Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-07-28

the question was hard to answer
and brought the ready tears to hel
eyes. it showed that he was not for
gotten.
Cornelia watched Esperance care.
fully, noticed her reply to Georgs
Palgrave's question, the sudden blush
which rose to her cheek quickly sue.
ceeded by deadly paleness, the almost
impatient gesture with which she re-
jected the dishes handed to her, and
her languid attempts to eat a few
mouthfuls of what was before her.
All brought to her mind that SHARP
despairing sentence, which had 81
startled her, Should l take care OF
myself, when he is starving?" 1t
must then be this trouble which was
weighing down Esperance; she should
know as soon as possible that help
was at hand.
Several letters had passed between
Mr.. Seymour and the dean, and Cor
nelia knew that Mr.. Seymour intend
ed to have personal interview with
him, it was highly probable that he
would give him employment. Matters
were arranged even more quickly
than she had expected; that very
afternoon the dean received letters
both from the coffee-planter and from
Gaspard.
Mr.. Seymour really takes him, .
asked Cornelia, anxiously.
Eyes; he seems much pleased with
him; you can read his letter, and the
young man himself writes very prop
erly. l am glad something is settled;
it has been a most troubleome cor
respondence."
you will tell Esperance, will you
not, father?"
"Oh, we'll, yes, if you think best;
but send her here quickly, for l am
very busy, and have been sadly him
dered this morning by George"
She shall come at once. You re-
member, father, she has no idea Of
this; it will be a great surprise to
her"
Yes, yes, understand, my dear;
only let us waste no more time"
Cornelia fastened away in search
of Esperance, not feeling quite salts
fed. After all, would this help which
she had taken SO much pains to secure
be very acceptable to her little cous
in? She wished Ceylon were not so
far off, or that she had persuaded her
father to try for some English ap-
pointment for Gaspard; and then
wished heartily that she had more
tact and sympathy, or could fancy in
the least what her feelings would be
on hearing that her imaginary brother
was to be shipped off to the other
side of the world.
Poor Cornelia! in spite of all her
wishes, her voice was as cold and
peremptory as ever when at last she
found Esperance.
My father wants to speak to you
in the library; no, pray don't fidget
about your hair, it is quite tidy, and
he is in q hurry"
EsFerance went without a word. A
few months ago she would have been
excited by such an unusual request,
now she only raised her eyebrows
slightly. Cornelia would almost have
been thankful for one of those OBJ
jectionable French explosives, this
silence seemed so unnatural, and with
many miSgivings, she watched her as
she went slowly down the dark stair
case, her hand passing languidly
over the balustrade rail.
The dean was pacing up and down
the library when Esperance entered.
"Cornelia said you wished to speak
to me, uncle" she said, approaching
him.
Yes, my dear, just for few min
utes upon little matter Of business;
take this chair. Cornelia told me
that your brother could meet with no
employment, and that he was in fact
in very poor circumstances, and I have
been trying for some weeks to find
some suitable situation for him."
Dear uncle, how very good you
are" cried Esperance springing up
with all her old energy, "and YOU
have really found something for
him"
yes; Mr.. Seymour, a friend of
mine, has offered him a situation on
his estate in Ceylon, and your bro
Their seems very much pleased with
it,
Esperance tried to believe that she
did not hear rightly; it had never
entered her head to think of work
for Gaspard out of England; she
turned giddy at the thought, and
sinking back into the chair from
which she had started IN such an
ecstasy of hope, asked family, "Cey-
Ion. did YOU say, uncle?'
Yes, Ceylon, my dear, on a coffee
plantation; very interesting work no
doubt, and a most fortunate opening
for your brother. | am very happy tC
have been the means of introducing
him to Mr.. Seymour, | am sure"
You are very kind" said poor Els
perance, feeling rather as if she were
thanking her executioner, and trying
hard to grasp this new idea, though
well aware that the realization would
bring pain.
Don't mention it. my dear sale
tie dean. absently. Three o'clock. is
-? Dear me, there was something a
three, surely? ALI that ffresome
missionary meeting! l must go al
once. The archdeacon might have
taken the chair instead, | am sure
what's in name?" Then half rous
ing himself, Here are the letters
you may read them, Esperance; b,
the bye there was one inclosed to yo
from your brother" and the dear