Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-11-17
CHAPTER XXXUI-

CHAPTER AAAl1t.
Love shall be purified by pain,
And Pain be soothed by Love again,
So let us now take heart and go
Cheerfully on through joy and woe;
No change the summer sun can bring
Or the inconstant skies of spring,
Or the bleak winters stormy weather
For we shall meet them, Love, to
getheT!
A. A Proctor
Lady Worthington was delighted Il
hear Of Claude's success, and fel
!. much satisfaction in remembering tn.
!. share she had had in bringing the twt
together. She and Frances saw
great deal of Esperance, and were
very anxious that she should spend
Christmas at the hall; but she was
obliged to decline the invitation, as
she felt sure that Cornelia, at least
would be grieved to lose her at al
before the wedding-day. This had
been fixed for the 9Th of January, and
the time was drawing very near
Claude came down for a few days al
Christmas, but he was obliged to &c
back 70 town again to make his final
| arran gements; as they intended to be
abroad for some months he had a
good deal to do, and at the last was
so much hindered that he did not
reach Rilchester till the latest train
on the evening of the fifth.
That was a strange day to Espe-
rance-and rather a dreary one.
! Frances Neville came to see her in
/ the morning, and in the afternoon she
drove to the Priory to see Mrs. Pass
more, hurrying back with the expec-
! tation Of Claude's arrival. Instead of
/ this, however, there was a telegram to
! say that he must come by the later
train instead, and, although the
meeting was only postponed for a
few hours, she could not help feeling
disappointed and depressed.
/ While she was sitting rather
drearily with the telegram in her
hand, Mrs. Mortlake came in with a
disturbed face.
Where have you been?" she asked
in reproachful tone. $50 many
callers have been here wishing to see
YOU and the presents-you really
ought to have stayed in this after
noon"
L am very sorry; I went to the
Priory to see Mrs. Passmore."
"Oh! that is why the carriage is
out! You really are very inconsider-
ate, Esperance. l suppose you kept
the horses standing at the door for
ever so long in that pouring rain! You
ought to be more thoughtful. l think
it's the least you can do when you
live In other peoples houses"
Il am very sorry" repeated poor
Esperance, but Cornelia told me to
drive"
Mrs. Mortlake muttered something
about the mistake of having two mis-
tresses, and left the room, while Es-
perance crouched down beside the
fire and had a good cry. She was
tired and disappointed, and the
gloomy twilight of the dining-roosn
made her feel still more dreary and
forlorn. And tomorrow was to be
her wedding-day! She tried hard to
realize it, and felt a little sad as she
remembered how far away Gaspard
was, and wondered if other people
felt as lonely as she did on the eve
of marriage. And then that bitter
reproach which Mrs. MortlalIe was so
fond Of using about "other peoples
houses stung her afresh, and she felt
that it was hard and cruel to have
made it on this last day.
Her dismal thoughts were not put
to flight till Cornelia returned from
the cathedral, and coming into the
room was surprised to find her alone,
curled up on the hearth-rug.
Claude does not come till half
past ten," she said, mournfully.
oh. | am sorry for that" said
Cornelia, kindly. Then stirring the
fire into a blaze, and glancing again
at Esperance, Why, you have been
crying. how is that, dear?"
1T was lonely, and ChristaDel was
vexed with me, and | think she will
be glad when I'm gone, and some
how | felt so wretched,' replied Els
perance, Nesting up to Cornelia in the
way which she had only lately dared
to do.
"Christabel will really miss you
great DEAL said Cornelia, decidedly,
whether she says so or not. [ am
sure she will, for you have done
great deal for her; and you know,
| Esperance, how much I shall miss
you"
Cornelia could not say more: she
could not tell Esperance Of the won
derful change which had been wrought
in her life during the last year and a
half, of the cold, hard, self-contained
| nature, which had first been softened
by the sight of her love for Gaspard,
of the long-dormant womanly ten
| derness which had been awakened at
! the time of her illness. Reserved she
must always be, but no longer with
! the cold suspiciousness of former
! times.
| Esperance quite understood those
/ few words, and answered them with
such gratitude for the love which she
herself had stimulated, and such Law
! ish endearments, that Cornelia could
not help feeling deeply touched. After
that they talked for good half hour
about Claude, by which time Es-
| perance was quite herself again, and
ready to take the greatest possible in
terest in the arrival of the Hender-
sons and Nine. Lemercier.
The 9th of January dawned gloomi-
ly enough; it was one of those still.