Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-08-18

gateways, and past the gray-gablel
houses, listening TO the swifts anC
jackdaws as they few noisily abou
tueir homes in the cathedral towers
and gradually peace came to hin
while something brought back to his
memory the lines of an old French
hymn, the words of which seemed t
fit themselves to the birds song:
Comment apprendre
A bien entendre
| &c qu'aujourd' hui nous ignor-
ons?
Dams ia maison, nous saurons tout
comprendre:
Toi qui nous vols, nous te
verrons."
Nous saurons tout conprendre."
There was comfort in that. He
thought OF his mothers sorrows, Of
his fathers troubled life and death
agony, of his own home in the hands
of strangers, and of this humb- ing
dependence on others in a foreign
country, mysterious hard to bear and
impossible to understand, but to be
understood then, and each md all
+ ordered with a special end.
Ard Esperance, too as she sat that
night in her room, over her weary
task, was strengthened by that very
same thought which Frances Neville
had first given to her months ago.
Was not this present pain, and weari-
ness, and separation, the fulfilling of
a NIB. o1, sr IL
taken on trust till the time came for
reading the mystery right?"
Those night-vigils, though they
taxed her strength to the utmost,
were by no means comfortless. and
this particular evening she was full
of the happiness of Gaspard's visit,
and the prospect Of the week to be
spent with him.
OF darning and piercing there was
indeed enough The parcel of clothes
proved to be in sorry condition,
and Esperance, having spread them
over her table till the room looked
like rag fair" proceeded to divide
them into three classes, Hopeless"
possible" and good" Among the
good she placed the less ragged
garments, and the socks in which the
holes were not more than an inch or
so in diameter, and then set braveIy
to work, nor stopped once in spite of
her growing WEAKNESS till much of
the tattered raiment was made wear
able again, and the growing of the
cocks, and the red glow of sunrise,
told her that she must make haste to
bed if she were to have any sleep at
all.
But this was to be the last of her
nights of work, for the next morning
Mrs. Mortlake called her aside, and
in the voice of cold displeasure, which
she disliked more than anything,
asked, Pray, what were you doing
last night?
Nothing, Christabel," she answer
ed innocently. Nothing particular,
that is; part of the time 1 played
bezique with George"
Don't evade my question in that
way. I said last night; you know
quite we'll what I mean" Esper-
ance started, and looked a little
vexed. All! now you are fairly
caught. I shall hear at once, please,
what is the meaning of this? Do
you think I shall allow candles to be
wasted in this way? I hear that you
burn one every night down to the
very socket. I will have no more
novel reading at night, so you had
better understand at once. What
were you doing?"
/ had some needle work to finish,
and sat UP with it. I am sorry about
the candles, Christabel."
Sorry, indeed! I dare say; and
what was the all important work,
pray? One of your dainty little van
tiles, I suppose?"
Esperance drew herself up.
Il don't see that it is any concern
of yours. 1t was work which had to
be done'
mo doubt, in your opinion, but I
should like to hear what it was,
please, we have had enough shut
fling"
There has been no shutting at
ALL broke in Esperance, passionate
ly, "and I don't see that you have,
any right to question me like this
I won't allow that you have, but be-
cause I choose, I will tell you that
the work was for Gaspard."
Indeed! it was very amiable of
you to work for him at the expense
of Others"
Il don't believe for moment that
uncle would grudge me a few can
dies said Esperance, half scorn-
fully. But as you seem to think he
would, of course I will not sit up
again"
Spare yourself needless protesta-
tions,' said Mrs. Mortlake "You
will not have another opportunity"
To be Continued
DpOUTSTONC EOD CJTDA