Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-05-20
CHAPTER XII.

! Lazy fdFuley ; report OIL Inc LduS
| of Da -ourt was so glowing that
visits and invitations poured in from
all sides; and On all sides it was de
cided that Lady Farnley, enthusias
tic as she had been, had not exag
| gerated. There were some who de-
clared that they did not believe the
| story of the school at st. Malo, and
that Lucille must have been perfectly
finished" and brought out before
| she came into the property. How
else could she have obtained that
quiet dignity and easy, unconscious
grace which she possessed in so con.
spicuous degree?"
In a word, Lucille was pronounced
distinct and decided success. The
unmarried men went mad about her
and swarmed round her in eager
shoals; but alas! they received no
encouragement. The great heiress,
the richest "catch" in the country,
was civil to one and all, and that was
all.
Now, there was one man who did
not join in the ardent swarm Of wor-
shippers who buzzed around her,
and angled for a word or smile, and
that was the Marquis of Merle, who
wanted her most, and who had sworn
to marry her within six months, who
must marry her unless he meant to
drift to ruin and disgrace.
She met him nearly everywhere
she went-at dinners, and afternoon
teas, at musicals and dances, but
beyond shaking hands with her, and
once, in the evening, perhaps, ex-
changing word or two with her, he
did nothing to mark his special at
tentiOn. But when he spoke to her
it was in a lowered voice, a voice
which was saddened and subdued,
and he stood and looked at her from a
distance, with = humble 9leaatng
gaze, which, though he concealed it
from others, he took care should
meet her eyes whenever she glanced
at him.
1t was fattery of the most artfuI
and effective kind, and it was backed
up by Marie Werner, who never lost
an opportunity of pleading his cause
in a light and careless sort of way
Il really do pity that unfortunate
marquis, Lucille" she said, as they
were being driven home from a din
ner during which the marquis had
only said two or three words to her,
and had appeared as if lost in mel
ancholy reYeries.
PITY him! Why should you pity
him?" said Lucille, coIdly.
We'll, l cannot help it. The
poor man is so palpably and genuine
ly miserable. He knows that he has
offended you, and he thinks you will
never take him back into favor. II
| were in his place 1 should take my
forgiveness as a matter of course.
and be as bold as the rest, but he
holds you in too much respect and
awe for that. He has simply lost his
temper, owing to his anxiety on your
account"
Cor, his own said Lucille. 1--WE
had this discussion before, Marie. If
I have been offended with the mar
quis l have-forgiven him, and now
let it rest, dear"
Marie Werner sank back among the
soft cushions, and laughed carelessIy
enough, but the next morning the
marquis received a short note, I'M
signed. and contained in three words,
Il should call"
That afternoon the Marquis of
Merle was announced.
Marie Werner, who was sitting at
the piano, while Lucille was reclining
on a couch by the window, not read,
ing, but with a book in her hand,
looked up and smiled as she shrugged
her shoulders.
Poor marquis! Summoned up
courage TO call, has he? l expect he'll
be frozen to death for his pains"
Not by me- said Lucille, coloring
4 do not do things by halves. You
are a very energetic advocate, Ma,
RE"
"Oh, like the marquis: perhaps
all the better for his little display of
temper; besides, he may do me a
good turn some day. Always useful
to have a marquis fer friend.
Hush, here he is" And she dashed
into a valse as the tall, thin, aristo-
cratic figure appeared in the door
way.
His manner of greeting the two
young ladies was simply perfection
/ Respect, admiration for Marie Yer
ner; an awed humility and sugges-
ton of reverential worship for LII,
ellie.
we thought you were never com,
| ing TO see US. Lork Merle said Ma.
| RE Werner, with an arch nod.
/ He looked at her almost piteously
and the glance was not lost upon
Lucille, as he had intended it should
not be.
Il" he stammered. with a
/ splendid aaffectation of embarrass
ment, Il thought that you would
have had surfeit of visitors this
/ last fortnight, Miss Darracourt; and
indeed, I should not have ventureC
upon coming this afternoon, but that
my gardener requested me-com
/ manded me. is the word-to bring voc
some orchids which he flatters him
self are unique"
They are very beautiful, she
/ said, pleasantly.