Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-05-06
CHAPTER v.


Miss Werner was very clever. AS
she would have said in her charm
ingly frank way, she was no fool
Miss Werner had no money, but she
had brains, and she knew it. Ever
since She had been capable OF
thought, Marie Werner had resolved
to make a place for herself in this
best of all possible worlds.
At the school at st. Mao no one
knew anything about her. She was
an orphan, and a distant relative
punctually paid her quarterly bills,
and-well, that was all. Other girls
talked of their friends and their
homes, but Marie Werner was dis
creetly silent.
Notwithstanding this reserve about
herself she was popular, and if she
did not establish any of those warm
and fast friendships to which school
girls are so prone, she never made an
enemy, or quaTreIed. She was so
bright and quick that she was IA
vOrite with the governesses, who
regarded her as the most promising
pupil. She was always ready to
Oblige her schOOlfellows in little
ways that didn't give her much
trouble, that they were all of them
quite convinced that she was gener-
Gus and good natured. And all the
time she was laughing. and testing,
and singing about the dreary old
schOOlhouse. Miss Werner was keep
ing her gray eyes open, and watch
ing for a chance of getting her foot
on the first rung of the ladder.
The chance seemed a long time
coming, and it looked very much as
if she would have to content herself
with sinking into the position OF gov
erness, when Lucille Darracomt's for
tune burst upon her, and she offered
to take Marie Werner with her to
England.
Here was the chance that Miss
Werner had been waiting for, and
she jumped at it. What might she
not do in England, and in the train of
one Of England's greatest heiresses ?
The appearance of the Marquis of
Merle had seemed like the opening
of a realization of her dream! Here
he was within a stones throw
she would see him perhaps daily!
Here was the chance! Then she
heard that he was poor, and saw at
once that he would want to marry
he
ner, the companion, and pennfIess!
Well, she would see! A poor MARQUIS
was something and if it were worth
her while she would cut Lucille out.
Meanwhile she would watch and
wait, and she could do both so admir-
ably!-watch without being suspect
ed Of taking even an interest, and
wait, wait like The tOrtise that for
all the hare's speed, wins the race!
The gray eyes were like those of a
lynx. Nothing at the Court escaped
her. She took note of the plate. of
the positions of the rooms, the ser
wants faces, and most of all, she
took note of Harry Herne!
Who was this young man with the
air Of a prince and the dress OF a
gentleman gamekeeper?
She was asking herself these uues-
tons as she strolled upon the ter
race. looking like beautiful young
creature without a thought or care
in the world, when she caught sight
Of the pony carriage with Lucille and
Harry Herne in it.
Here he was again, and marvellous
to believe, seated beside Lucille, the
naughty and reserved!
Lucille has neither Jacket nor
gloves" she murmured: "she can't
so outside the gates, and shall meet
them. I want to see this handsome
young prince in disguise face to face.
The park was large, and the paths
winding and devious. and after a
time she found that she had lost her
way. The house was not in sight, and
after turning up one defle after an
other, to find herself still more con-
fused, she came to a stop, and with
a touch Of yeXation in her fair lace
she was about to seat herself and
rest, when the bushes behind her
parted and a young man leaped out
and stood beside her.
His appearance was so sudden that
any young lady would have been JUS
titled in starting, and Marie Werner
did vince a little, but it was only
very slightly. But her face went
deadly pale, and her gray eyes ex-
banded with a sudden, sharp fear.
He was not bad-looking young
man by any means. Tall, and not
ungraceful in figure. with a dark
face, made all the darker by a black
mUstache. II was curled at the
points; and whether it was the curl
or something else vague and indefin-
able, he did not look a gentleman,
The two looked at each other for
second, the expression of fear in Ma
RE Verner's face giving place to one
of surprise and affected pleasure,
while his eyes rested on her in