Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-03-17

slight figure and little round waist
might have been the envy Of many a
belle.
The afternoon was somewhat ad-
Yanced, and Esperance, neglecting her
work, stationed herself at the window
to watch for her brothers return.
Gaspard was now studying for the
bar, notwithstanding that his fathers
fallen fortunes would have made some
less uphill profession far more ad-
visabie.
To be an advocate, however, had
long been his wish, and NJ. de Mabil-
Ion, despite his poverty, would not
gainsay him, and even went so far
as to seek work himself in order to
meet their expenses.
! This, however, was not to be had:
he WAS too completely the country
, gentleman, and too ignorant in bust
+ ness matters to meet with any suitable
= employment.
From her window AL quatrieme, Els
perance soon deserted her brother in
the distance, accompanied, much to
/ her surprise, by a stranger. Iong-Ieg-
/ ged and stalwart, and on nearer view,
! decidedly English. Visitors were so
rare in the little salon that Esperance
was in a futter of excitement at the
! very idea; she listened eagerly for
footsteps-yes, there were assuredly
two people mounting the flight of
! stairs.
The door was opened by Gaspard.
! i have brought you a visitor.
cherie. Is my father not at homer"
Then as Esperance bowed to the
stranger,
mo, no, this is our cousin, Mr..
George Palgrave; you must give him
an English hand-shake. We met each
other most unexpectedly at Galig-
nani's, each recognizing the others
! name"
Esperance looked up full of curl
os1ty, for the English relations had
always been enveloped in a cloud of
mystery. She was not particularly
struck with the specimen before her
George Palgrave, might, perhaps, have
been tlve-and-twenty; he was tall
| large-made, fair-complexioned, and in
appearances eyes, awkward-looking. as
complete a contrast to the slight
dark-eyed Gaspard as could have been
! found.
She shook hands with him as d.
rected, and noticing that his French
was decidedly embarrassing to him,
began to display her small stock of
English with some pride.
You have made a good voyage. 7
hope, my cousin?"
A falrly good crossing thank vou.
there was an ugly southwestern when
we started, but it soon went down"
Esperance had not the faintest idea
OF the meaning of IAN ugly SOU
western but she went on bravely,
AND you are arrived at Paris to-
day? [ hope you will pass some time
here!"
/ wish I could, but unfortunately 7
must leave this evening, I am merely
passing through, on my way to Swift
erland 1t vas most fortunate that |
CHANGED to meet your brother; I had
no idea you were living at Paris"
Since the last four months. Do
you know, monsieur, you are the first
OF Our English relations that I have
seen? Tell us Of our cousins; we do not
even know their names, is it not so.
Gaspard?"
Mr.. Palgrave looked amused.
And 1 have not yet had the honor
of hearing yours"
For me, I am Esperance; now,
iplease, our English cousins"
I am the only one Of the PaIgrave
family; then there are the three Miss
Colllnsons, Or rather two. for the
eldest is mdrried-Mrs. Mortlake The
others are called Cornelia and Bertha"
"Cornelia! ah! that is not pretty.
Bertha, [ like; tell me about her"
Mr.. Palgrave seemed embarrassed.
and we glad to be spared descrip-
ton, by the entrance of M. de MabiI-
lon.
Esperance hurried forward to meet
| her father.
Papa, this is our English cousin,
Mr.. Palgrave; he is telling me all
csOOuI Jul iS dUl0nS.
M. de Mabillon's greeting was
graVely polite, but scarcely cordial:
the conversation became at once more
/ formal and stiff, and Mr.. Palgrave's
| complexion grew SO fiery that EsDer-
ance felt her own cheeks Jingle out
OF sympathy. Her father was evidently
We'll acquainted with all the mysteri-
Gus relations; she heard him inquire
after Dean Collinson and his daugh-
tiers, after Mr.. and Mrs. Palgrave, and
other unknown names. but there was
curious corstraint in his manner
which Esperance could not account
Tor. She grew a little weary and op-
pressed, and was not sorry when her
cousin rose to go, having refused an
invitation to dinner.
Gaspard, also little surprised at
his fathers GOODNESS, proposed to act
as guide to his cousin, and the two
took their departure, leaving NJ. de
Mablllon and Esperance alone.
! NJ. de Mabillon sighed heavily as
the door closed upon them.
so that is George Palgrave; poor
fellow, 1 was but half civil to him
you must not follow my bad example.
dear child
! Papa! l do not understand Why
do you not like our cousin; and WHY
have you never told me about our Eng
lish relations before?''
For MANY