Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-05-25
CHAPTER NNXII.

CHAPTER MIMI.
~ all the rooms in the great
castle Eta liked the morning
room best. Persons Of a trou-
- bled mind usually love to
look upon a wide prospect.
The great drawing room was only
used after dinner. Until that time the
ladies spent the day either in their own
boudoirs or in the morning room look
ing over the cliff. Here while the cold
weather lasted Eta had tea served,
and thither the gentlemen usually re-
paired at the hour set apart for the
homely meal. They had come regular
ly the last few evenings. Paul and
Steinmetz had suddenly given up their
long drives to distant parts Of the es-
tate.
Here the whole party was assembled
on the Sunday afternoon following
Paul's visit to the village inn, and
to them came an unexpected guest.
The door was thrown open, and Claude
de Chauxville, pale, but self possessed
and quiet, came into the room. The
perfect ease of his manner bespoke
a practiced familiarity with the diff
cult position. His last parting with
Paul and Steinmetz had been, to say
the least Of it, strained. Maggie, he
knew, disliked and distrusted him. Eta
hated and feared him.
He was in riding costume-a short
fur jacket, fur gloves, a cap in his
hand and a silver mounted crop-a
fine figure of q man, smart, we'll turn
ed out, well groomed-a gentleman.
Prince" he said frankly, 81 have
come to throw myself upon your gen
crosby. Will you lend me a horse? I
was riding in the forest when my horse
fell over a root and famed himself. I
found I was only three miles from Os-
terno, so 1 came. My misfortune must
be my excuse for this intrusion"
Paul performed %graciously enough
that which charity and %politeness de-
handed of him.
He ignored the probability that De
Chauxville had famed his horse on pur-
pose, and offered him refreshment
while his saddle was being transferred
to the back of a fresh mount. Further
than that he did not 60. He did not
consider himself called upon to offer
a nights hospitality to the man who
had attempted to murder him a week
before.
With engaging frankness De Chaux-
vile accepted everything. 1t is an art
soon acquired and soon abused. There
is something honest in an ungracious
acceptance Of favors. Steinmetz sug-
gested that perhaps NJ. de Chauxville
had lunched %sparsely, and the French
man admitted that such was the case,
but that he loved afternoon tea above
all meals.
ut is SO innocent and simple-1
know. 1 have the same feeling my
SELF" concurred Steinmetz courteously.
"Do you ride about the country much
alone?" asked Paul while the servants
were setting before this unlimited
guest a few more substantial delica-
cies.
"Ah, no., prince! This is my first at
tempt, and if it had not procured me
this pleasure I should say that it will
be my last"
1T is easy to lose yourself" said
Paul; "besides"-and the two friends
watched the Frenchman's face closely
present"
De Chauxville was helping himself
daintily to pate de foie gras.
"4h, indeed! Is that sop he answer
ed. But they would not hurt me. Il
stranger in the land"
And so the ball was kept rolling.
There was never any lack of converse
ton when Steinmetz and De Chauz-
vile were together, nor was the talk
without subfavor Of acidity. At length
the center Of attention himself diverted
that attention, He inaugurated an ar
gument over the best cross country
route from Osterno to Thors, which
sent SteinmetZ out Of the room for a
map. During the absence Of the watch
full German he admired the view from
the window, and this strategic Owe
ment enabled him to say to Eta aside:
II must see you before l leave the
house; it is absolutely necessary"
Not long after the return of Stein
metz and the final decision respecting
the road to Thors, Eta left the room.
and a few minutes later the servant
announced that the baron's horse was
at the door.
De ChauXville took his leave at once.
with many assurances of lasting graft
tude.
"Kindly," he added, make my adieus
to the princess. I will not trouble her"
: Quite by accident he met Eta at the
head Of the state staircase and cx-
pressed such admiration for the castle
that she opened the door of the large