing definite. Mad
anne was of course, interested, know
ing that her husband would probabl
take prominent part in any rising
and Esperance shivered as she re
membered that very possibly Gaspar,
might be involved in it, too.
| They walked home almost in 81
lecce. Madame was eager for news
| however, and stayed below talking K
the porter, while Esperance takins
her key, went up alone to their owl
rooms.
She had not waited long before
footsteps were heard without The
door opened quickly and Gaspard en-
tered, looking very pale and exhaus-
ted.
EspeTance gave an astonished ex-
clamation at his appearance, and her
heart beat quickly as she wondered
If he had indeed been assisting in the
insurrection. But her doubts We're
soon dispelled; in another moment
she was in his arms, while he poured
out in oherent regrets and explana
tons of his last nights behavior.
She was wonderfully relieved. 1t
was not for some minutes that she
returned to the subject that had all
day filled her thoughts, and asked
what had been happening.