The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-08-29

beau.ideal of a dashing cavalry sol
der. Captain Hugh Radcliffe. U. S.
A., was well on the sunny side of 30
and his bright, steady eyes and firmly
knit mouth bespoke the man of ac-
ton. accustomed to command and
lead in hazardous enterprises. The
pseudo NJ. Debrosses was favorably
impressed with the appearance of the
young military officer. whom he right
ly judged to be one of the men who
had taken part in the great civil war,
which had recently terminated in the
country of the far west.
He rose at an early hour on the fol-
lowing day and, true TO his promise
to NJ. MARITIME. wandered abroad In the
dewey fragrance of the morning. A
stroll through the woods presently
brought him within view of the cha.
teau which his host had referred to on
the preceding night. II stood in tn,
midst of spacious grounds surround.
ed by n low stone wall and despite
its apparently great age was toler.
ably well preserved. Except for a
thin black line of smoke curling lazily
upward from one of the chimneys
there was no sign of life about the
building, and NJ Claude, after survey.
| ing II with an air of languid interest
! turned to retrace his steps.
The uneventful round of rustic life
at the Golden Grape partook of the ma
ture of a placid monotonous dream
that M. Claude at first found not al
together unpleasing. But on the
| fourth day he began to chafe inwardly
over his enforced idleness. The peace
full atmosphere of the countryside lay
heavily upon his spirit, and no longed
with fierce intensity for the feverish
haste and turmoil of Paris. Indeed
had II not been for an utterly unex
pected communication made TO him
by Captain Hugh Radcliffe, 1t is prob
able that he would have cast discre
| ton to the winds and returned to the
city he longed for.
He had reached the conclusion thai
love affair with one of the chateau
inmates was responsible for the Amer
leans sojourn in Deseil. On severa
occasions when strolling through the
woods he had observed Radcliffe eth
er going toward or returning from
the residence of the Raymonds, ant
also noted that the young soldier sci
dom made his appearance at the inn
after supper until ten or clever
o'clock. when he at once sought hi
bedroom. Plainly, then, the chief ar
gued, he was spending much of hi
time in the society of the chateau
ladies' II was strange, however, /
Radcliffe was so intimate with tn,
members Of the family that they die
not invite him to make the mansion
his headquarters during his stay a
Deseil. But at this point NJ. CLAUDE
always stopped short, mindful of hi
promise to abstain from meddlinl
with perplexing problems.
That night Captain Radcliffe, insteat
Of starting of on his nocturnal pill
grimage as usual fingered in the sur
per room smoking and conversing witt
M. Claude The latter noted that hi
companion wore an distracted air an
/ lttltllAt iA4Ntl dNthNllLo AZ JpEltlAl
did not hide his anxiety from the es
perienced eye Of the veteran polio
officer. The chief was therefore no
greatly surprised when tho young fe
low suddenly leaned forward and sal
In earnest tones:
m. DebrCs5es, am weary of weal
ing a mask and chatting idly Of tril
iallties while my brain Is bes'eged b
hideous fancies. | don't know wha
makes me feel like con1ding in yol
perhaps the ease with which yo
speak my language has got somethin
J to do with Il, for | see clearly tina
you are a man of good birth an
acute perception"
, you hattar me- reioined the chic
smiling gool.humoredly
mt at all" responded Ratcliff'
"Flattery. M Dobrosses, is an al
, brought to far higher state Of perfe,
/ ton by the members OF your rae
than mine. / am blunt and outspoke
J and when l resolve to do a thing I 6