Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-05-07
CHAPTER XVII.
De Marsac's Plans.

p1li8h the warp anu Won ~ lily ~ -
history Thus it happened that Made
lines life was considerably influenced
by lie chance meeting Of two men IN
piccadjlly at a moment when she her-
self was far away and never thinking
probably Of either. As all the worid
was out OF town the Count Rene DE
Marsac possibly thought it useless TO
lose as a man Of fashion in frock coat
and shining boots, but II was remark
able that he should choose TO show
himself in an attire which had an IN
usual touch OF shabbiness. There
was smartness, too, for the tall nat
and the flower In the buttonhole We're
still there; but the shabbiness was un-
mistakable. He had lost his prosper
Gus air and he looked disconnected and
a triAe reckless and bored, but his
gait was as jaunty, his mustache as age
gressiye his dark eyes as bold as ever
Shabby, too, as he might be, he did
rot relish being ,lccosted in the street
BY d man shabbior than himself-a
man whose coat was green with age,
whose boots were broken and shirt
cuffs frayed; man whose poverty
seemed to have passed the 'genteel
stage and become merely squalid.
"Ah, my old friend cried Oscar
Despard, effusiyely. holding out both
hands Many, many years have passed
since we last met.
To Judge by DE Marsac's expression,
he would have been glad If many more
years were to pass before they met
again. but he stopped short and said
something vaguely civil
you are the very man | wanted, "
said Oscar You are the man that
can help me. Where can | see you2
Where can eonfide my grief to you?"
Not here IN Piccadilly," said Rene
de Marsac, dryly.
Then let me come TO your lodgings
| must see You, have news to inn
part 10 you news that Will interest
you. Are you going home now"
No, said De Marsac. shortly You
can come TO my rooms tonight at 8
o'clock, II you like, though don't sup
pose you can tell me anything that |
don't already know There Is the adj
dress"
He thrust a card into Despard hand
and passed on. as II not wishing to be
seen speaking to him in the street
Oscar Despard read the address and
raised his light eyebrows In an arch Of
establishment.
lie has come down in the world
Has he quarrelea with Vanbrugh
them For at one time know he used
simply TO live on him 1t looks like
IL Well we may i,e able to combine
forces as we used to do, once upon .
time for the good of both of us. An0
now IN 80 and call on one Of my
literary friends and ask him for a
little work m application Of that
kind brings in at least S shillngs
generally"
He Went on his way smiling and was
more than usually successful for when
he turned his steps homeward, later III
the day he had f. juggling in his
pockets It was perhaps to his credit
that he did ~ home, instead of dining
al the nearest restaurant, but with all
lis faults he was an affecuonate
father when his temper had not been
disturbed and the only purchases he
made were for the benefit 81 his ailing
wife and delicate daughter, Jenny.
II was Jenny Who came to meet him
when he reached the modest house
whore he was lodging fl Bloomsbury.
She was sometimes spoken of as de-
formed poor child because her growth
WAS stnuted and one shoulder higher
than the other but her white face was
sweet and intelligent and the shower
n golden hair thai half hid the nm
graceful little figure was equal III
heaqty 70 MadeHne's own Oscar Des.
pard was never mkind 70 Jenny. al
though he could lost hts temper with
everybody Else
"0h fathcr base y5u heard amy
thine ~ her yet9
NJ yet Jenny
Rat you w.He You arc sure u. Arc
sou notae
VI hInk So Jenny but thai young
Nit Nanhfugh VAS Very short aud
sharp abeQ He would not give me
hr addrt although am SURE he
knows II sim Ae maEes himself very
rude aud disaeree3hlc entirely be-
cause " my mtsformnes. Jenny. moth
Ing else
= Nas sWe. II Miss ta soe that Jenny
hei'etel efery worl he said
"naF father tou vfll soon ind ber
She cannot be hidden away for very
long Perhaps she II staying With
those grufd rs'tticas Of her mothers So
The same ilea hs1 occurred NJ oscar
Despard bit he had not chosen "a BIT
Il into words ILL., had more ways an1
means for aseertaintag the truth .han
he chose ii XII Jenny know.
ne waitel home until evening pna
sallied forth 20 fri Rene AZ Marsac
shortly before o'elock Iie had been
considerably surprised ii the count
"a