Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-06-17

kissed her, saying, half chidingly:
You're so late, my dear, that we
thought you were not coming. In that
case l should have sent all these peo-
pie home, had a basin of Cruel, and
gone to bed
That is all very WE'LL said a low
soft voice at their elbow; but cruel
would not have consoled US for our
loss, Lady Farnley. If Miss Darra-
court had not come. some of US would
probably have taken poison"
It was the Marquis Of Merle. He
was pale, and composed, and impass-
i've as usual; but there was strange
light in his eyes which Lucille noticed
in a vague way as he took her hand
and bent over it.
It was the light of victory and tri-
umph, or the anticipation of both, and
triumph, or the anticipation Of both,
and as it flashed upon her, Lucille re-
coiled instinctively. He was dressed
with more than his susal care and
wore diamonds in his shirt front and
to glitter in harmony with his eyes.
and Lucille stood for a second as if
transf1xed by them; then she made
some commonplace response to his
high-f1own compliment, and passed
on. 1t was brilliant party, and
brilliant success for her. She had
never, so the men said, and the least
ill-natured of the women admitted,
looked more beautiful The half
suggested radiance which Mrs. Dali
ton and Marie Werner had noticed
seemed set like a halo about her; and
the look of happiness which dwelt far
down in her eyes, and fingered about
her lips, rendered her charm simply
irresistible. There were men there of
rank and influence who would have
been glad to marry her if she had
been Mary Smith and lacked a
penny; conceive how close was the at
tention, how keen the competition to
win smile or a word from her.
Tonight she danced only twice,
once with the old Earl Of Towerford,
and once with the marquis; but
though she danced with him but once,
his presence seemed to haunt her.
Wherever she went, the glittering
eyes, the glittering diamonds, seemed
fixed upon her. His soft, low, insinuat-
ing voice was always about her, if
not addressing her, then in converse
ton with some one near her.
Once or twice she managed to es-
cape from the circle of courtiers who
attended her every movement, and
got, for a little rest and GOODNESS, in
to a conservatory; and there she let
thoughts fly back hOmeward-bound
dove, to the man who had told her of
his love, the love he deemed so hope
less; but the marquis was near her.
in a minute or two; now with an ice,
and again with a prayer for another
just one more-dance.
I'VE may as we'll pack up our
traps and leave the field" remarked
one of her most ardent admirers. a
certain dashing young military officer,
who had come home from the last
war, covered with fame and glory,
which he was dying to lay at her
feet. Merle is making all the run
ming, and means to win her, and, by
George! he will do it, too, whether
she likes him or not. Look at him
now! he has scarcely left her mo-
ment for the whole evening"
It was not the first time the re-
mark had been made, and such re-
marks tell. One by one the men
seemed to acknowledge the greater
perseverance or claims of the mar
quis, and dropped away from her, I'M
til, when her carriage was announced,
he stood alone beside her, with her
cloak on his arm, her fan and boquet
in his hand.
Good night, dear. I'm awfully
tired. Very rude of me to say so,
amt it? But I'm proud and satisfied"
you ought to be-" said Lucille;
we've had very pleasant even
ing"
To be continued.