Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-07-29

the Baron GOldsmit, the great imam
cier; two or three attaches, half a
dozen OF the finest specimens of the
masher species, a score of young men
who came for the shooting and moth
ing else, and many other per-
sons who were remarkable for no
thing in particular. but whom, as
Lady Farnley said, It was absolutely
necessary to ask
Lastly, there was the Marquis of
Merle. He was so near a neighbor
that it would not have appeared nee
essary to ask him to take up his
abode at the Court; but, strange to
say, the hall happened to require some
extensive repairs at this time, and
the marquis, being turned out Of his
own house, it was, as Marie Werner
said, only common charity to offer
him the shelter OF the Court.
Day after day fresh guests arrived,
and the party at the Court became
the talk Of the county. The simple
villagers, who had never dreamed Of
such things, collected in the roads to
see the gay cavalcade of riders and
carriages start for the shooting and
picnics in the morning, and clustered
round the gates to stare at the gayly
lit house and listen TO the music that
came floating out at night,
The guests were asked for a fort
night, and the fortnight was drawing
or1u m rxrho n O
Lucille found herself alone on the
terrace. he had dressed more quiet
ly than usual, and had got down to
the drawing-room before the rest.
Lately it had seemed impossible for
her to remain in room unless there
were other people present, and with
the restlessness that had come upon
her since her Illness, she opened the
door and passed into the open air.
The evening was drawing in, but
left to throw warm glow upon the
marble pavement and light up her
marvellous beauty.
While she stood quite motionless,
licking vacantly before her, she
heard footsteps on the path beneath
her. For a moment she paid no atten-
ton, thinking that they were those of
some of the servants taking in the
tennis rack cts and balls; but suddenly
strange voice rose to her ear, and
she bent forward and looked over.
Two men were standing well within
the shadow of the wall. The one
tall, pale man, with thick, dark
mustache; the other an old man, with
ashen face and long white hair.
Lucille had never seen them be-
fore, and looked at them with the
faintest interest and curiosity. They
were Mr.. Sinclair and the old man
Pollard.
why have you brought me here?"
asked the old man, in hollow, eX-
pressionless voice. IT'S a long jour-
ney."
81 have brought you here to look at
the house, replied Mr.. Sinclair, eye
ing him intently and with ill-concealed
eagerness. "To look at the house
Darracourt-you know"
Eyes, yes" assented old Pollard; 81
remember, remember"
Sinclair struck the gravel path with
his heel impatiently.
But that's just what you don't do!"
he retorted, irritably. Your mem
DRY seems going. You know I've
asked you to tell me about the OAR
racourts and the Merles often enough
at home in Eden Row, and you can't
remember! You say you've got all the
papers, but you can't remember
where you've put them. I've brought
you down here to see if a sight of the
place won't help you to recollect it,"
Yes, yes,'' said Pollard, dreamily.
This is the Court, is it? The Court?"
This is the Court, Miss Darra-
courts place" said Mr.. Sinclair,
slowly, as if he were trying to impress
it upon him; the place you and
have talked about so much at home;
the place you've promised to tell me
about so often. Take a good look at
it."
Yes, yes, I have" said Mr.. Poll
ard, YEARLY. Il know all about it, l
know the whole story; but-but''
put his hand to his head and kept it
there a moment-"but it's gone, gone!
My papers"
Mr.. Sinclair struck his stick against
the seat impatiently.
''T COX here!" he said, half insinu-
atingly, half threateningly; have
you been playing the fool with me?
Do you know anything that's worth
knowing, or don't you? Are you reg
ular old fraud, or is it only because
you can't remembers"
The old man looked up at him with
an utterly blank face, upon which
there was not the slightest trace of
anger.
Il am no fraud" he said, duly.
What 1 said I knew, l know. There
is scarcely a house among them
whose secret history is not written on
this brain He stopped and his
hand wandered to his brow again.
Mr.. Sinclair uttered an impatient
grunt.
You did know, but you've forgot
tent he said, angrily. Well. is
we'll didn't come down on this cock
and-bull story of yours alone. You sit
here and wait. I want to see someone.
Do you understand? You are to wait
here