Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-06-30
Won by w aiting.
EDNA LYALL

sary.'
Your age was always being cast
in Esperances teeth, but It was as
convenience suited-either "a mere
child of your age" or "a great girl
Of your age as in the present in
stance. She began to wish to be
either one thing or the other.
The physical geography" was "a
Their more successful, but, alas! the
German translation came utterly to
grief. The very sound of the Ian
guage was distasteful to Esperance
and, under the circumstances, Cornelia
would have been much wiser not to
have attempted it; but to her mind
no one was properly educated who
could not read and speak German,
and she persevered in spite of Esper-
ance's wishes to the contrary. 1t
really was hardship to be set to
learn Was list des Deutschen Water
land?' and, after laboriously trans
lating it first into French in her brain,
and then into English with her
tongue, Esperance could not resist
saying, We'll, I think the Germans
are the most conceited people I ever
heard Of boasting about all the d.
visions of their country, so as to fill
two pages!"
1T has been pretty clearly shown
lately that the Germans are not vain
boasters,' said Cornelia, severely.
Moreover, people who live in glass
houses shouldn't throw stones Con-
ceit is the proverbial character of
certain other European nation
You may as well say it quite!"
said Esperance, with flashing eyes.
I know what you mean-now that
France is fallen you will all trample
on her! and that is what you call
English generosity! Ciel! if you
speak of proverbial characters, it is
fair that I may quote the English one
-'insular pride and ill-manners,' and
it is true-true!'
Cornelia was secretly rather
amused at the storm of patriotism
which she had evoked. but she an
swered gravely, and in her repressive
voice, When you have quite done
we will go on, please. Conjugate the
verb 'Haben,' to have"
The words seemed almost like an
insult. This cold dignity of Corne-
LAS eXasperated Esperance more
than anything; moreover, to have her
patriotism utterly ignored was more
unbearable than the severest scolding,
and in the worst possible humor she
repeated the verb, taking no pains to
pronounce the his.
She left Cornelia's room much more
unhappy than before, and conscious
that her outbreak had been both
childish and useless. Out OF heart
with herself and with all around her,
yet unable to find the remedy, she felt
more and more miserable, and longed,
with sick longing, for relief in any
form-a letter from Gaspard, a sight
of Frances Neville, or even a ray of
sunshine. But nothing came; the
postman brought no letter, Frances
did not come into Rilchester-even
the sun did not once pierce the gloom
of that nurky November day.
Mrs. Mortlake never spoke except to
complain, Bertha after her usual
effort was more taciturn than ever,
Cornelia was stiff and displeased, and
Esperance was cross. Not that she
would have allowed this to herself,
even; she felt, and in some degree
VIC h,,& -. 70 ~ In
strain of the past year had so COM
pletely worn her out that mind and
body alike were unequal to the least
harass, and trifiing annoyances, which
in good health she would have laugh
ed at, now seemed the deepest griev-
ances. And so she sat YEARLY
through the afternoon with her book
before her, wishing herself and "The
German Faterland' at the bottom of
the sea, while no one would take the
trouble to put her into the right way,
or to say the few words of love and
sympathy which she so sorely needed.
You had better get ready to go
back" said Cornelia, as the clock
struck half past four. ''It is getting
dusk, and you will be alone
Alonei 1t was a shock indeed to
Esperance's ideas of propriety. To
have walked in broad daylight was
perhaps permissible in England,
though she would never have been
allowed to do such a thing in France,
even at Mabillon-but to walk
through the town, and along de-
serted country road. with the dark
ness fast coming on, was too much
she felt sure that even in England
this could not be CONNIE il fault
No escort was offered, however, so
she saw no help for it, and unwilling
ly-for once-closed the door
of the deanery behind her, and
went out into the autumn twilight
At first the novelty rather pleased
her, but when she had passed the vi
cars Court, and the close, a strange
eerie, unprotected feeling mastered
her, and she shivered at the Aught
Of the long way to come. The Night
lights in the windows looked tempt
ing and home-like, she fancied she
could have been happy in every one Of
the houses she passed, forgetful that
red curtains, warm fire light, and
bright picture frames existed also at
the deanery. And then she thought
of the hero Of Excelsior" when
In happy homes he saw the light
Of household fires CLEAN warm and
bright"
i