Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-11-27

Then you know nothing Of his I'm
pending marriage?"
Not a word. Who is the fortunate
LADY,"
Don't Joke; the matter is serious.
knows. probably your h0lp Some.
thing strange has happened to him.
Within the last fortnight ! had no
ticed his haggard looks; and after
questioning him several times, he
Informed me that he Intended to mar
ny Mademoiselle Germaine E., a
girl barely eighteen; and he, as you
know. is forty.three He refused 10
enter into any explanations and cut
my questions short with the remark
that be was compelled to marry her.
When few days later. ! once more
referred to the subject, he went away.
and I have not seen him since"
J am sorry for you" retorted. "but
Xavier is not the frst man who makeJ
fool OF himself IN that way. He is
very much OF age, and probably very
much In love I therefore do not see
whore I can be Of any use TO yon or
20 him"
4 tell you there is a mystery about
this that scares me- Xavier's eyes
looked haunted I never saw such an
expression on any ones face For our
old friendships sake, ind out what
IS at the bottom OF It all"
Ny dear friend" I retorted, there
IS nothing In what you tell me to
show that your fears are justified.
but. since you appeal to our old
friendship. l will see Xavier on the
matter"
had known Xavier for some years.
lie vas good .natured. easy-going,
immensely rich fellow, who had idled
through life; he vas interested IN
horses. but was To- lazy and indolent
70 have a racing stable.
was not long gathering a few In.
teresting facts For the last six
months. Xavier had ceascd to frequent
his fayorite club. aud he. great
whistplayeT. had deserted the card
table But more alarming symptom
was that he had taken up spirltualism.
My next step was TO learn what ]
could about Germaine E.. the girl
Xavier intended TO marry; and this
IS what I heard
She was born in Vermont of French
parents. who had died. leaving her in
charge Of poor farmers family NJ
t., her fathers brother. large
iron manufacturer in Toulouse. being
childless, wrote TO these farmers TO
say that he and his wife would adopt
the orphan: and the money for the
journey from the United States hay
iug been sent Germaine. then in her
fourteenth year. arrived In France
The glrl was wofully ignorant and I'M
couth In her manner, but. being re-
markedly intelligent. soon became
very accomplished
Despite her brilliant qualities. her
uncle and aunt regretted having
adopted her She showed herself
Belf-wtllod and headstrong.
For three nights | read works on
sVivitug ism, and when / had crammed
into N head as much as Il could CON
yeniently hold on that subject, | went
IN search Of Xavier
At ono time could have found him
any hour OF the day: but with all
his habits changed, It was no easy
matter. and dared not call at his
house Tor fear OF arousing his sus-
plciuu. discovered that every
Wednesday night he dined at a little
restaurant near the Montparnasse
Station. | went there early and took
my seat in q quiet corner Il was
queer place patronized by gentlemen
OF The splritrappiug fraternity.
Il vas getting late. and was be.
ginning 10 fear | should miss Xavier,
when he came In ana sat down at
table near me lie gave quick
glance around the room. but did not
recognize me. noticed great
change in him His careless expires
sion had disappeared, and now and
then he would draw his fingers
through his hair, an action altogether
new to ne
Hello, old chap" called out to
him
He turned around and stared at me
in surprise
Hello, Goron, what brings you
here"
We'll, TO tell you the truth, | am
here on rather queer errand. Come
with me TO the cafe at the corner
where We can talk Perhaps You can
give ne some information"
A quarter Of an hour later. when
we were seated opposite each other. /
began:
What ] am goirg TO say to you
must remain between ourselves. Is
this understood"
Perfectly"
The fac, is I'm in bit OF q Ak.
For the last three months have been
investigating very dimcult case.
without beng able 10 flud the slight
est clue Yesterday ! was on the point
OF giving It up In despair when I re,
meubered that one Of my foreign col
Ieagaes had. through the help Of a
medium obtained some valuable in
formation that put him on the right
trail decided 10 make a final at
temp. and went 10 that little restau
rant. where ! hoped to meet a ma
who. ] know. IS well versed in the. e
matters. Ms man did not turn up;
but. fortunately saw you, and pos
siblv you may assist me
"Look here. Goron." be cried, with
az excitement such as should not
have thought was in his nature. y