Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-08-12
CHAPTER XVI.


don and Paris, staying in the former
place few days, and making ulti-
mately for Switzerland They travelled
in a state which, fifty years ago,
would have been considered luxurious
even for prince of the blood. Lu-
ellie had her maid, the marquis his
man, as a matter of course, but a
courier and groom and coachman,
with two footmen were considered
necessary to accompany the travelling
carriage which went with them.
Saloon carriages were engaged Tor
nearly every mile of the railway
journey; a steam yacht to take them
across the Channel. III London the
hand3OmeSt suite of rooms at Maur-
ices had been engaged, and in Paris
similar suite in the Hotel de Louvre
The luggage was apparently sufficient
for an army; but the courier, won
derful man, who spoke half a dozen
languages and smOOthed every foot Of
the road, and yet never seemed to
have anything to do. managed it as
coOH as if it were d broWn-paper par
eel and q bandbox.
The expenses were tremendous, but
Lucille had grown accustomed to her
enormous wealth, and never gave a
thought to the cost of anything.
Mr.. Head, as upright and honest a
lawyer as could be found in the pro-
fession, had looked after Lucille's in
terests and seen that the larger por
ton of her immense income was
settled upon her or her own use. She
had scarcely listened, and had I'M
derstood not at all. Mr.. Head had how
ever, got her to comprehend that
large sum of money lay at the banks
in London, and Paris, and Lucerene.
upon which she could draw, and had
given her checkbook and circular
notes.
Il will give them to the marquis"
she had said listlessly, but Mr. Head
had demuTred.
This is your own private money,
Miss Darracourt," he said with en-
phasis. Your own private money,
and nothing to do with the marquis,
who will, no doubt, have made is own
arrangements. Please remember that.
Your own private money!"
Lucille had nodded carelessly, and
at once dismissed the matter from
her mind as of no Importance what
ever. On the journey to London
he marquis was all that the most
polished gentleman and newly-mar-
ried man could be. He chose the
best place in the magnificent saloon
carriage, arranged her wraps and
books on the table beside her, drew
the velvet curtains to shade her
beautiful face, and did everything
else he could think OF to insure her
comfort Lucille thanked him-just
as she would have thanked a COM
.parative stranger.
Upon her face still rested the
cold, preoccupied look. and the gaze
which she fixed upon the landscape
flying past them seemed to see no
thing When he spoke she answered,
but the words left her lips IKE
those of a lesson, and her smile
was mechanical and cold as the
sunlight on an icicle. After a time
she took up book and fixed her
eyes upon it, and the marquis. with
a strange feeling of embarrassment
and something like awe of the cold,
beautiful face with its frigid lips,
murmured that he would smoke a
Ecigar, and disappeared in smok-
ing compartment
He had got the Court. and the
DaTacourt money-or the handling
of it-but the woman Of ice and
snow, a woman who he felt detest-
| ed and despised him thrown into
the bargain. As he smoked. his face
grew darker and darker, and his
| even white teeth clicked now and
again They reached London, and
were received at Meurice's as Tor
| eign potentates and ambassadors are
Ireceived at that royal palace of so
ljourn. Black-coated walters lined the
velvet-clad steps; the proprietor. a
mighty man himself. came out to
welcome them, and at the state and
ceremony the marquis heart swelled
within him
After all, what did it matter that