Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-12-15

ioiV"iHS "eeh, duu ESperance nad
set her heart on their presence.
| Il feel that my little girl belongs to
! you in way already she said one
| day TO Frances, who was driving her
over to Worthington Hall in her little
pony-carriage. when she is older you
viii have TO teach her all that you
have taught her mother. | think Mag
gle is avery happy little girl; we shall
all envy her when she has you to her
self in the country"
Dear little Maggie. said Frances,
thoughtfully, IF | thought | should
be half as wise with her as Madame
Lemercier has been should be
happy"
81 heard from madame only last
week said Esperance she wrote
so happily; her passage Is taken, and
| she goes to Australia to join monsieur
next month"
Yes, she has promised to stay with
Maggie till we come home" said
Frances, I'VE mean to dispense with a
regular wedding-tour. and TO have a
few quiet weeks in Cornwall instead:
then in the summer Norman says we
must all meet down in Wales. Maggie
and kathie will so enjoy being to-
gether. and think you and Claude
and the babies ought to come too, they
will want a change OF air by that
| time"
1T would be very delightful" said
Esperance; but that Is looking rather
far ahead"
They reached the hall as she spoke,
and Mr. Henderson, who was staying
| there. came down the steps to greet
them.
you remember Mrs, Magnay. Nor
man" said Frances, I'VE have already
been discussing our next meeting in
Wales"
Mr.. Henderson shook hands with
her warmly. He had not seen her
since her wedding-day but in spite
of all she had been through she was
not much altered; IL was the same
grayely-sweet face, only there seemed
greater depth in the eyes, and a more
| patient irmness about the mobile lips
Frances had much to talk of, and
there was a sort of sadness about the
visit, because II was probably the
last which Esperance would be able
sion of the wedding week began. But
Lady Worthington reminded them
cheerfully that Devonshire was one OF
the loveliest counties. and prophesied
that before long Claude would have
commissions in the neighborhood OF
Frances's new home
Esperance stayed as long as she
could well be spared from home, and
then, as Frances was tired. Mr. Hen
derson drove her back to Rilchester in
| the pony-carriage She was glad TO
have this opportunity OF seeing him,
for although she had from the first
| thought him very pleasant, she was
not quite sure that he was altogether
worthy of Frances. indeed, from her
very slight acquaintance II was inn
possible for her 10 judge. He talked
to her kindly, and quite in the way
she liked, of Claude's Illness then The
conversation turned to Nine. Lemer-
cier and her happiness 1T the prospect
of rejoinng her husband and finally
it drifted on naturally to recolectlons
OF their meeting in Wales, while Els
perance was delighted to tell of all
Frances's kindness to her, and Mr..
Henderson was of course delighted TO
listen. BY the end of the drive they
were firm friends, and Esperance felt
quite sure now that she liked Fran
cess future husband.
George and Bertha were expected on
the following day--the Thursday in
Holy Week Every one little
dreaded their arrival; even Cornelia,
though thankful that her father had
sent the invitation, half shrunk from
seeing her sister. All passed off, how
ever, better than she had feared. The
real JOY of having Bertha once more
at home oyercame the painfulness OF
the first meeting, and though they
were quiet and subdued, they were
none the less really glad and thankful
to be all together once more.
Esperance, fancylDg that the first
return would moi be very pleasant 10
It'l ina ldu ildau'A tue iNNltttuthN VI
Claude's first visit to the deanery for
the following day. and their coming
Vas such pleasure to the dean, and
such an event. that 1t seemed to put
them all al their ease again. No one
quite understood why It was that on
The second day no more awkward ST.
lences fell IN the family circle, except
ing perhaps George; he could not help
/ letting Esperance know that he APP
preciated her thoughtfulness.
Prom the first time saw YOU years
ago in Paris, knew that you were
blessed with that rarest gift OF tact
Mrs. Magnay, but ] did not imagine
how much should be indebted to You
In future years Your Wilt today has
thawed us all"
"Claudes visit you mean" said Es-
perance, smiling 1T is the first time
he has been here since the accident
and the dean wants to show him all
the alterations and improvements"
81 hear the dean is not going to
1, az. Oh, l.