Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-04-21
Love $ Conquest

By CHARLES GARVICE =


was there really a stalwart figure
standing looking u at the house?
With a strange leap of her heart
she turned and went hastily into her
room, and almost started guiltily as
she saw Susie arranging the toilet
table.
Cheap boarding schools do not pro-
vide lady's maid for the pupils, and
Lucille, who had never had a servant
in her life, until now, when she had
an army of them, paused irresolutely.
do you want anything, Susie?" she
asked, in her sweetly musical voice.
"Oh, yes Miss. I've to do your hair,
and wait on you, pleased" she said.
Very WE'LL said Lucille resigned
ly; 81 didn't know. I never had a
maid before. And have you lived here
all your life, Susie? Here, in Darra-
court, l mean"
Yes, Miss" said Susie, plying the
brush swiftly and carefully; Il was
born here. athFer is one of your serv-
ants, Miss. He's goth the Tarn Farm. >
'.And so your father is one of my
tenants? Have | got any other
farms?"
"Ohl don't you know, Miss" she
exclaimed, with respectful wonder.
NO" replied Lucille, amused at
her surprise. Il don't know any
thing, scarcely; mean of the estate!
You know, Susie, that it is only a
week ago that learned it was mine,
and there has been no time to find
out all the particulars
81 see, Miss! Oh, Darracourt is a
big place. It's the largest place in
the country, and then, Merle Hall,
where the marquis lives, comes next,
but it's not quarter so large as OAR
racourt''
81 suppose the marquis is very
popular here, Susie?"
"Popular!" repeated Susie, thought
fully. People like him, you mean,
Miss? II don't know. You see,
Miss, he doesn't go about much. Peo-
pie say he's proud, and it's because
he's poor. 1 don't know why that
should be- she added, innocently.
And that's why he lives alone and
looks so pale and thoughtful But
he's very grand and polite when he
does speak. Father says that he can
never forget that Darracourt ought to
belong to him-oh, I beg your par
don, Miss!" she broke off, frightened
and aghast.
Never mind, SUSIE she said gent
ly. "You have offended me. 1t
is natural that the marquis should re-
greet losing so beautiful a place."
Yes, miss: m tongue does run
So
at was my fault" said Lucille
you can go now. viii you call me
quite early-at seven o'clock,
please?'
Yes, Miss" said Susie; and, with
a gentle goodnight" Lucille dis
missed her.
At eight O'Clock the great bell
rang, and Lucille made her wa! to the
breakfast room. Mr.. Head was stand
ing by the window, with long paper
in his hand, and he came forward to
greet her, with that deferential
which lawyer extends
towards rich client.
"You are an early riser, Miss OAR
racourt," he said
1--WE used to get UP at six at st.
Ia1oo said nellie simn1v
Il am fortunate in finding you here
SO early. My train goes at half
past nine, and there were some few
matters I wished to speak to you
about. AS you are aware, Miss OAR
raeeurt 7, and my father before me,
have been the legal advisers of your
respected uncle. think l may say
that I was something more than that
i may claim to have been his
friend
Yes
SIN my position as legal adviser
have become fully acquainted with all
the details of this large-I may call it
Until now, had re-
Trained from troubling you, knowing
well how unfair it would be to expect
you, in the first moments of your ac-
cession to the property, to listen to
dry particulars. / do not intend to
inf1ict them upon you here now. They
are set down as concisely as possible
in this paper. which / now hand to
know. Therein you will find a list of
the securities. and, in fact. of the
whole of the property which your
uncle bequeathed you. There are
other particulars which, perhaps, I
had better hand to Mrs. Dalton. who
will, l presume, undertake the man.
agement of the house?'
Il am not sure" she said. would
it be right-proper-us for her to
do so?"
Il apprehend that you would not
care for the trouble of the thing The