Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-08

They told Esperance quietly, and
her thankful happiness gladdened the
deans heart. 1t seemed a ray of
comfort in that dark day of disap-
pointment; yet none of them dared to
look forward to the end of those three
weeks.
Day after day the deans voice,
husky and trembling. asked the
prayers of the congregation in the
cathedral for Claude Magnay; day
after day Esperance watched and
waited beside her husbands sick-bed
watched with an intensity of hope,
waited trustfully for that which
should be sent
Cornelia tried not 70 be anxious
about her, but she longed I'M
speakably for Gaspard's arrival.
knowing that his presence would be
a greater comfort and help TO Esper-
ance than anything else. 1t was with
feeling of unspeakable relief that
she received the telegram which he
sent from London. She herself
went to the Rilchester station to meet
him, longing for his arrival and vet
dreading it, and as she paced I'D and
down the platform, waiting for the
train, recalling sadly her first in
PRODUCTION to her cousin years ago at
the great London terminus.
He was not SO greatly changed as
she had expected. 1t was the same
slight, trim figure, the same rather
grave face, clear, brown eyes, and
dropping mustache, only that the
healthy, bronzed complexion made
him look younger and handsomer
than when she had last seen him.
She held out her hand, welcoming
him with the answer to the question
which she knew was ON his lips.
Claude is still living, still un-
conscious.
And Esperance?"
AS well as we can expect. She
thought it better not to come to
meet you; she Is bearing up wonder
fully"
Gaspard asked anxiously for de-
tails of Claude's accident and illness.
for the telegram had been necessarily
brief, and had only furnished him
with the leading facts and the urgenj
need of his presence. He listened
sadly to Cornelia's account; she could
not conceal from him the hopeless
ness of the case Very sadly he
walked up the steps at the entrance of
the hotel. Cornelia led the way to
the sitting-room, and he followed her
down the long, dark corridor. At
the sound of their footsteps, how
ever, a door at the end was quickly
opened, the light streamed down the
passage, and looking UP, he saw Es-
perance in the doorway.
"Cherie," he cried.
"Gaspard!" 1t was the only word
which would pass her lips; she let
him fold her in his arms, while her
tears rained down silently.
Corneia left them together, and
after a few minutes Esperance was
better able to feel the full comfort
of Gaspard's presence, and yet to
both Of them there was something
ineXpressibly sad about this return:
the meeting which they had so often
talked over, and had planned so joy
fully, was indeed different to their
expectations. 1t was not till Noel's
baby voice was appraised that Els
perance dried her tears and, Gaspard's
sorrowful face frightened
Your little boy!'' he exclaimed.
II have not seen him. Then as
Noel crawled toward them, with
slow but reasolute baby efforts why,
he is a regular De Mabillon, eyes and
ALL"
Yes said Esperance, lifting him
UP to greet his uncle, 81 think he will
be like our father"
Just at that moment she was called
away to Claude's room, and Gaspard
was left alone with Noel, who did not
quite know what to make of this new
arrival; he was beginning to twist
the corners of his baby mouth omni-
ously, when the door opened and
Dean Collinson entered.
He had greatly dreaded meeting
Gaspard, but when he saw his grave
sorrowful face, his courage suddenly
revived-the sorrow seemed to unite
them.
To be Continued.
BELMONT THE CHOICE