Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-04-15

nalf and IuSLTOuSy naZSl eyes.
= great bell startled Lucille by its
sudden clangor, and a moment or
two afterward Marie Werner knocked
at the door.
That's the dinner bell, Lucille"
she said. Are you dressed? Oh,
my dear, that muslin suits you!" and
her keen eyes roved over Lucille's
slim figure. Il thought 1 looked
rather nice, but you-'and she made
little move.
Il have got very good little maid"
ooh, Miss she murmured, cts
you, who are so beautiful, not the
dress or me who put it on!"
'There!" exclaimed Marie Werner.
CAS- a specimen of rustic compliment,
that's unique"
They went down into the hall,
where Mr.. Head, in evening dress,
stood Uaiting for them, and he gave
Lucille his arm and led her into the
dining-room.
1t was a large room, and the light
from what seemed a forest Of candles
drawn to exclude the sunset, shone
upon carved oak and Venetian glass,
upon the table glittering with some
Of the famous Darracourt plate, re-
lieved by flowers in vases and pla-
teauX.
Fresh from the bare dining-room Of
the ST. Malo school, Lucille felt awed
/ and stood mOtionless for moment,
/ looking round her; then the lawyer
led her to the head of the table, the
others took their places and the din
ner commenced.
With grave faces and noiseless
steps, the trained servants, presided
J over by the ,dignified butler, served
the meal with the precision of ma
chimes. Marie Werner, upon whom the
novel magnifcence acted like cham
payne, talked and laughed with Mr..
Head, and Mrs. Dalton occasionally
put in slow, grave word or two, but
Lucille sat almost silent.
She was in dreamland still! Was
this splendid room, these masses of
gold and silver, these servants,
| really hers, Lucille Darracourt's, or
would it all fade away presently, and
| give place to the bare schooIroom,
with its dingy forms and soiled table
cIoth?>
The voices of the others seemed to
! come from a distance, and to be as
! impalpable as the rest, and it was not
until the butler had left the room,
and Mr.. Head addressed her by name,
| that, with a slight start, she aWOke
to the fact that all she saw was real,
| and not vision of imagination.
Lucille" said Marie Werner, that
is the third time Mr.. Head has spoken
to you! Come back from dreamland-
! just for a minute or two"
Ct beg your pardon" said Lucille,
with a faint blush, Il think l was
| dreaming"
Il hope I have not disturbed you,
but Miss Werner insists that I should
communicate a piece of family his
! tory"
oh DON'T" exclaimed Mary "Pry
don't begin in that way, or we shall
all go to sleep at the commencement.
Let me tell Miss Darracourt and if
go asUay you can correct me-"
You will tell it much better than
l shall, Miss Werner"
AT any rate l shant put in any
'afOresaids, as you would probably
do she retorted. Lucille, we were
talking o the marquis. I can't talk of
think of anything else! That's be-
cause I've never seen a real live mar
quis before.
My dear Miss Werner" murmured
Miss Dalton, rebukingly. IF you will
permit me, I think that such terms
are scarcely fitting"
Wen, you wouldn't have me say
an artificial marQuis!" retorted Marie
Werner. Having never seen one,
alive or dead, before, I am quite alb
sorbed!" she went on. And such a
marquis, too, If I had met him walk
ing in Regent street l should have
known him to be a nObleman of high
degree. No one but a marquis at
least could have such eyes and such
hands! Darracourt is beautiful and
wonderful enough. but to have such
a marquis as next door neighbor is
too delicious," and her lips went in
to a curved thin line of red.
He would be very fattered by your
worship"
Wouldn't he? But I haven't fin
ished with him yet! There is last one
noble qualification lacking in him;
he is very poor"
For a marquis" murmured Mr..
Head, lingering his wineglass.
For a marquis, of course" assent
ed Marie Werner. And now for the
history. You remember my telling
you that Darracourt once belonged to
the Merles""
Yes" said Lucille
We'll, it seems that the late mar
Quis, this ones father, was one of
those gentlemen who enjoy spending
money, anG that, like most men gifted
in that direction, he spent too much.
And so he sold Darracourt, to your
uncle, sold it with all the plate and
the furniture and all the aforesaid
There, Mr.. Head, I've got the word in
and you ought to be satisfied. Wasn't
that an awful sacrifice? Fancy having
to part with this lovely place. No
wonder the present marquis looks so
melancholy. Il Mrs. Dalton would
not be shocked I could shed tears of