Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-06-24
CHAPTER XIv-(Continued.)

@ second letter from the count, dated
IN May, 1892 and addressed to Mr..
Lacroix. and by the postscript Of Il let
ter of about the same date, written
In German, though from Paris, and
addressed to Steinhardt. The counts
letter excused him to his dear uncle"
from paying his promised visit; he
was too i'll to think of leaving France.
The letter to Steinhardt was evil
IDENTIFY from compatriot. 1t was
mainly about business affairs;
it's matter of interest to us
was squeezed into a corner: you ask
me about the Count Lacroix. ] learn
he is still busy killing himself with alb
sinthe."
Lastly, came the most astonishing
communication of all It was dated
several months later, in the Novem-
ber, | think, Of 1882 1t was from
Paris lawyer, who apparently had the
management of the Count De LacroiX
affairs. In few words it informed
Mr.. Lacroix that the young count
Hon0re was dead, and saluted Count
Paul, his successor! Gle roi est mart;
viye lie roi y And the congratulated
Count was dead, tool With this letter
were tied up two or three legal docu-
1neDts, of which / cannot attempt
much account, though they are now in
my possession. They were a copy OF
certificate of the death of HonOre
Marie Antoinette, Count De LacrOiX,
and certain papers showing Of what
the De Lacroix property consisted
chateau. estates and rentS-and with
them, finally. q later note from the
lawyer to Steinhardt, who had evil
IDENTITY appraised him of Lacroix's dis
appearance" and Of the half fact that
in the meantime he was guardian OF
Pauls heireSs.
by George" exclaimed Birley, when
we had made the discovery, but Man
uel was a tough schemer! He was de-
termined to set his lad up as a French
Count, with q chateau and all the rest
o'tr'
I ventured to doubt whether Louise's
husband would be Count De Lacroix,
though Louise certainly was the in
heritriX of the chateau and the rest
DO you mean to tell me then, the
lass is not a countess" he exclaimed.
That / could not declare, though I
was certain no handsomer or sweet
or countess could be found i'll the
whole world.
"True for you, my lad" said he;
land you're in the luck Of it,
1t may be absurd to say that for a
time this discovery Of Louise's rank
and wealth, filed me with melancholy
and misgiying. I was proud Of her
greatness, but 1 feared I had no right
to seek to share it. Who was [? A
poor, commonplace curate, whose only
10 I,o 60 10 II
notice, even-was that I loved her en-
tirely and had worked for her. Was
it not my duty to give her back her
promise-if she would take it?
Birley was eager to go home at
once to tell Louise all about it, (she
was again established in his house,
with Mrs, Steinhardt) He wished me
30 go with him to assist in the expla-
nation; | endeavored to excuse my
self. but in vain.
Come lad," said he, I can see what
YOU re thing Of Keep a sitter back,
man; do not be so shy of yourself.
See that-I saw a duke once-a great
Scotch dul1e-and he was the Grabbed
eSt-iooking tailor-body ever you saw
I'M your life. If you cannot make q
better count, once you get used to it,
than he made duke, I'll eat my hat,
lad"
We found Louise and Mrs. Stein
.hardt in the drawing room.
All, ha!" crieG Birley in his CHEEKY
voice, Il have a word to say unto thee
my ladyr'
Louise glanced in some surprise
from him to his sister
Which of us do you mean, Mr. Biz
ley?" she asked
Which of you? Well, Sally might
have to do with it, but as it happens
she hasn't I mean thee, my lady
Countess"
Countess?" shel exclaimed. "Why,
what has amused you, Mr.. BirleyY'
l do not quite know" said I, wish
ing to get the explanation over. Chat
Mr.. Birley is right to call yau coun-
&ess; but we have found evidence that
:your cousin the count is dead and
that you being next in succession in
herit the De LacroiX chateau and 9th
er property. You are a great French
.heiress, Louise, whether you are
countess are not"
~'MeT' she cried. ooh, what strange
thing is this?"
Birley sat down and entered into
conversation while I withdrew to the
window. Without exactly watching
her. l observed that she listened in pa
fieIt, wondering silence to his ramb-
jing account of the matter-dear old
gentleman!-and occasionally glanced
about at me and at her friends
80 my lady" concluded Birley,
''there you are, and we are all thy
humble, obedient servants"
l was astonished to see her hide her
face in her hands, and burst into
tears.
81 do not wish it at ALL she cried,
''to be countess, or to be anything but
what 1 am! And you want to put me
far away from you! do not wish to
have their chateau and their rents!"
In a moment l had thrown aside all
misgiving, all fear about what might
be my duty, and I was by her side,
calling her by name and assuring her
we were all as much devoted to her us
ever before. AS in a dream | saw Biz
ley and his sister quietly withdraw
Louise l said, ''let ne confess to