Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-08-25
Continued.

Inst then one OF Tue MISS LOWuelIs
anne in. and Mrs. Morliake was I'M
r,ediately all smiles and graciousness,
rlfila Esperance hurried out of the
r,om wondering what her cousin
meant by this last speech, and full OF
,o5ignation at her meanness and in
Justice
The cathedral service quieted her,
taUeyer. and she resolved that Gas
r,rd should hear nothing of it. She
knew quite we'll that many of the
disagreeables of her life could not be
concealed from him, but whenever it
was possible to throw veil over her
,a-rv sufferings, she would do so.
The day, in consequence, passed hap
,fIy and satisfactorily, and in spite of
Mrs Mortlake's Interruptions Esper
arce saw a great deal of Gaspard,
thanks to the privacy of Ccrnelia's
study. The evening, too, went well,
and though the dean evidently dis
liked Gaspard, yet he was quite civil,
and George Palgraye good-naturedly
threw himself into the breach ana
managed to keep his uncle in a good
humor when the ladies had left the
dinner-table. Later on, in the draw
flg-room, Cornela tried to make UP
for the family GOODNESS by drawing
Gaspard out as to his prospects in
Ceylon and making many really
kind-hearted inquiries about his pre-
yious life, and so far succeeded that
he learned really to like her, and felt
less unhappy in leaving Esperance
a. the deanery.
Cornelia's heart had been touched.
Ever since the day when travelling
hack from London she had witnessed
Esperance's passion of love and sor
row. she had been softened, had
loved her little cousin, and taken a
real interest in something outside the
walls of her study. Harsh and sar
castle as she often seemed, she was
really anxious to do what was kind
and right; from the first her dislike
of Esperance had never descended to
meanness like Mrs. Mortlake's, and
aow her goodwill was real and
hearty though her natural reserve
gave her, when she least wished 1t, an
appearance of GOODNESS.
Mrs Mortlake, as she came TO bid
her sister goodnight unwarily allud-
ed to the incident of the candles,
whoreupon Cornelia was at once up
In arms.
"You mean to say you had the
stinginess to grudge them to her?"
My dear, it is not so much the ex-
pense I mind, but think what bad
habit for a girl Of seventeen to sit up
night after night. No doubt she
often dropped asleep over her work;
il is a wonder we have not had the
house burned down, I'm sure"
you are very prudent, certainly"
said Cornelia, with a smile; and
how does she mean to finish Gas
pards OUTFIT"
How should I know" replied Mrs.
Mortlake, with affected carelessness;
she will not finish it by candle-light,
that is all l care about
so it seems. Well, she shall at
least have the opportunity OF finish
Ing It by lamp-light,' said Cornelia,
naiestically.
Mrs Mortlake gave an inarticulate
sound of annoyance; but Cornelia,
with a cold good night, took her little
raading-lamp in her hand, and
mounted the stairs to the attic with
ont another word OF explanation.
To her surprise she found Esper-
a1on already in bed
'0h, I am just too late" she said
rsgratfullv. II thought perhaps,
you would like my lamp to work by
CAristabel has just been telling me
about this absurd fuss Esperance
looked up with gratitude in her tired
eyes
How kindly OF you to think Of it
| was wondering how I could get
Gae1ard's things done in time; l
meant to get up early"
That would he better for yCu than
SITTING mp" said Cornelia; Indeed
yo1 do not look fit for anything to-
nEht" And she looked with some
ANXIETY at Esnerance's flushe1
cheeks and the purple rings round
'ar eyes How much more have you
n do?'
EsDeraDce pointed to formidable
PIE Of work on her table and Corne-
.3 scrutinized the unsightly holes
With an Impractical eye, and Won
.'-75 II any skill could really mend
Mem y almost wish I knew how T.
aarn' she said thoughtfully. There
r'sr be more here than you will get
trough
NO not il wake In time" said
1-Hfrance, confidently.
Y win fetch YOU my alarm" said
..'ne'ia and She hurried away. re-
ming in a few minutes with
a French alarm clock What
aa shall | set It for?"
-Four o'clock. please: the sun will
ave risen by then, said Esperance,
Watching her cousins movements with
a-r1i' interest.
WHAT four hours work before