Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-04-22
Continued

81 was going to ask you favor,
Miss" he said. You are a friend OF
Miss Darracourt-you can see her
when you pIease-you will see her
tonight. You look kind and gentle"
he drew a short breath, and Lucille's
face flushed, will you speak word
for a bard-pressed MANI"
For you, do you mean?" said Lu-
Gle, trying to speak coldly.
Yes, for mel" he said.
What is it you want?" she asked.
Il want her permission to remain
here-at Darracourt!" he said, as If
he were trying to speak calmly and
found it hard to succeed. 81 will be
her servant will do anything.
have been here since-since I was
born" His voice grew hoarse for a
moment and rang with dull pain.
There is not a tree, not a horse, or
a hound that l do not know and love.
And they tell me that-that must go
that things are changed! The
squire knew me, and allowed me to
live upon the place; but now-the
.slaWyer-Mr Head tells me I must
go, and / feel that I cannot" He
looked around with a wild gesture of
despair. I've no claim upon this
lady-GOd bless hcr,-nO, no claim;
only ask to be her servant For Gods
sake, plead for me, Miss Forgive me
for seeming so wild and fierce; my
hearts in this-I might say, my life.
Plead for met"
Tell me your name?" she MUIR
INJURED.
Harry Herne," he said in a low
voice
81 will remember it," said Lucille.
And l can answer for Miss Darra-
court; you shall stay"
How can thank you?' he said,
with a catch in his breath Il may
seem a light matter this, but to me"
He stopped abruptly. Thank you!
Thank you! VIII you tell me your
name?" he added, his voice dropping
to a grave respect that was as full of
dignity as his suppressed passion
"My name is Lucille Darracourt,"
she said.
Il might have known he breathed
y might have known" There was
pause, then he went on in a very
low, grave voice: Miss DarracOurt,
there is no servant of them all who
shall serve you more devotedly than I
will do-nO, net Onel Till I die l will
never forget what l owe you for
those words, you shall stay" God
bless you and watch over you, Miss
Darracourt!"
She stood while one could have
counted twenty, until the sound of
his footsteps had died out among the
bracken, then with a sudden culver,
she covered her eyes with her hands.
and, wOman-like, burr4 into quiet
cry.
And if Miss Werner had seen her
then, she would not have had to CON-
plain of her GOODNESS. The ice had
melted; the kiss young Harry Herne
had pressed upon her dress seemed to
have live coal as she turned and
fled toward the house.
CHAPTER II.
Lucille paused for a moment out
side the drawing-room window, to re-
gain her COmpOsure, and to wipe away
the traces of the tears which had
sprung to her eyes so suddenly.
She knew that Marie Verner's
sharp eyes would detect the signs of
her emotion, and would instantly
question her, and for some unex-
planned reason, Lucille shrank from
recital Of the extraordinary scene
which she had witnessed, and her
interview with the young man which
had followed it, 1t seemed almost
well, romantic and sentimental, and
Lucille had a horror of the senti-
mental What did it amount to, after
all? She had by chance been a wit
ness in a quarrel between the Mar
quis of Merle and a kindly gamekeep-
er' and afterwards the gamekeeper
had begged her to take him into her
employ. There wasn't much in that
Il am over-tired and excited" she
sald, looking over the lawn. and
laughing family. What fools women
are! If the man had not been so hand
some, II shouldn't have made such
an idiot of myself"
As she spoke, there rose before her
the vision of the stalwart, graceful
form, standing above her, with one
appraised hand, invoking a blessing
upon her. She felt the beautiful
masterful eyes fixed on her. heard the
deep musical voice, and she tried to
laugh again, but failed.
mo, I won't tell Marie" she mur-
INJURED. she would never cease TO
char me as she calls it. Besides
perhaps I have done a foolish thing
after all The young man NAV be a
bad character-a poacher, or some
thing Worse-and the marquis NAV
nave good reason for advising him to
leave the Court. Well if I have done
a foolish thing. I must abide bv il,
We given my word. and I'll keep it,
and the decision brought her a
strange sense of relief and satisfac-
ton.
On the way to her room Lucille
paused on the great staircase. and
looked out through an open pane of
the stained window, and her glance
fell upon the tower at the end of the
terrace, and the tree beneath which
she had stood, and Harry Herne had
kissed the hem Of her dress. Was it