Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-04-15
| Love s Conquest:
By CHARLES GARVICE
Bv CHARLES GARVICE

Continued.

This that had happened to her was
so strange, so wonderful, that 1t
seemed to her just a dream. A week
ago she was an orphan, girl Of no
consequence, at a ladies' school at st.
Malo, with no prospect in life but the
limited one of governess or pupil
teacher
That she possessed an uncle rich
and powerful, and owner Of Darra-
court, she knew; but as she had
never seen him, and had never set
foot in the Court, her knowledge did
not count for much, or bring her
much satisfaction. She had gone on
leading her simple life at the school
from year to year in unbroken and
almost dreary serenity. Her beauty
and the nameless charm which every
one recognized had made her popular
with her school fellows and favor
ite with the teachers, and she had
been happy. But though she was pop
ular and a favorite, there had been
something in her character which
had kept her apart nom the common
herd. It was not that she was clever,
II was not that she was proud, though
the Darracourt trait or failing was in
her veins; but there existed an in
diViduality which lent her a certain
reserve, and isolated her from her
fellows. So she had gone on, look
ing forward into the dim future, and
wondering what would happen to her,
when one morning there arrived at
the school Mr.. Head, the lawyer, with
the astounding news that Mr.. Darra-
court, of DarracOuTt, had left the
whole of the estate, the whole Of his
wealth, to her!
Some girls, most girls, would have
flown into ecstacies, but, as Marie
Werner said, that was not Lucille's
way. She bore the sudden change
of fortune like a Darracourt and
when the goVerness and the girls
clustered round her, and in awed
tones wished her joy, she smiled
round upon them and said: Thank
you" just as she had sand Thank
you" to Old Simon Taller at the gate,
thOugh her heart was full well-nigh
to overlooking, and the blood ran riot
in her veins.
Mr.. Head was an honest lawyer and
a good fellow, and he did not rest con.
tented with performing his legal
duties. To begin with, the owner OF
all this wealth was virtually alone in
the world. She could not go and
live in that huge place which had
fallen to her without a companion
He advertised for a middle-aged lady
and secured that pink of perfection
and prODriety-Mrs. Dalton. Then
he bethought him that Lucille would
need a companion of younger years
and brighter mood, and he asked Lu
ellie if there was any among the
girls at the school whom she would
like to take with her in that capacity
There was one girl, as it Glanced
with whom Lucille had been more in,
innate than with the rest This girl
Marie Werner, was like Lucille, an or,
phan. She was the very opposite of
Lucille, and perhaps for that reason,
as oPpUsites attract each other, Lu.
chile and she had maintained friend
ship.
IF Marie Werner will cone, I will
take her" said Lucille, and Marie
Werner had jumped at the ofrer.
In week the preparations were
complete, and now Lucille sat at the
window of Darracourt-her Darra-
court-Iooking out upon the park
her park, as it lay bathed in the
bright June sunset.
Ii was strange and wonderful. and
with the novelty and interest of the
thing was mingled another sensation:
a feeling of loneliness and isolation.
A man placed in her position might
have been pardoned for feeling lone
Iy, how much more then a young girl.
with all a young girls tender craving
for love and sympathy?
They had all been glad to see her
the tenants had cheered, the servants
had Frustrated themselves, her near
est neighbor, the marquis, had come
to welcome her; yet, as she stepped
out onto the balcony, and leaning
over looked along the wtde-reachfng
terrace, a feeling of loneliness, a
yearning for something she could not
put into words, smote upon her as
distinctly as if the wind had suddenly
chopped from south to east and
chilled her.
An instant after she felt ashamed
of the thought, and turning from the
window went quickly across the room
and rang the bell.
Il have everything I could desire"
she murmured with a half laugh of
veXation, and, like the child with
too many toys, I'm inclined to cry for
the moon! If Marie were in my
place, now, how contented and happy
she would be! While nov what is
it do want?" and she stretched out
her arms and laughed again.
Susie came in response TO the bell:
she had been waiting on The stairs, as
a matter of fact, and with all girls
delight in the task, spread out the
dresses which had been purchased in
Paris, under Mrs. Dalton's guidance.
There was q plain white muslin
with a black sash among them, and
Lucille chose that, principally be-
cause it was the simplest. With the
exception Of the sash the dress was
without ornament, and Lucille shook
her head when Susie unlocked the