Charlevoix county herald., 1915-09-18
CHAPTER |.
The Spot of Sudden Starts.

moment"
The artist turned about quickly. II
was the bride, of course. He had rec
ognized the voice at the first word she
uttered.
II acm so excited" she went on
rap but in tone that was pitched
so tha others might not hear her.
please make an excuse to take me
aside, away from all these people.
You are such an old friend that you
may do so without exciting comment
and / cannot tell anybody but you.
Not yet, at least. 1t maye be all
mistake"
The exquisite face was flushed; the
beautiful eyes shone unduly and with
an excitement which Moreaux could
see quite plainly was not all due to
the wedding ceremony just performed.
The artist was never at a loss. He
was always equal to an emergency,
and judged-quite correctly as it
presently developed-that this was
one.
He bowed low and offered her his
arm.
The more formal part of the recep-
ton was over, when the bride and
groom stood together, side by side, TO
receive the congratulations of their
friends. The comparatively informal
part of il was on: but nevertheless,
as if by the attraction OF gravitation,
everybody sought the bride.
Presently there should be the sup
per-but there remained still a good
half hour or more before that would
be announced.
1--WE will take turn Of the room
together" he said. Gradually we
will draw away from the others.
happen to know that your fathers
small den has not been opened to
the guests. We will go there"
She gave his arm grateful pres
sure; and so they walked twice the
length of the great room apparently
deeply interested in their converse
ton; and the guests who might other.
wise have intercepted them step
ped aside to permit them to pass,
knowing that Birge Moreaux was
PRIVILEGED character in that luXuri-
GUS ard palatial home.
"Now, Lorna what is 1t all
about" the artist asked as soon as
they were inside of the little room
which her father denied to all but his
iiitimates-and he had few such.
"NIy wedding presents" she re-
piled breathlessly. 81 have discov.
cred that several of them are miss
ing. My beautiful lavalliere, which l
showed to you with such pride, only
yesterday when you called. The dia-
mond and emerald bracelet that Paul
sent to me from Paris. The tiara Of
rubies and diamonds that was one Of
Aunt Eunice's gifts-those are gone;
and oh, don't know what else. What
shall / do?"
do? Return to your guests at once.
Conduct yourself as if nothing had
happened; only, before you go, tell
me this: are you sure, positively sure,
about this thing?"
Indeed / am. I went"
cit does not matter just now how
you know it, Lorna. The question is,
do you know it,"
Eyes; oh, yes"
Come, then. We will go back to
the guests who must be clamoring for
You by this time. Say nothing of this
to any other person until l speak
with you again." he added, as they
again entered the great reception
room.
Then he resigned her to others who
were all too eager for her return.
They had not been absent five min
utes-but a bride of such exquisite
beauty and grace as Lorna Delorme
possessed may be missed in five sec
onds.
Moreaux fastened toward the room
where the bridal presents were on ex-
hibition, and near the entrance to IL
encountered Richard Delorme, Lor-
mas father rated as one of the men
OF great wealth in the country-one
Of the steel barons.
He was a frosty-haired, handsome
featured BenIleIudH WIZ was past
middle life but did not look it, and
who was known far and wide by his
intimates and by report for his good
natured geniality.
Just then, however, his face was
troubled, and he grasped the artist by
both arms impulsively as he ex-
claimed:
"By jove, Birge, you are just the
person / was seeking" Then, as If
from second thought: where were
you going?"
ooh, I was looking you up, for one
filing. Incidentally l wanted another
glimpse at the display before 1t is
packed away in safe-deposit vaults
and other places" Moreaux replied
!carelessly.
Some of the display, as you call
Il, has been packed away already"
Delorme said soberly, and added: Il
use the word in It's Western meaning