Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-03-26


"Fortune Did Not Return to Her Room
Last Night"
away; and she had the courage to
carry out the threat.
Resolutely Mrs. Chedsoye rang for
her maid Celeste. Thoughts like these
only served to disturb the marble
smoothness of her forehead.
The two began to pack. That is to
say, Celeste began; Mrs. Chedsoye
generally took charge of these maneu.
vers from the heights, as became the
officer in command. Bending was
likely to enlarge the vein in the neck;
and all those beautiful gowns would
not be worth a solei without the added
perfection of her lineless throat and
neck. She was getting along in years,
too, a fact which was assuming the
proportions of a cross; and more and
more she must husband those linger-
ing (not to say beguiling) evidences Of
youthfulness.
eve might as we'll get Fortunes
things out of the way, too, Celeste
eyes, Madame"
"And bring my chocolate at hall
after eight in the morning. It is quite
possible that we shall sail tomorrow
night from Port Said If not from
there, from Alexandria. It all depends
upon the booking, which can not be
very heavy going west this time OF
year.
GAS madame knows" came from the
depth of the cayernous trunk Celeste
was no longer surprised; at least she
never evinced this emotion. For
twelve years now she had gone from
one end OF the globe to the other, upon
the shortest notice. While surprise
i was lost to her or under such con.
troll as to render it negligible, she still
shivered with pleasurable excitement
at the thought Of entering a port
Madame was so clever, so transcen.
IDENTIFY clever! If she, Celeste, had
not been loyal, she might have retired
long ago, and owned a shop of her
own in the busy Rue de Rivoli. But
that would have meant humdrum ex-
istence; and besides, she would have
grown fat, which, of the seven hor.
rors confronting woman, so madame
said, was first in number.
"Be very careful how you handle
that blue ball-gown."
"Oh, ATadame!" reproachfully.
''It is the silver braid. Do not
10 10
Celeste looked up. Mrs. Chedsoye
answered her inquiring gaze with
thin smile.
You are wonderful, Madame!"
And so are you, Celeste, in your
way"
At ten o'clock Mrs. Chedsoye was
ready for her pillow. She slept fit
fully; awoke at eleven and again at
twelve. After that she knew nothing
more till the maid reused her with
the cup of chocolate. She sat up and
slipped slowly. Celeste waited at the
bedside with the tray. Her admira-
ton for her mistress never waned.
Mrs. Chedsoye was just as beautiful
in dishabille as in a ball-gown, She
! drained the cup, and as she turned
to replace it upon the tray, dropped
it with clatter, a startled cry coming
from her lips.
Madame? ?"
fortunes bed!"
1t had not been slept in. The
steamer-cloak lay across the counter
pane exactly where Celeste herself
had laid it the night before. Mrs.
Chedsoye sprang out of her bed and
ran barefoot to the other. Fortune
had not been in the room since dinner
time.
Celeste, dress me as quickly as
possible. Hurry! Something has
happened to Fortune
Never, in all her years of service,
could she recollect such a toilet as
madame made that morning. And
never before had she shown such con
Germ over her daughter. 1t was amaz-
ing!
"The little fool! The little fooli"
Mrs. Chedsoye repeatedly murmured
as the nimble fingers of the maid few
over her. "The silly little fool; and
at a time like this!" Not that re-
morse OF any kind stirred Mrs. Ched-
soye's conscience; she was simply ex-
tremely annoyed.
She fastened out into the corridor
and knocked at the door of her broth
ers room. No answer. She few
downstairs, and there she saw him
coming in from the street. He greet
ed her cheerily.
It's all right, Kate; plenty Of room
on the Ludwig. We shall take the aft