Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-06-13

disinclined to talk. 1t was necessary,
however, in common politeness, to say
something. Hardly attending himself
to his own words, he began with a
commonplace phrase-'I regret, Mon
sieur Lomaque, that we have not had
more opportunities of lettering our &C
Quaintance."
Il feel deeply indebted" rejoined
the land-steward, Ito the admirable
Madame DanviIle for having chosen
me as her escort hither from her sons
estate near Lyons. and having thereby
procured for me the honor Of this in
production" Both Monsieur Lomaque's
red-rimmed eyes were seized with a
sudden fit of winking, as he made this
polite speech His enemies were ac-
customed to say that, whenever he was
particularly insincere, or particularly
deceitful, he always took refuge in the
weakness of his eyes, and so evaded the
trying ordeal of being obliged to look
steadily at the person whom he was
speaking with
81 was pleased to hear you mention
terms of high respect" continued Tru-
dame, resoIutely keeping up the CONVEX
sation. Did you know him?"
Il am indirectly indebted to your ex-
celIent father" answered the land
steward "for the very situation which
[ now hold. At time when the good
word of a man of substance and repu-
-
erty and ruin, your father spoke that
word. Since then, l have, in my own
very small way, succeeded in life I'M
til have risen to the honor of super
intending the estate of Monsieur Dan
Vile"
Excuse me-but your way of speak
ing of your present situation rather
surprises me. Your father, l believe,
was merchant just as Danville's faith
er was a merchant; the only difference
between them was, that one failed, and
the other realized large fortune. Why
should you speak of yourself as hon
0red by holding your present placer
Have you never heard?" exclaimed
Lomaque, with an appearance of great
establishment, cor can you have heard,
and forgotten, that Madame Danville is
descended from one of the noble houses
of France? Has she never told you, as
she has often told me, that she con-
descended when she married her late
husband; and that her great object in
life is to get the title of her family
years since extinct in the male line)
settled on her SOM"
Yes" replied Trudaine; 81 remem
Der to have heard something of this,
and to have paid no great attention to
it at the time, having little sympathy
with such aspirations as you describe.
You have lived many years in Danvilles
service, Monsieur LomaQue; have you"
he hesitated for moment, then con-
tinued, looking the Iand-steward full
in the face, 'have you found him good
and kind master?"
Lomaque's thin lips seemed to close
instinctively at the question, as if he
were never going to speak again. He
bowed-Trudaine waited-he only
bowed again. Trudaine waited third
time Lomaque looked at his host with
perfect steadiness for an instant, then
his eyes began to get weak again.
"You seem to have some special inter-
est" be quietly remarked, eff l may
say so without offense, in asking me
that question"
81 deal frankly, at all hazard, with
every one," returned Trudaine; land,
stranger as you are, l will deal frank
" with you. I acknowledge that l
have an interest in asking that Ques-