Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-08
CHAPTER XXXVI.

ESpeTe enfant demaIn, ct puts domain
encore,
EFT puts touiours demain, croyons
dams favenir;
Espere ct chaque fois que sleeve
laurore,
Soyons la pour prier CONNIE Dieu
pour benir.
Victor Hugo.
Lady Worthington and Frances
= we're away at the time of the acct
dent; there had been a wedding in
the family, and they had been from
home a week, but the news of the
disaster reached them very soon, and
Lady Worthington' first object when
she returned to Rilchester was to go
at once to see Esperance. Frances
thought it best to defer her visit,
and left her sister alone at the Spread
Eagle, after hearing at the door that
Mr.. Magney was no better
There was something very sad in
that first visit. 1t was scarcely three
months since Lady Worthington had
seen Claude and Esperance happily
settled in their London home, and
two proteges; now everything was
grievously changed She was shown
into the deserted sitting-room and
looked sadly round. The room had
that peculiar air Of desolation which
hangs about any place where work
and living has been abruptly stopped.
Claude's palette and brushes were
left on the sideboard just as he had
thrown them down ON the afternoon
of that fatal day; his easel and an
unfinished picture stood in the corner
opposite. Would that canvas ever
be used again? Lady Worthington
could not bear to look at it, and
turned to the other side of the room
but it was only to see lat touched
her even more-a skein of soft, white
wool, some knitting-needles, and a
tiny baby's hood, evidently just made.
The tears We're in her eyes, when
Esperance came quietly into the
room with the hushed manner which
people bring with them from a sick
bed; she was very pale, but her smile
had lost none of its radiance as she
FASTENED forward to kiss Lady Worth
ingbon.
1T was very good of you to come
! have so wanted to see youl"
MY poor child! | have been so
anxious about you! We only heard
on Saturday, and could not come
back till this morning. I am afraid
you have no better account to give
me?"
NO" said Esperance, YEARLY ION
Saturday evening there was a change
and Inflammation set In. Now he has
sunk again into a quiet, insensible
state, and there seems so little one
can do The dean has telegraphed
this morning for some London doctor
he has been very kind"
WAS he any the worse himself? |
did not hear if he was injured at ALP
mo, he is unhurt." And Esperance
gave Lady Worthington all the de-
tails of the accident While she was
still talking a servant came in with
the midday letters-two directed to
Claude Magney, Esquire" which Es-
perance put down with a quick sigh,
and one to herself from Gaspard.
the first letter she had had from him
since Claude's illness, and he of
course knew nothing of her trouble;
she could not bear to open it.
Il am very weak and silly today, "
she said, sadly. But ever since that
dreadful night / have had such a
longing for Gaspard-it is the feel
ing of having to stand alone, I sup
pose. You see, I have been so taken
care of-and now it is such an effort
10 think and Arranged"
my dear, you are not fit for it
you are worn out already"
Il am only tired" said Esperance
in a weary voice. ON va bien loin
depuis qu'on est las-there is great
truth in that proverb.'
But you will be very careful, dear
you will not oyer-exert yourself?
Will not Comelia see that you are
prudent?"
Yes, oh, yes, CCrnelia has been
everything to me-she takes care OF
Noel-she does everything to save
met was wrong of me to complain
l must keep we'll for Claude's sake
But this is enough about it! Do tell
me about Frances-it is good for
me to think of other things!'
Lady Worthington could not
enough admire the resolute way in
which she turned from her troubles.
Frances came back with me this
morning" she said 81 wonde
whether you have heard any rumor
of her piece of news?''
What" exclaimed Esperance; as
1t really true, then! | heard a true re
port that she was going to be mar
ried"
Trust Rilchester to be beforehan
with gossip" said Lady Worthing
ton, smiling. "But this is really true
Can you guess whom she is going te
marry?''
Esperance thought for a minute
"a clergyman of some sort, sun
pose; Frances would make such q
model clergyman's wife"
INC" said Lady Worthington, with
an amused look, you are quite
1 wron %
'Well, then-the squire of a coun-
try parish. where she will be a Lady
Bountiful"
Right" said Lady Worthington
And "1ow who is the squire ?-vor
know him, but he lives a long way
from here
THE SnniTe Of a country parish
and I know himi" said Esnnranoo