Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-01-16
CHAPTER VIII.
The CoIonel's History


party, a settled gloom was to be seen
on LanceIots face. Col Vanbrugh pre-
tended to treat the matter lightly and
made one or two jests on the defec-
ton Of his expected guests; but they
were received By his son in so cold and
rigid a silence that he did not at
tempt 10 continue them. Lancelot
thought him callous and fancied that
he took no notice of the persistent
silence In which he himself was
plunged; but Col Vanbrugh was in
reality keenly obseryant and somewhat
distressed. 1t was at the close Of a
dinner. during which Lance had
scarcely spoken or eaten, that the
father broke through his usual reserve
and said a word or two to his friend
Rene de Marsac
What am to do with that boy,
Rene?'
Lance had just walked out Of the
dining-room The summer twilight
filled the air and the garden perfumes
rose in it like q breath Of sweetest
incense lie was lounging YEARLY
about the lawn, with cigarette be-
tween his lips. Smoking was new
accomplishment which the lad Of Is
was still proud of, but on this night
he looked as If it did not afford him
define and spoke to one of her friends.
any particular satisfaction.
Col Vanbrugh and the count We're
still seated at the table, on which des-
sert and wine were laid. The servants
had gone and the candles were not yet
lighted. The soft summer twilight
flied the room and Rene de Marsac
moved impatiently in his chair.
Cecil, how can | tell?' he muttered.
Then, in a louder tone. You want
lights, mon cher; how can ont talk in
this dismal gloom?"
II like tt better than eandlelight.
Wait moment; answer my question,
II you can, What shall do with
Lancelot?'
The count blew cloud Of smoke
from his finger airily through the thin
blue rings. yanbrugh was not smok-
ing; he looked downcast, melancholy,
troubled
s'Lancelot is a difficult person TO deal
with. said De Marsac, presently. He
has the old IDEAS the crude ideas, we
sometimes call them-about love and
faith and morality. He still thinks
every woman saint and every man
d hero. That's what makes him so inn
practicable
''Impracticablel Why?" said Col.
vanbrugh, his eye still fixed on Lanca's
tall, slim figure, as the boy wandered
about the lawn.
DO you need to ask why? Well, be-
cause he will not be able to judge Of
things from your point Of view-or
mine
The count shrugged his shoulders.
n think he said gently, delicately
even, that we do not differ greatly
about essentials"
Essentials
I'VE still hold that man should
be honorable woman pure and true,
but ii occasionally happens that one Of
other breaks through the old laws and
forgets."
You are intolerable when YOU NOR
alize." said the colonel, with impa-
thence that seemed to veil stab OF
pain. sConflne yourself to facts this
evening. Is the boy to be told the
TRUTH
Il think he had better be told some
thing, answered Rene, TRANQUILITY.
whether the truth or not is another
thing. But Iii has got hold Of sus-
picion, d doubt of some sort--I wonder
who first PUT It into his head-and
he won't resign himself to eireum-
stances, should say. until he has as
certained the truth or falsehood Of it.
He spoke truthfully and the colonel
sighed
1T Is almost impossible Tor me to
tell him he said, mt last.
He did not look at Rene's face, but
If tie had looked he might have seen
faint subtle smile steal over the
usually impenetrahle mask. The count
looked as If something had both
pleased and amused him. But the
smile vanished ais quickly as It had
come.
When Roger yanbrugh turned to hia
again he was perfectly grave, You
must tell him, said the colonel,
Tell him what"
What you like. The truth; It must
HE truth, suppose
Not necessarily" said Rene, in the
softest, silkiest Of tones.
Yves. necessarily" said Vanbrngh,
rising from the table and speaking
with what seemed to his friend need
less warmth, II will not have him
told anything but what Is absolutely
correct He may blame me or not, as
liz chooses.
"He probably will
"Then / must bear the blame" Ro-
rer yanhrugh drew himself IN 70 his
1oftiest height and looked at the mo-
ment yeritable king among men. II
he chooses 10 suspect me, | can leave
him ID Ills suspicious. | know what
HE world has said but surely ny
1870 III ~ vniir hands