South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-07-03

twelve years OF age Lucie Kingsford
IN heard II pronounced BY the lips OF the
- Abbess that she was an orphan. The
news did not trouble her very much. the only
convent in Sussex was practically the only
home she had ever known since she was little
more than babe Her mother a member OF
one Of the Oldest noble families Of France
had escaped during the stormy period Of the
Revolution had sought sanctuary in England.
and mad married a lively young Britisher who
promptly got himself shot in a duel after little
more than eighteen months OF welded life.
Mrs Kingsford Historically emotional. imme-
diately decided that she could not bear 10 look
upon the laughing face OF his child. So having
placed her in the care OF the nuns. she returned
70 London and made the most of her life. until.
few years later, an epidemic OF fever carried
her to the cold arms of death. 1t was with
complete tranquility. therefore, that Luce
heard that she was now both motherless and
fatherless with the same calm acceptance OF
whatever Fate might offer. she heard then for
the first time Of her sole remaining relative.
one Madame de la Valannes. a cousin of her
mothers.
For years Madame de la Valannes remained
a mystical parsonage, who sometimes wrote
letters and supplied garments that models
OF delicate stitchery But madame herself
being in France, was only heard of, never seen,
and II was by her desire that Luce continued
at the convent as heretofore. Also, by her
desire the child was encouraged to speak fire.
quently with the French nuns that she might
not forget entirely the language OF her mothers
people.
Thus the years passed rapidly until Lucie
suddenly awoke to the fact that she was seven
teen that her education far completed
as the nuns we're capable of completing it. and
that the time had come when she was to bid
farewell TO the familiar convent Of her child
hood and proceed to France.
so it came about that in the chill dusk of a
night early in the autumn Of the year 1913,
Lucie Kingsford, divided between the courage
OF curiosity and fear Of the unknown stepped
on board the French packet lying in Dover
Harbor. AT midnight they went out with the
tide, and the ship. heeling to the stress of her
sail, made as directly as might be for the
French coast at a rapid pace. Lucie had been
placed in charge OF the skipper, and upon
arrival at Boulogne that bluff and worthy Eng
lishman escorted her through the crooked.
cobbled streets until they came to the hotel at
the back OF the town. There, passing in the
wide arch, they came into the courtyard,
which was very busy with hOsters, coachmen,
and the like And there in the centre OF the
great yard stood a vast yellow coach with its
shafts as yet empty of a beast
Yet even while Lucie would have paused TO
look about her at this world. where win
dows opened TO frame the saucy face of a
merry-eyed servant wench who banded words
with the noisy below, the skipper drew
her into the dim uncertainty OF a curved pas
sage. thence after a question or two, into a
small room which looked out upon the close
busy street AS Luce and her companion
entered a tall man. who had been Longing in
a chair near the fire, rose to meet them. He
wore some sort OF a voluminous dark cloak.
but as he advanced the folds fell open and
disclosed the fact that he wore priests garb
Mon pere. this is Mademoiselle Kingsford.
Mademoselle I now pass you into the hands
OF Monsieur rAbbe here, who. at Madame de la
Valannes' desire, will you safe 10 your
Journeys end. And now. as I can no longer
remain away from my ship. l will take my
leave Of you" The man OF the sea made them
a quaint little bow and withdrew few
seconds later Lucie saw him go briskly past
the window and knew that he had passed at
once out OF her life. Then she turned shyly 10
the able. He big man and gross OF
build. If she did not very much like his broad
face with the heavy jowls pendant his
collar. she made no sign OF IT, Because neither
did she like his small, bright eyes, set closely
az either side Of his sharp nose, though
this obstacle alone kept them from wnkng
wickedly az each other; he stood there looking
Iuriously at the girl he helped himself
literally TO snufI. the half OF which he spilled
down the greasy breadth OF his vast paunch.
so we are 70 be felOw-travelers TO Mar
dale? Well Mademoiselle I think the best
thing we could do would be 10 dine. Here. at
all events the wines are good: for the inns
upon the road. they are but Indifferent places
at best
Luce was young and rather shy OF this great
able; she felt Younger and shyer as she
sat opposite him in the cofe-room and
watched him shovel huge spoOnfuls OF food
into his apacious mouth. Also il was clear
he had a palate for generous wines. At first
she found him laxative. II appeared that he
lived I'm the next parish TO Madame de la
Valannes Madame lived some leagues away
at the Farm OF WillOws-Le Ferme des Saules.
MademOiselle I'D not know the property? All!
for moment the priest paused in the business
OF pushing foo! into his Cavernous mouth. He
stared for a rDomnet at the girl Then. with
another murmured Ali he went on with his
meal Lucie explained her position; explained
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