Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-06-16

| CerQeSS, only proved source OF Tears,
| and Mrs Mortlake's unsympathetic
| curiosit- and Cornelia's undisguised
scorn were almost unbearable- Never
| had the purple drawing-room felt so
oppressive, never had the day seemed
! so interminable! Something, how
ever, OF her old courage kept her from
quite giving way; she sat reading
aloud to her cousins, mechanically, III
deed, but still with a frmness OF pur-
pose which deserved praise, consider
ing her very slight powers Of self
control.
Her thoughts were far away-now
in the crowded Partisan cemetery,
now in the hospital ward beside her
fathers death-bed, Or further still in
the little graveyard at Mabillon,
where year by year she had taken on
this day all the flowers which the
wild. old garden would produce. Did
the peasants tend It now, she Won
dered.
Really, Esperalce, your pronuncla-
ton is getting worse and worse sad
Cornelia, reprovingly.
Whereupon Esperance was startled
back to the present, and toiled along
YEARLY with her reading, her eyes
dim with tears.
At last the sound of the door-beIl
made itself heard. Any interruption
would be welcome, and she listened
eagerly for approaching footsteps. TO
her great relief the door was opened,
and Lady Worthington and Miss Ne
Vile were announced.
Whether it was on account Of this
most opportune arrival, or whether
Lady Worthington's appearance tas-
cinated her, it is impossible to say,
but her prejudices we're forgotten, and
! for a minute or two she was as happy
i and animated as in former times.
Lady Worthington was, at first, mlsled
by the smile of pleasure with which
she received her greeting. She fol-
lowed out her preconceived plan, how
ever. and exerted herself to the ut
most to keep both Mrs. Mortlake and
Cornelia "at bay while Frances
made the most Of her opportunity with
Esperance.
At first she was talkatiVe enough
seemed delighted to speak Of Gaspard
and Claude Magnay, and fairly puz-
zled Frances by her apparent happi-
ness In a few minutes all was
changed, however; a brass band,
which had some minutes been caus-
ing the gray walls of the Wears court
and the deanery to echo to operate
airs, now gave forth with much mar
tial ardor the all-inspiring Mar
seillaise.'
The color died out Of Esperance's
face. She paused in the middle of
what she was saying, and Frances,
full of pity for her, tried to invent
some excuse for moving out Of the
rest of the party.
What beautiful crysanthemums
you have in your window. May |
look at them?''
Esperance gladly assented, and the
two moved to the opposite end of the
room. now arranged by the perverse
housemaid in stiff rows, though Es-
perance perservingly tried to group
them after her fancy.
The brass band was now still more
audible, and Frances was more
grieved than surprised to see that
the little French girls eyes We're
trimming over with tears.
''It must be hard to hear ones
said, gently.
Esperance started, her cheeks glow
ed, and she even smiled though her
tears, for Frances had spoken in
her own language.
You speak French like a native!'
she exclaimed, rapturously. Made
mOiselle is too goOd-it makes the
land no more strange. And YET she
added with a slight SILVER, rs Part
ant pour la Syrie'' succeeded the
'Marseillaise,' Il think it only
makes me long the more. Mademoi-
selle will pardon me-but today-le
Jour des Morris, I can not help being
sad, and no one here will understand,
and and"-with a rush of tears
"Je suis desolee."
! Frances was for a moment greatly
perplexed. To attempt any comfort
under the circumstances was almost
impossible, yet to go to a still more
retired place would probably attract
Mrs. Mortlake or Cornelia. She re-
solved to risk it, however, and turned
once more to Esperance, who was still
standing disconsolately by the win
dow, with great tears rolling down
her cheeks and dropping heavily on
the chrysanthemum leaves.
DO you think, dear, we might look
at the conservatory? it would be
quiet in there"
Esperance caught-at the idea, and
led the way to a little inclosed YER
anda which opened out of the draw
ing-room. Unfortunately, Cornelia
happened to look up at the moment
and fearing that she had been neg
lecting Miss Neville, fastened for
ward.
will you not come nearer the fire?
Esperance has not been taking care
of you, I am afraid
t ''Oh, yes, indeed replied Frances
smiling. Il have been admirins
; your chrysanthemums, and your
> cousin was going to show me the
: conservatory"
, Il am afraid it is scarcely worth
seeing; our gardner has not managed