Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-04-28
Continued.


me what is troubling you-what yoU
are thinking about
He crossed the room then, and benz
down to kiss her, his resolution made
Il am thinking, cherie," he said
gravely, that this state of things can
not go on any longer, or you will be
ILL.,
Esperance could not deny it, and
Gaspard continued:
Il only see one thing to be done,
and that is about the last thing in
the world | should wish to do"
You do not mean to go back to
Paris?" asked Esperance, anxiously.
No, indeed that would be useless,
and besides, our father did not wish
Us to be there. No, Esperance, was
thinking of something far harder-we
nust ask our uncle, Dean Collinson,
to help us.
He paused. Esperance started up
with sudden energy, her pale cheek
flushing crimson
ASK for help--that is to say,
money? A De Mabillon turn into a
beggar! 1t is impossible you mean it,
Gaspard!"
"A week or two ago, cherie, !
should have scoffed at the very idea,
as you do now; but when I see you
gradually growing thinner and weak
er, as you know we'll you have done
lately-then, darling, love conquers
even pride"
Esperance was touched, but not
convinced.
ITO ask help of the very man who
insulted her father 1t is too hard.
Gaspard / would rather starve than
take his money"
But | cannot let you starve, dear"
replied Gaspard, quietly; 1--WE must
hope the dean will have the delicacy
not to relieve us by actual money.
Perhaps he may be able to find me
some employment, or he might offer
to send you to school. At any rate i
shall write to him"
Esperance saw that he was quite
determined, and attempted no more
arguments.
She went early to bed, and then
Gaspard took paper and pen, and sat
down to his hard task. 1t was long
before he was sufficiently calm to
write; his whole being recoiled from
such painful humiliation. He
shrunk from the idea of being under
an obligation to such a complete
stranger. More than once he was on
the point of giving it up altogether,
but each time the thought of Esper-
ance checked him-for her sake he
must do it.
He found himself so much fettered
by his scanty knowledge of English,
that after due consideration he began
anoher letter in his own tongue;
this was much more successful, and
though every stroke of the pen was
sore effort to him, he was not alto
gether dissatisfied with it on reading
it over. Esperance should read it the
next morning before he took it to
the post, and if she approved it should
go.
What kind of a reception awaited
ii, he wondered.
The warm summer sunshine was
flooding a somewhat sombre room in
the Rilchester Deanery, one morning
toward the end of May. In spite OF
the heavily mullioned windows and
the uncompromising crimson curtains,
which did their best to obstruct the
light. the sunbeams forced an en-
trance, and played eXultingly round
the book-lined walls, and about the
silvery head of an old gentleman who
was porting over an astronomical
chart outspread on the table.
He was a fine-looking old man, tall
and well-made, and though his fore
head was wrinkled with age and much
study, there was a keenness IN his
deep-set gray eyes which would seem
to have belonged to much younger
man. He was evidently quite en-
crossed with his chart, for some one
without knocked repeatedly at his
door before he answered.
The abstacted Come in" had
scarcely been uttered, when the door
opened with some impatience, and q
tall, commanding-lookin lady, en-,
tered, with a packet of letters in he1
hand.
"Good-morning, father. l have
brought you your letters; there ar
not many, you will get through then
before breakfast"
The dean looked up with sigh.
That terrible institution, tn
post, it has become a curse lnstea
of a blessing. Rowland Hill llttl
thought what he was about when h
introduced the penny postage. TIL
former Deans of Rilchester wer
spared all these tiresome application
and begging letters, and without an
increase of stipend I am annoye
three times a day. 1t is a gree
trial, Cornelia!"
Cornelia smiled sarcastically.
Great, indeed, my dear father
but to-days burden is light-see.
and she adroitly spread the letter
over the chart, while the dean sighe
once more.
Here is one from Canon Barnwel
and one from Sir Henry Worthingto
and the report of that orphanas
you were inquiring about, and one
think, be from the French astroni
a foreign-looking hand, which migf
omer you correspond with"
Astronomy was Dean Collinsor
great hobby: his eyes kindled as
took the envelope from his daught
and opened it eagerly.