Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-11-24

late flowers. or resting when tired in
a cleverly contriyed hammock which
Claude used to rig up for her.
Then, when the light began to fail,
and the ranz des vaches echoed among
the mountains from the clear voices
of the village girls, Claude would
pack up his easel and his painting
apparatus, and they would go back to
the old chateau through the rustling
fallen leaves and the golden brown
woods. 1t was not until the trees were
quite bare and leafess that Claude
was obliged to go out alone to his
work; and the painting did not pros
per half so well then, for somehow
there was always good excuse for a
speedy return to the chateau-either
the lights were not favorable or il was
too cold. or he had forgotten some
very necessary implement. But per-
haps this was not very blameworthy,
for in one of the quaint. rough rooms
of the chateau, there awaited him a
study of life worth all the mountains
of Auvergne put together,
On Christmas eve a little son had
been born to them, and though Al
phonse Noel, as they called him, was
heir to nothing but his fathers
genius, the villagers were enthusiastic
in their delight and with NJ. lie Cures
leave pealed the church bells till the
mountains rang with the echoes.
The baby grew and thrived, and was
pronounced by every one to be just
like De Mabillon, Claude wondered
what Dean Collinson would say; but
he himself was well content that Noel
should have inherited his mother's
radiant, ever-varying brown eyes, her
soft dark hair, and southern complex
ion.
Their time at the chateau was now
nearly over; early in February they
were to return to England, and Els
perance began to dread all the fare
wells; however, they passed off more
happily than she had feared Claude
arranged a village fete in one of the
great disused rooms, and all Mabillon
came to pay its respects to madame
and her baby. Nor was she to go
back to England alone; Marie Bonnieq
as bonnie to little Noel; and Esperance,
who knew well enough how faithful
and devoted were French country ser
wants, gladly accepted her Claude
was guilty of one other extravaganza
which perhaps pleased Esperance
m than n hp In Gle
comforting a pension on Pierre, ia
votes son, in memory of his mother S
self-denying devotion. And Pierre was
not too proud to receive the substan-
tial souvenir, but gratefully kissed
madame's hand, purchased a COW
with part of his newly acquired
riches, and began to save up for his
little GRIT dot.
The return to London was not with
out its pleasures, Esperance looked
forward to arranging her new home,
ana she was anxious TO see Lady
Worthington and Frances again.
Bertha and George, too. had left their
German home, and were now living
at Bayswater, and the two cousins
made many plans for meeting. Dean
Collinson still refused to see his
daughter; and though Cornelia had
written. she had not been up to town
since their return, so that Bertha well
coined Esperance doubly, longing to
see home face once more.
In spite of that, However, the meet
ing was very trying one; Bertha was
strangely subdued and changed, and
Esperance was dismayed at her pale
worn face, and hollow eyes; the old
nonchalant expression had certainly
quite vanished, but 1t was replaced by
a look of sorrowful, harassed anxiety.
wnlch made Esperance's heart ache.
All she could do at present was to
sympathize with her, and try to give
her fresh interests; and Bertha did
seem rather happier when she was
fairly out of the dreary Bayswater
lodgings, and established in Esper-
ance's pretty drawing-room. George
was in the city all day, and the time
passed slowly when she was alone
but in the hagnays' house there was a
brightness and geniality in the very
atmosphere which reused her from her
depression of spirits. After time
her visits there became almost daily
institutions; she would sit nursing
lt,le Noel by the hour, or talking
sadly yet with kind OF pleasure OF
Rilchester and the deanery, and the
bygone times Esperance was only
too glad 70 have her, and was always
bright and cheerful while she was
present. but after she had gone her
face would become thoughtful and sad
and sometimes a tear would fall on the
baby's white frock as she thought
over poor Berthas troubles.
If my uncle would only relent,
she used to say TO Claude, when most
troubled by Bertha's paleness and
depression.
We'll. cherie, Claude would reply
you and Noel must go to RilchesteT
and touch his heart. that Is the only
plan | can think Of"
And Esperance would laugh, and