Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-09-01

much. Their voices were making
Esperance restless, she moved her
arms uneasily, and talked in her sleep,
at first unintelligibly, but afterward
with terrible distirctness, though al
ways in French. Cornelia and Gas
pard each received some wounds from
the unconscious tongue. Now It was
in relation to Gaspard's journey.
Tomorrow, tomorrow, How shall
[ bear it? And yet It will be good
for you, Gaspard.
Then again, with little convulslve
sobs between the words, 1T Is so far
away, so very far, and am so lonely
II only they would love me a lttle,"
BY degrees she grew little more
quiet, and Gaspard looked up at Cor
nelia great tears in his eyes.
Miss Collinson, he said. earnestly
she is all have left; you will take
care of her"
Indeed | will, said Cornelia, with
real sympathy and Gaspard trusted
those three words more than he would
have done countless protestations
from Mrs. Mortlake. He turned once
more to his sister, while Cornella
watched them sadly, yet with sort OF
envy.
At last Esperance woke, wearied and
confused, and Gaspard proposed that
she should go up to her room
Yes, come, urged Cornelia you
viii never rest down here; l will help
you"
She lighted a candle, and would
have offered to help her up the
stairs. but Ga5parl was before her.
Now, cherie, hold tight round my
neck, and you shall feel as Il you
were going up the old pigeonnier at
home.
Esperance obeyed, and was carried
up stairs in his arms, Cornelia staying
to see her safely into bed
The next morning dawned brightly,
too brightly for poor Esperance. It
reminded her of that fatal Goth Of
November, when the sun had shone
down so cruelty upon their desolatiou.
She was too much worn out now to
feel more than a dull aching pain at
her heart, as she remembered what
day 1t was; she dressed YEARLY and
went down to the breakfast
with only one idea strongly impressed
on her mind-that for Gaspards sake
she must keep up.
As II IN a dream she went through
the usual routine walked to the ca
thedral, meeting Gaspard at the door,
stood, sat, and knelt mechanically
through the service went back TO the
deanery, and talked with Gaspard still
dreamily, in Cornellas room. AT
lunch she was pale and quiet: only
when in the afternoon the time for
Gaspard's departure really came, and
the omnibus drove up with his lug
gage, a glow of intense color rose to
her cheeks, and the composure, which
all the morning had been her aid
forsook her. She could hardly see or
stand, but true 10 her resolution she
struggled on, talking still, though she
could scarcely hear her voice be-
cause OF strange ringing in her
ears
Gaspard was much more vislbly
ag.tated. He hurried through his
good-byes in the drawing-room. and
came out into the hail where Esper-
ance and Cornelia were waiting. look
ing 50 haggard and miserable that
Cornelia's heart ached for him.
The sight seemed to give new cour-
age 10 Esperauce, she chung to him
with whispered words o. hope and
comfort and soft caresses. He turned
for one moment to Cornelia.
Your promlse-you will remem-
ber?'
Yes. always" replied Corneua.
earnestly pressing his hand.
Then, with one long embrace. the
brother and sister parted and Gaspard
with bowed head passed down the
steps. and gave directions to the
driver in French
Esperauce with a great effort still
stood at the door; the floor seemed
rocking beneath her a black mist
was gathering before her eyes, but
she smiled and waved her hand brave
ly. Gaspard looked back relieved.
and when the omnibus turned the
corner Of the Wears Court he saw
her standing on the steps stil
watching him while Cornel!a had come
forward. too and was holding her
hand
The sound Of the wheels dla' .vay
In the quiet court. and Coruelia turned
to Esperance, speaking gently.
My dear you will come upstairs
and rest
But rest had already come TO Es-
perance, and she sunk back sease,es.
ia Goraeiias arms.
Every one came docking out Of the
draw.ng-room az Cornelia's call and
gathered round the white still figure.
with ordinations Of pity. The dean
was greatly distressed, and bent over
her with more anxiety aud earnest