Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-15

motherly nurse, who walked in with
an important air, and placed small.
closely wrapped bundle on Claude's
arm. The baby was asleep; he I'M
folded the shawls, and looked long
and earnestly at the little face. It
was doubtless much like other baby
faces, but to his eyes a likeness was TO
be traced in every feature. The little
painted dimpled chin, the small mouth,
the welcomed nose, at present al
most out Of proportion to the rest of
the face, the soft, dark, brown hair.
very noticeable in such young baby,
all served to make his little girl very
comforting deputy
''She will be very like Esperance, :
he said, glancing up, and Gaspard
fancied there were tears in his eyes,
but he hastily stopped down again and
kissed the little unconscious forehead
gratefully, almost reverently.
81 believe Esperance has been COM
forting herself with the small wo-
mans likeness to you" said Gaspard
with laugh. Time will show when
is right, but her eyes are certainly
yours"
She was obliging enough TO wake
before long, and slowly to lift her
sleepy eyelids, and Gaspard was GER
tainly right. The eyes, which had
been Esperance's comfort for the last
five weeks, were not the least like the
De Mabillons-the color OF Smyrna
raisins as the London doctor said
but large, well-opened dark-blue eyes.
already expressing something of
Claude's ready observation and in
telligence.
1t was two or three days after this
that Esperance was allowed to make
her first visit to the sick-room. Gas
pard Brought her to the door, Just wit
Messing the dawning joy of each face
the glow OF color which rose to Es-
perance's cheeks, and the bright, eager
welcome from Claude; then he left
them to- their happiness, and went to
see Dean Collinson.
One of the deans many schemes was
to induce Mr.. Seymour to part with
Gaspard. He could not endure the
thought of his return to Ceylon, and
he had written some time before to
urge the cOffee-planter to transfer him
to the house of business in London
Mr.. Seymour was fond of Gaspard
and of course grumbled at the pro-
posal, but it happened that at that
time the change was really feasible
Mr.. Seymour's younger brother had
just died; Gaspard was fully compe-
tent to take his place, and although,
owing to his want of capital, he could
net at present be received as a part
ner, yet the cOffee-planter limited that
in time this difficulty might De sur
mounted, The salary was a good one.
and the dean suggested the change
hopefully. Gaspard did not take long
to make up his mind. English fogs
and vapors with Esperance, and the
perfect climate of Dickoya without her,
was TO him a choice which required
little weighing; the decision to stay
in England was at once made, and Es-
perance's delight warmed the deans
heart.
1t was while she was talking to him
on this subject one afternoon in
March that she resolved to speak TO
him of what had long been on her
mind. You are doing SO much to
make me happy, uncle" she said with
a momentary hesitation, 1T seems
almost wrong to ask you to do some
thing else, and yet there is one thing
which [ very much want
My dear!" exclaimed the dean,
let me hear it at once; if it is any
thing can do l shall be delighted
Il am not sure whether it is" said
Esperance, musingly, but l hope it is.
want Bertha to come to Rilchester,
uncle. l want George and Bertha to
Ge at baby's christening"
The dean paced up and down the
room three or four times in silence;
then he stopped, and taking Esper-
ance's hand in his, he said, gently:
Yes, my dear, you are right-what
am I indeed, that / should refuse for
giveness to any! | will write to Bertha
myself. When is your little girl to
be christened?"
I'VE thought we should like Easter
day, if it will be convenient, uncle.
Mr.. Maclaren thinks that Claude may
go then"
and is the name decided?'
Claude says one name must be Els
perance, but we have not chosen the
other" Then with a sudden thought
she continued, rs there any name you
would like, uncle?'
There was a strange huskiness IN
the deans voice as he replied, Yes,
Esperance; if you and Claude approve
there is one name l should very much
like-your mothers name-Amy.
Frances Neville, Cornelia, and Gas
pard were TO be the god-parents. The
christening had been deferred TIL
Easter on Claude's account, but that
was the utmost limit which could be
allowed, for Mr.. Henderson and
Frances were to be married in the
following week, and Esperance had
set her heart on their presence.
Il feel that my little girl belongs TO
you in way already she said one
day to Frances, who was driving her
over to Worthington Hall in her little