Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-04-08

Then, Lucille has them 10 per-
fection,' replied Marie Werner,
promptly. can empress couldn't
smile and bow more graciously and
gratefully. I do wonder whether the
marquis will be there to meet US!
You don't know, l suppose, that Oar
racourt itself belonged to the late
marquis, and that it was only by a
fuke that your uncle got it?"
81 am afraid I know very little
about anything, You shall tell me
when we get'-she paused a second
home"
ooh, Mr.. Head will be there, he'll
tell you. He likes to hear himself
talk. It's strange story! Oh, what
a crowd. Look, Lucille; what mag
nif1cent gates, Behold, we are near
ing our palace!"
The carriage, with it's four grays
and positions, had reached the
lodge gates, and passed under the
arch. The Darracourt brass band
played out at it's loudest, the people
shouted, the men waved their hats
and one or two children, made bold
by the beauty Of their new mistress
ran up to the carriage and tossed
some wild flowers into Lucille's lap.
The gates few open with a clang
but the carriage still remained stand
ing, and an old man in a smock frock
hobbIed forward.
"The oldest inhabitant," whispered
Marie Werner. NOW, Lucille, pre-,
sent arms and prepare to receive
speech"
The old man came forward, bare,
headed, and peered up at the ladies.
(Which be the young mistress?' he
quavered.
81 am Miss Darracourt."
And I be Simon Taller, Miss; the
oldest man on the estate. be come
to wish you welcome to the Court,
Miss. And welcome you be; God bless
your pretty facet"
This abrupt conclusion Of what was
evidently a great speech gone wrong,
so exactly nit the sentiment of the
crowd that they cheered and cheered,
until the terrible arch shook again.
The flush deepened on the face Of
the beautiful girl; then faded away,
and left her rather pale, as. she bent
forward.
Thank you, thank you all very
much" she said. 81 hope, am sure,
that we shall be great friends. Thank
you once more
1t wasn't very much of a speech,
but the musical voice, with the Oar
racourt ring in it, seemed to make up
for the brevity Of the grafton, and go
straight to the hearts of the simple
people. They cheered, and shouted,
and pressed round the carriage, and
it was not until the prancing Of the
restless horses threatened to deal
death and destruction all around that
the carriage was permitted to go on
it's way.
What an article this will make in
the local paper!" said Marie Werner.
Arrival of the heiress at the Court!
Magnificent reception by the ten
antry, Crowd surrounding the car
riage! StreWed with flowers! Flo
quent address by Miss Darracourt!"
Lucille smiled, her eyes fixed upon
the court, which now came into view,
her fingers caressing the flowers.
You have a fine talent for bur-
leS0ue. Marie" she said.
Haven't I? 1t is my only gift. If
I could only have persuaded that old
man to dance a breakdown, I should
have been completely and ecstaticaI-
ly happy!"
Really, Miss Werner" said Mrs
Dalton, in solemn remonstrance; the
present does not appear to me a fit
ting moment for such a pronounced
levity. Dance "a breakdown"
'Hush!" said Marie Werner; here
We are. What are those on the steps,
Lucille? There's Mr.. Head, and the
butler-or is it the bishop? But that
other, Oh, Lucille, that's the mar
quis, I'm convinced"
NIL SOthSS, the Dut1SA, ud0 tHO
gentlemen standing beside him. One,
a middle-aged man, ~"''"~@
face and iron-gray h; .-.
Head the lawyer; the other, a young
tail, thin gentleman, with dark eyes
and a rather pale face, vas none
other than the marquis. He stood
slightly apart from the others, his
hands, long and white, resting upon
his stick, his dark eyes fixed upon the
carriage, faint smile curving his
smooth-shaven lips. The face was
delicately cut, and would have been
handsome but for a something vague
and indefinite which impressed one
upon first seeing it with sense OF
diSfayor. 1t was difficult to say
what it was, seeing that there was
not an ugly line in the whole run Of
the features. Perhaps, it was be-
cause Of a certain hardness in the
eyes and rigidity in the lips, perhaps
it was a slight scar which drew a
line of couple of inches over the left
temple. Let it be what it might, it
struck Lucille instantly.
With much dashing and pranctng,
the positions brought their horses
up 10 the steps, the grooms rushed
forward and seized the reins, the but
Ter opened the carriage door with the
air of a bishop opening a cathedral,
and Mr.. Head. hat in hand, stood
ready to assist the ladies to alight
Welcome home, Miss Darracourt!"
he said pleasantly.
Lucille stood for moment, her