Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-08-18
Continued.

merry WOFInlnSLOn was so KIM
When did you see him?"
Last week, the day l wrote to 20,
He was more kind and considerat
than can tell you, and Lady Wol
Ellington, too; I am glad you kno7
and like them, I shall feel happie
about you
Esperance turned a little pale a
the reference to their parting, AM
made haste to change the converse
ton.
See, that is the Spread Eagle on tn
left-hand side Of the street, thougl
why, among all the hotels, you SHOULD
have chosen the one bearing tn
Prussian emblem, I can't think"
Gaspard laughed. "Tis the only
decent one, according to Claude Mag
nay. Are those bells ringing fol
service?"
Yes, will you come? / want you t
see every one. You can speak t.
them afterward"
Gaspard consented, and Esperance
led the way to the cathedral, but SHE
was disappointed to find Cornelia tn
only occupant of the deanery pew
George Palgrave and Bertha haG
walked over to the Priory, and Mrs
Mortlake had chosen to prolong hel
drive that afternoon.
The service over, Cornelia, in spite
Of her shrinking from the meeting
fastened after her two cousins, over
taking them just as they reached the
ioor, and greeting Ga'~o-I as warm
ly as she could, though as she was
almost ashamed to look at him, he
could not think her anything but colo
and forbidding.
You will bring your brother home
will you not?" she said, turning tC
Esperance.
There was no great profession OF
eagerness to see him, and she could
not bring hereIf 60 express any re-
grets that the deanery was too full
Tor them to take him in For a
minute Gaspard was almost inclined
to give an excuse; this cold hospital
1ty seemed to him worse than no
thing. However. Esperance seemed
greatly pleased, and understood better
what it meant from Corne1ia, so the
three walked back together, and by
degrees Cornelia thawed, forgot her
shame and the awkardness of her DO
sition, and began to feel and to show
more interest in Gaspard
Esperance was delighted to see her
being thus won over. They sat In
the purple drawing-room, and she
watched Gaspard, who looked de-
lightfully incongruous in one of the
ponderous arm-chairs, and listened
contentedly to the conversation going
on, perfectly happy as long as she
was close by him.
Then some of the Miss Lowdells
came in, and tea was brought up
while Cornelia became more and
more engrossed with Gaspard, and
Esrerance was called upon to give
Miss Grace Lowdell a full account of
the battle in which he had earned his
scar. This was delightful-she had
scarcely hoped to make others appre-
ciate her hero.
At last Mrs. Mortlake returned, and
entering the room wholly unprepared,
could not help starting with surprise
and vexation when she caught SIGHT
Of the thin, ve-complexioned, mus
tached stranger, who seemed quite
established in the house. and was
handing about cups of tea with a
sort of careless ease which annoyed
her.
Esperance saw the start of dismay
and could not help being amused bv
1t, particularly hen it was quickly
followed by a prompt show of po-
likeness, and a charming" smile.
Monsieur de Mabillon! I am de-
lighted to see you! 7 was beginning
to think there was a fate against our
meeting I was so sorry to miss you
last month in London, but my little
girl was claiming all my attention
Just then. You are well, I hope?''
In spite of the silky voice, and the
well-regulated smiles, Gaspard was b.
no means deceived: he remembered
Claude's guarded description Of the
"would-be charming lady, whom II
was hard to trust" and instinctively
felt a shrinking from her kindness
His antipathy was confirmed when, II
q pause in his conversation with Cor
nelia, he overheard a low-toned re
mark from Mrs Mortlake to his sis
ter, not intended, of course, for othe
ears.
Your usual want of thought, Yo,
might have seen we should wan
another cup. Just ring at once"
1t was one of the difficulties G
Esperance's situation that her dutie
were so underlined she could neve
find out what was or what was nc
expected Of her, and was CONSTANT
benig brought to task, either fo
neglect or for forwardness and meG
ding.
To hear her scolded was so nev
however, to Gaspard, that he eve
magnified Mrs Mort1ake's offens
Her words were not so very sever
after all, but her look and tone al
gered him. and hastily crossing IL
room. he intercepted Esperance c
her way to the bell.
DO not trouble, cherie, sit dow
Allow me, Mrs. Mortlake''-theret
revealing that he had heard ever
thing.
Mrs Mortlake was vexed. She h;
wished to keep up appearances; s.
was anxious that Gaspard shou
think well of her, and now he h
ALerheard har. Snna kim grossly o,