Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-10-28
Continued.

possessions, your LANDS ana oAsA'
our menseryants and maidservanJs
What a sudden transformation It is,
isn't it? Lo! a stroke Of the magi-
clans wand and down sinks the Mar
uuis of Merle to the deepest dun
geons Of everlasting despair, and up
rises the humble Harry Herne! Fun
ny, isn't it? And such is ife!"
Harry regarded the smiling, mock
ing face with mingled amazemenl
and reDugnaDce. Could this girl
with the daring eyes and reckless
laugh, be the same who only lie"
weeks ago had knelt at his bedside
and swore that she loved him, VINO
had almost actually tricked him into
making her his wife?
"You are as grave as a judge my
lord" she went on. What IS the
matter? You ought to be throwing
I'D your hat and shoUting-'Io tri,
umphe?'-instead Of that you look as
gIum as if you had lost marquisate
instead of winning it. Look at me
how cheerful [ am, and should thlnk
I nave cause to be down in the mouth,
gUt there. I have had some amuse-
ment. it's true. Do you know what
have been doing, my lord? nave
been making a clean breast OF 1t TO
Lucille, and If you had seen Mrs.
Dalton and Lady Fernley's faces, ana
heard their ordinations Of horror
wan u,oUIdu't wonder at my amuse-
meDt. Yes, Harry beg your par
don. NV Iord-I've explained the
whole hing. Really, when one comes
to look back upon it calmly, 1t was
too GOOD a plot to be spoiled by the
fooIhardiness Of the marquis-the
late MARQUIS, I mean. What should
we call him ?-Mr, Merle?"
She laughed and leaned her ell
bows on the balustrade quite close
to him, utterly regardless Of his
grave, condemning face.
Eyes, it was neat, and I invented
it all did it all, really, for don't
think the marquis would have had
pluck enough to hide the vase in
your room, and I'm sure he would
have broken down in the manage
ment of Susie. Tell her I forgive
her for splitting to you; it was just
what she would do, of course"
and you did all this-and would
have" he stopped: he could not
frame the words.
Married YOU Certes! Mind, I mad
no idea of It until I overheard the
old man tell Sinclair that you were
the marquis. | merely plotted be-
forchand to get you out of the way
and marry Lucille to the marquis"
"Why?' he demanded, sternly.
She shrugged her shoulders.
Because I like plot ting, and be-
cause I should have him under my
thumb. But enough of all this; Lu-
ellie will give you all the parucu-
lars. And now about myself. vii
you mary me, my lord?" and she
dropped him a curtesy.
He looked at her, scarcely beIiev-
ing his senses.
mo? I fancied not, but I thought
I ought to give you the chance. You
can't marry Lucille, you know"
His face paled to whiteness, and
his eyes flashed.
cob, woman! woman!" he cried
Have you no pity? Is it not enough
that you have wrecked both our lives,
that you must come and gIoat over
your work." and he covered his face
wI'h his hands.
She regarded him in silence for a
moment with a strange look on her
face.
"You really love her so much?"
she said, in a low voice. Strange!
What is this thing, love? Thank
Heaven, I know nothing about it,
What fools it makes of you, men and
women alike! If you hadn't loved
her 50 well, you would not have run
away; all my plotting would have
been--puff! and you and she would
have been man and wife. And now
well, goodbye. Lucille and the two
old women have just sent me off with
something as nearly like a curse as
ladies permit themselves, and you,
/ am going to begin the world afresh.
Heigh no! what will become of Ma
RE Werner, I wonder?" and with
laugh that had a false ring in it, not
withstauding her bravadG. she turn
Cd away.
stop" he said go to Mr., Head;
revision shall be made" he could
say no more.
Really" she said, looking at him.
you viii give me fl esh start?
Harry!"-she stopped and stole clos
er to him, and her voice dropped
"Harry-my lord-it is just as we'll
! did not marry you and-been mis-
eraoIe!"
1t was the last word he ever heard
from her When he looked around
to force himself remembering her
cex-to say goodbye, she had gone.
He waited to regain Lis composure,
then went into the house. The news
had spread throughout the place, Hea-
ven knows how, and the servants IN.
derst0od that the master they had
hated was an impostOr, and that Har-
~ Herne ives the real marquis. He
had always been popular with them,
with every man and boy and woman
in the place, and when he appeared
in the hall a murmur of qualification
ran around. They would have cheer
ed but for the solemn silence that
reigned over the vast house, and that
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