Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-09-08
COntinued.

every one standing round her here
Cornelia did not hesitate for a mo
ment, but to the surprise of all, sud
denly rose, took Esperances mani
mate form in her strong arms, ant
quietly walked upstairs, Mrs. Low
dell followed. bringing various re
storatives, and together they did al
in their power for the poor child; but
it seemed as if nothing would bring
her to life again, and Cornelia, grow
ing frightened, was just proposing t
end for a doctor, when faint signs O.
returning consciousness began to show
themselves.
The eyelids quivered at last and
slowly opened. Esperance looked up
half hopefully, then remembering all
with swift pang turned her face away
and relapsed into semi-consciousness
But Mrs. Lowdell insisted on her TAX
ing some sal volatile, and then terri
BILE idea crossed her mind and reused
her fully.
"Cornelia,' she said in a weak yet
eager voice, "Gaspard did not see me
faint, did he?"
No; he was quite out of sight, -
said Cornelia, reassuringly.
You are quite certain?"
Perfectly"
And with that Esperance was salts
fed; she had kept up to the last
for a moment she was quite soothed
by the relief of knowing it, then the
reaction set in, her desolation broke
upon her, and she burst into a pas
sionate fit of sobbing.
The fearless sobs which had so
alarmed Gaspard on tie precious
evening were even more alarming to
Cornelia. Was it possible that her
stern words had really checked Esper-
ance's tears? Good Mrs Lowdelrs
exhortations made her feel the more
miserable. Cry, my dear, have a
good cry, and you will be better -
But still there were only those heart
rending sobs, and gasping, quivering
agony, terrible to witness.
Mrs. Lowdell proposed that she
should have cup of tea, and Cornelia,
thankful for something to do, hasten
ed away to order it; then returning,
began to clear the table of a disorder
ly heap Of clothing. Esperance, look
ing up caught sight of Gaspard's Ma
tional Guard uniform among the
useless or WORKOUT things he had left
behind-the sight recalled a long train
Of memories, and with low moan of,
Papa! Gaspard!" she buried her face
in the pillow, and burst into tears
Both the watchers were thankf FIJI,
indeed, for they had become seriously
uneasy; they did not attempt to
check her, but let the long pent- Up
tears have their course, and after a
time she grew quiet once more. and
fell into troubled sleep. But Cor
nelia's enxieties were not over. In
the middle of dinner she was sum-
moned away by Bella's nurse, who had
been left with Esperance. Mademoi-
selle had woke up in a high fever,
and would not talk a word Of English
CHAPTER XIV.
When some beloved voice that was
to you
Both sound and sweetness, faileth
suddenly,
And silence against which you dare
not cry,
Aches round you like strong dis
ease and new
What hope? What help? What mu-
sic will undo
That silence to your sense?
E. B. Browning.
The deanery was all in commotion
the next day, for before long it was
known that Esperance was i'll with
typhoid fever. Mrs. Mortlake was
helped it.
Il do think it is very inconsiderate
of people to be Ill in other peoples
houses" she grumbled; 'just think Of
the expense it will be, and there's my
father being persuaded by Mrs. Low
dell to have trained nurse, who will
eat dreadfully; those nurses are always
regular cormorants."
My dear Christabel, the money does
not come out Of your pocket" saiG
Cornelia, impatiently.
It's all very we'll to say So replied
Mrs. Mortlake, 'but you know Il
comes to the same thing, it will bJ
ours some day. and why should my
poor little Bella be defrauded of he
own rights? And besides, it's yer!
awkward to have illness in the house
and there's no knowledge that it ism
infectious: perhaps the water is poi
soned or something wrong with tn
drainage"
Probably" said Corenlia, witt
much GOODNESS. 1--WE shall hav
everything looked to, and in an.
case you and Bella had better go away
for that child is unbearably noisy"
This was more true than polite
and Mrs. Mortlake colored angrily.
1T is all very well for you to talk
but ] do feel being turned out of m
own fathers house by a foreigner.
you had been left a widow with on
little child, think you would hav
been rather more considerate, Coz
nelia."
Should I?' said Cornelia with sal
casm. Well, all l ask is that 20
will consider somebody but yoursel
Christabel: perhaps you would hay
the goodness to order the carriage
time for the S:35; the Lowdells al
going this evening"
With this, Cornelia swept out Of II
room, to be waylaid on the stairs h
George with a telegram form in b
hand.
i am just going to the Office wit