Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-07-14

! ious and harassed, and at times ra-
Their dull, was more fault-inding and
wearisonse than usual
! Frances Neville's good counsels
and still more her example, were how
! ever fresh in Esperance's mind, and
! she struggled hard against the de,
spondencg and fretfalness which were
last her Bsward came. Toward the
end of their stay al Bournemouth
one rainy, dismal afternoon, wher
Bella had been more provoking thar
! ever, a letter arrived from Dear
| Collinson te Mrs. Mortlabe, with news
which made Esperance almost fran
tic with delight.
My father proposes meeting US il
London" said Mrs. Mortlake, calmly
He says:
'Corelia AID l intend to come VI
| to town next Tuesday, the day you
| fixed for your return, and if you will
leave Bournemoath by an early train,
[ will see you across London; in the
afternoon we have an engagement
Cornelia suggests that your cousin
might like to see her brother on the
way through, in which case she can
return with us by a later train. .
Esperance uttered half a dozen ex-
carnations in French-then, recover
ing her senses, went on more quietly
in English.
How very good of them to think
of 1t. To see Gaspard once more!
and so soon, too, scarcely week; it
seems too good to be true!"
1T will be very tiresome for me to
aave to take Bella home all alone"
said Mrs. Mortlake, you have no con-
sideration"
Luckily, Esperance's delight was too
deep to be much affected by this wet
blanket, nor did she suffer from any
pangs of conscience at her desertion
OF 0elIa-Gaspard must stand first;
and she was in such spirits, that she
even turned Mrs. Mortlake's complaint
into a sort of compliment, and made
herself believe that she liked it.
How long that week seemed. Yet
the anticipation was so delightful
that she could afford to wait patient
ly, and she went aboutthe house with
such radiant face, that Mrs. Mort
lake, in spite of herself, was touched.
At length the great day came.
Early in the morning the first start
was made, and without shadow Of
fesret-her heart was too full of joy
for that -Esperance babe farewell to
bournemouth, to the sea, to the pine
woods, to the sands, and, in an &C.
stasy of happiness, counted the min
utes till their arrival.
1T was curious to be met by such
quiet, uninterested people as the dean
and Cornella, and a little hard to be
quite attentive enough to cloaks and
umbrellas. But at length all was
happily over, the drive across Lon
don accomplished, and Mrs. Mortlake
left with Cornelia at the station to
await her train, while the dean him
self escorted Esperance to Gaspard's
rooms.
Perhaps had she not been so happy.
she would have cared more about the
bakers shop, and the shabby Iongings
which would probably shock her I'M
Gle; but she had not a thought to
share for any one but -Gaspard. and
sprung from the cab without the
least dlffidence, running into the shop
with all speed to shake hands with |
the landlady, and leading the aston |
ished and dismayed dean up the dark,
narrow staircase. In another mo- |
ment a door on the first landing was |
quickly opened, and Esperance, with a
cry Of joy, flew into Gaspard's arms, !
while the dean, shading his eyes with |
his hand, looked on bewildered. but |
half touched. Eperance soon re-
membered her uncle, and disengaging
herself from Gaspard's embrace, |
turned to him with an apologetic. /
wistful glance.
Forgive me for keeping you wait
ing, uncle; I ought to introduce Gas
pard to you"
The dean held out his hand, NUT
tered something polite, and was taken |
into the dingy little room, which !
Esperance remembered so well. but |
looked far more shabby and comfort
less than in her time.
To be Continued.