Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-06-02
Won by w aiting.
EDNA LYALL.

y BY j
EDNA LYALL.

think of your seeing Gaspard SO
soon, though it makes me a little en-,
vious.''
You will be coming up to town
soon, perhaps" suggested Claude.
Esperance shook her head.
II don't see how that can be, but CT
course I hope, or else I could not get
on at all; my motto in life must be
'Esperez toujours.'
ct is certainly a good one" replied
Claude, musingly, but in his artist
soul longing to catch once more the
hopeless look which he wished to rep
resent in his picture.
1t did not return that afternoon,
but the next day, when he paid his
farewell call to the deanery, all the
expression Of detection, misery, and
| hopelessness was there III full force.
Esperance was evidntly in disgrace,
while Mrs. MOrtlake and Cornelia
were in that disturbed, rufied state
which betokens a family disagree
! ment; and although Mrs. Mortlake
was particularly cordial, Claude de-
tected subdued irritation in the forced
tone of her voice.
Esperance scarcely spoke, but sat
looking half abstractedly out Of the
window, her knitting lying untouched
on her knee, her hands tightly
clasped.
Claude could not have wished for a
better opportunity, but now that his
desire was granted he began to feel
such pity for Esperanc that he would
far rather have missed seeing her.
He tried to draw her into conversa-
ton, but without success; she an
swered with constraint, and only
looked more miserable.
At last he rose to go, took leave Of
Mrs. Mortlake and Cornelia, and then
turned to Esperance, determined that
she should at least sepak to him.
You will not forget our walk yes
terday, and the beauties Ct level
country" he said, smiling.
She colored painfully, and her hand
trembled as Claude took it in his.
What message may I take for You
to your brother?" he asked.
Her color deepened, the tears rose
to her eyes, and her voice was low
and tremulous as she answered:
Tell him, please, that I am very
well, that will write soon"
She broke off abruptly, not daring
to trust her voice any longer, and
Claude, seeing that it was sheer cru
city to keep her, said goodbye, tried
! to put Mrs. Mortlake in a good humor
by leaving a playful message for
Bella, and abiding to her prettiness,
then left the house, dissatisfied and
perplexed
Esperance was really almost desper-
ate. Claude could hardly have chosen
more unfavorable time for his visit,
for as he had rightly judged he had
come in during a dispute, if indeed
that could be called disputing in
which two leagued against one re-
fused to listen to reason or justice.
It all arose from a simple remark
made by Esperance. She casually
mentioned Claude's intended depar-
ture, and this led to an account Of
Mrs. Mortlake, ever ready to find
fault, declared that she behaved with
far too much freedom, that she ought
to have kept beside the dean, and not
allowed herself a tete-atete with
Claude Magnay.
Esperance explained that this had
not been possible, and owned that it
had never occurred to her that any
one could think so simple an act
improper.
Whereat Mrs. Mortlake accused her
Of speaking disrespectfully, denounced
her French" manners. and losing all
prudence and justice in anger, said
tha> all along she had been flirting
with Claude.
Esperance was so entirely innocent
in this respect that for moment she
was too much surprised and shocked
to refute the charge. She was unac-
customed to society, and knew little
either of French or English etiquette,
and her father had been well content
TO leave her without any artificial
rules beyond those CO natural 6 Cd
breeding. While she paused Cornelia
uttered one of her cold sarcasms.
Never mind, Christabel, you know
the proverb, French women know
how to make nets, but not cages
Then Esperance had lost all self
control, and with flashing eyes had
turned upon her cousins.
You may talk about French women
! as you like, but l will let you know
that such speech as that would
never have passed the lips of those
whom you despise-they at least do
not speak rudely. And what you say
| is -untrue-unjust. Such al
idea would never have entered my
head if you had not suggested it-no,
neveri"
Cornelia, a little vexed at her own
most unwarrantable speech, tried to
calm her down, and entered into a
long disquistion on the folly Of los
ing temper in an argument; but Es-
perance scarcely heard, her anger
had died away, and she could only
dwell in grief and dismay on the &C
cusation brought against her.
While Cornelia was still speaking,
Claude had been announced, and it
may we'll imagined that Esperance
was embarrassed and self-conscious-
for the first time in her life, however.
Shame, annoyance, and unutterable
longing for Gaspard were filling her
| heart and CIau6e'S kindness and the