Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-04-07

Ou, DlesSL are Luey WHO i've anu III
like thee;
Loved with such love, and with sucl
sorrow mourned.
The Excursion
The De Mabillons met with a grea
deal OF sympathy, notwithstanding
that such losses as theirs were nov
everyday events. The Lemercier!
were kindness itself; indeed, had i
not been for madames soIicitude. Els
perance would have Jared badly. Gas
pard's wound healed all too quickly
and by the middle of December he
had rejoined his battalion, leaving
Esperance to her wOman's lot OF
anxious waiting. This, added to her
grief and loneliness would soon have
proved too much for her, had not
Nine. Lemercier, on the very first
day of Gaspard's absence, paid a
visit to the quatrieme etage, her kind
little eyes sparkling with satisfaction
as she felt the brilliancy of her new
idea.
Esperance was sitting in a discon-
ISOLATE attitude, wrapped in shawl,
and knitting as fast as her benumbed
fingers would allow Madame's bright
eyes grew dim for a moment; there
was something ineXpressibly sad in
the look of silent suffering, on such a
young face. She made haste to I'M
fold her plan.
you feel very cold here" she be-
gan, with a little SILVER put in for
effect, as in reality she was burn
ing with excitement. without doubt,
the higher in the, house, the colder
the rooms. Let me feel your hands,
child. Dame! but you will die of cold
if you remain here much longer"
"This is the worst day we have
had" said Esperance, land Javotte
says there is no possibility of get
ting coal, or even coke; she has gone
out now to try to obtain wood, but
they say it is very dear"
Eyes, and what is worse than that,
it is scarce" said madame, lowering
her voice impressively; ''if you get
it today, you may not be able to do
so tomorrow"
Nine. Lemercier was usually so
very sanguine that Esperance was
quite surprised to hear such gloomy
forebodings. She soon saw through
the little device, however. Madame,
thinking she had beaten about the
bush long enough, cleared her throat,
smoothed her lace mittens, and be-
gan. My dear EsperanCe, I came
to make a proposal to you. Yes, lay
aside your knitting, for it is a thing
Of importance-of Importance, I re-
peat, for life is important even in a
siege"
Esperance thought of Gaspard, and
said, Yes, madame"
1T is a change of life, then, that
! come to contemplate" continued
madame. Below, in our little salon,
there burns a fire of wood, a small
fire. This morning, monsieur said
to me, Antoinette, which do you pre-
fer, fire or a domestic? We can
not keep both After little consider
alton, I replied, prefer to have
warmth Thus you see dear | am
without a servant. What takes place
then? | come to pay a visit to re-
count my troubles. What do 1 find
That you have servant, but no fire;
while | have a fire, but no servant"
Madame paused, out of breath. Es-
perance clapped her hands gayly.
And you think we might unite
our forces? All! but it is a good
idea!'
Really? You find it so? Ard your
brother, will he approve?'
'Oh, yes, doubtless. He and
Monsieur Lemercier can talk politics
all the evening. Picture to your
self how they will argue"
After a consultation with Javotte,
the arrangement was finally settled,
and Esperance was so happily excited
by the change of quarters that the
day passed by almost too quickly.
Gaspard returning in the evening,
was thankful enough to find a fire
sation turned entirely on the proposed
sortie, Esperance could not find it in
her heart to be wholly unhappy, but
resolved to enjoy the present while
it was hers, and for the future to
hope.
The next few days were particularly
trying; the sortie was several times
arranged, and put off in a way that
taxed every ones patience sorely.
On the night of the goth, however
Gaspard really was obliged to march
and Esperance was painfully re-
minded of the terrible parting before
the last sortie. The recollection
however, was not without it's comfort
for was not her father beyond the
reach of all pain, and WEAKNESS, and
hardship? She could not help being
really thankful now, even though the
desolation and loneliness were Sc
hard to bear,
Nine. Lemercier devised all man.
ner of distractions for her, visit tc
the Ladies Society for Working fol
the Sick and Wounded, a walk with
monsieur, and new books to read. The
vas not very cheering-severt
fighting for eight hours, and little, i
anything, gained. This was on tht
21st.
On the evening of the next da,
every one felt dull and depressed
madame, her chair drawn close to tn,