Rock Island Argus., 1896-01-27
CHAPTER VIII

Two days after the events Just related
Emily Remsen's maid announced that
she had just received news that her
mother was very i'll, and that she had
been notified to 20 to her at once. Her
mother, she said, lived in Elizabeth,
n. j. She wished to go at the earliest
possible moment, and begged that her
cousin Lucette should be allowed to
attend to her duties till her return,
which she hoped would be in a very
few days. Asked if her cousin was COM
petent, she said yes, and especially apt
at arranging the hair, having served an
apprenticeship with French hairdress-
er. Indeed the girls real name was
Lucy, but she had changed it to Lu-
cette to pretend that, being French, she
was necessarily good maid.
In Miss Remsen's mind this changing
Of her name was nothing in the girls
favor, but as her own maid was thus
suddenly taken from her, and as this
other was offered at once, she agreed to
the proposal.
Lucette arrived during the afternoon,
and Miss Remsen Vas delighted with
her. Expecting a talkative, intrusive
person, assuming Frenchified manner
lsms, she was surprised to find quiet,
unpretentious creature, who immedi-
ately showed herself to be well ac-
quainted with the duties required Of
her. Within the first "a hours she found
herself so much better served than by
her absent maid that she almost wish
ed that the mother would require her
for g long time. Dora, too, was charmed
with Lucette.
Queen" said she the next afternoon,
what do you think of your new maid?"
"Whs: Lucette?" answered the SIS
ter. "Oh, think she does very we'll"
Docs very well? Why, Queen, she
is a jewel. If You do not appreciate
her, wish you would bequeath her to
me when Sarah returns
"Oh, ho! SO my young miss wants
maid to herself, does she.''
"Oh, no, not especially, but I want
TO keep LUcetto in the family. She is
treasure. Dressing the hair is not her
only accomplishment, either, though I
never saw yours look more beautiful.
Sho has just arranged the table for our
afternoon tea,' and l never saw any,
thing like it. 1t is just wonderful what
that girl can do with q napkin in the
way of decoration
"Oh, yes, said Emily, "Lucette is
clever, but don't let her know that we
think so. 1t might make her less valua-
BILE. Now tell me, Dora, dear, who Is
coming this afternoon:'
"Oh! The usual crush, suppose"
Including Mr.. Randolph
queen, there is a mystery about
him. Let me tell you. In the first place,
he has not been here for over a week,
and then yesterday 1 saw him coming
down Fifth avenue, and-would you be-
lieve it?-just rs was about to bow to
him he turned down side street"
HE did not see you, my dear, or he
surely would have spoken. He would
have been TOO glad"
well, if he did not see me, he must
have suddenly contracted nearsighted-
ness; that is all have to say
Shortly after company began to ar
rive. and very soon the rooms were fill
cd by crowd which is aptly described
by the term used by Dora. One goes to
these affairs partly from duty and part
1y from habit. Ono leaves mainly from
the instructive sense of self preservation
inherent in all.
Dora was besieged by number of
admirers and took pleasure in avoiding
Mr.. Randolph, who was assiduous i'll
his attentions. He seemed anxious to
get her off into the seclusion of a cor
ncr, q scheme which the young lady
frustrated without appearing to do SO.
Mr.. Thauret was also present, though
he did not remain very long. He chat
ted short time with Emily on conven-
tional subjects, and then worked his
way to the side of Dora, where he lin
gered longer. He said several pretty
things to her, such as she had heard al
ready in different forms from other
men, but with Just a tone which seem
ed to indicate that he spoke from his
heart rather than from the mere pass
ing fancy Of pleasing. 1t was very skill
fully done. There was so little of it
that no one, certainly not an inexperi-
enoed girl like Dora, could suspect that
it was all studied. Yet after he had
gone, and the company was thinning
Gut, Mr. Randolph found his long
sought opportunity, and sat down fer 4
tete-aA:e.e with Dora. IIe began at
once.
Miss Dora, why do you allow 4
cad like th.;S Frenchman to make love
to you:"
"Are you abiding to my friend. IiI
Thauret? She acceiItuated tic wei
"friend" merely to exaspofato Nr. Tan.
dolph, and succeeded admirably.
'iEe is not your friend. In ny opir-
ion he is nobody's friend but his own. "
"That has been said Of so maly tha;
it is no new idea.
"But do be serious, Miss Dora. Yol
must not allow this fellow to worm his
way into your. circle. and, moro than
all, you must rot allow him to make
love to you"
"You surprise me, Mr.. Randolph. !
had no idea that Mr.. Thauret was max
ing love to me. could relate every
thing that he said, and it would scarce
ly bear out your assumption
That is only his GINNING. He is tor