The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-11-26
RIaoLor's oRoeAls.


Chambers journal.
RIa0L0T's ORDEALs.
You were told some weeks ago how IN,
French friend, Blaise Rigolot, becam
enamored Of the dowry of Miss Rutl
ChmleiFh, ana succeeded IN intrudin.
himself Upon her attention. This weei
he and l have been staying at Cumleigl
Lodge, in Surrey, to honor the pheasan
preserves; but we have been doing some
thing else besides shoot, thanks to tn,
ingenious spirit Of Miss Ruth.
You recollect being informed that Mr.
Cumleigh had fallen into bad odor among
society, owing to Miss Ruths eccentric
proceedings. Having romantic mania
for testing the personal courage of hel
adorers, this young lady had played
prahks upon certain well-connected gen
tlemen-notably guardsman or two
and these pranks had redounded more to
Miss Ruth's perspicacity than to the glo
rification of her victims. To revenge
themselves, the well-connected gentle.
men who had been made to show the
white feather had spread the report that
Mr.. Cumleigh was disgracefully bad
form, a person Of whose antecedents
nothing was known, and must have made
his fortune by modes of which NO right
thinking mind could approve. AS for
me, l only half-believed this; but having
great opinion of myself, like the rest OF
you, hesitated to accept Mr.. Cumleigh's
invitation, and it was only at the instant
supplication of Rigolot that at length
condescended to accompany him. When
we arrived Miss Ruth thanked me with
a demure little bow for the honor ! was
doing her fathers roof, and hoped that l
should not find the hospitality of it too
humble
This was nonsense, for less hum
BILE place could not be found by adver-
tising. Cumleigh Lodge is rich, luxu-
knowing little of the houses of city plu-
tocrats, prate Of the ostentatious vulgar
ity of these abodes, forget that men like
Mr.. Cumleigh seldom consult their own
tastes in the matter of furniture, but
appeal to artistic upholsterers. Before
had spent a cock-round at the lodge |
could not help wishing that some of the
aristocracy, among whom my acquaint-
ances chiefly lie-as think | was good
enough to explain to you before-would
take leaf out Of this city mans book.
The only thing to complain of was that
among the other guests invited were a
trifle too many acknowledgment, strongly
perfumed with gold. But, after all, gold
is good perfume.
The other morning, then, after salts
flying breakfast of game pies, we observed
that the sky was weeping, and, as sport
was difficult under the circumstances,
strolled into the billiard-roOm and began
knocking the balls about, waiting fol
Rigolot to join me. had scarcely been
so engaged a minute when Ruth Cumleigh
glided in with gravity Of purpose or
her pretty face. She was adorably fresl
dressed in buff costume or ecru linen
with velvet band and large medallion
round her neck, velvet bracelets round
her wrist, and scarlet rose stuck, as by
the merest accident, in her girdle. Lay
ing finger on her lips she motioned tt
me to follow her into the conservatory
adjoining the billiard-room, and there
when had let fall the door curtain, sh'
said:
"Mr. Trefoil."
"Miss Cumleigh."
"Your French friend is making violen
love to me-"
81 do not wonder at it,"
"It's matter of taste; but l shoult
be careful before marrying a French
man"
can authentic Viscount, l believe"
"Oh, foreign Viscounts! And then
have no faith in the courage OF thes
Frenchmen. They boast too much, an
l would not give pin for man VIII
boasted and had no courage. He woul'
be sure to tyrannize and make on
wretched and ashamed of him. What
your opinion of Monsieur Rigolot?"
"Try him."
"That is what mean to do il you wi
help me. There is a ghost who is sal
to haunt churchyard near here. d
you think Monsieur Rigolot is afraid G
ghosts?"
II have little taste for them myself
but Frenchman may be above sue
prejudice"
And do you think Monsieur Rigolt
would like to be awoke at night by tw
armed burglars pointing revolvers in h
face?" asked Miss Ruth, fixing her lare
eyes on me.
II can only answer for myself and col
fess that night so disturbed would
most disagreeably noted in my memory
"Well, think that will do then," sa
the pleasant young lady, gravely; "an
tomorrow, if he gets through the tv
trials creditably, / viii tell himth at PAL
has received telegram saying that b
fortune is in jeopardy. shall see thu
whether your friend cares for me or n
money"
l laughed, she laughed, and betwet
us we agreed to submit Rigolot to IS q
comfortable series of ordeals ~ ha'
ever heard devised. So that evening
dinner, just as the soup was being
moved, and before any of the guests hi
| time to draw an artificial courage fro
/ wine, Ruth Cumleigh remarked quietl
Papa, it's tonight the ghost pays B
yearly visit to Gravehill Churchyard. !"
aMyA6sr child, how can you say su'
foolish thingsf"
Mademoiselle believes in ghos
zeny" inquired Rigolot, displaying
/ white teeth on the other side of {
.sIn undoubted ghosts, Monsieur RI
olot, a1dtbss one has friehtencd sevel
--S,ls r, S gsE-rE--ssk zzxT