The Washington herald., 1921-03-20

/ 90 not KNOW. Dur = WoHoots ns
Grandemont cast himself at her
feet crying that his hand had sent
Victor to the bottom OF that inscru-
table river, and that he could no
longer sully his love with . lie.
wonder if-I wonder what she would
have done.
| But, lGrandemont Charles, Arca>
| dian little asntieman. never guessed
the meaning of that look in Adele's
eyes; and from the last bootless pay
ment Of his dev6irs he hode away
as rich as ever In honor and love.
but poor in hope.
That was In September. It was
during the first winter month that
Grandemont conceived his idea of
the renaissance. Since Adele would
never be his. and wealth without
her were useless trumpery, why
need he add to that hoard Of slowly
harvested dollars? Why should he
even retain that hoard'
Hundreds were the cigarettes he
consumed over his claret. sitting at
the little polished tables In the
Royal street cafes while thinking
over His plan. By and BY he had
ii perfect. It would cost, beyond
doubt. all the money he had. but
lie jeu vaut Ia chandelle-for some
hours he would be once more .
Charles Of Charleroi. Once again
should the 18th of January, that
most significant day In the fortunes
of the house of Charles. be ittingly
observed. On that date the French
King had seated q Charles by his
side at table; on that date Armand
Charles, Marquis de Brasse, landed.
hill To M IN
leans; IL was the date of his moth
er's wedding; of Grandemont's
birth. Since Grandemont could re-
member until the breaking up of
the family that anniversary had
been the synonym for feasting. hos
pitality and proud commemoration.
Charleroi was the old family plan
tation, lying some twenty miles
!. down the river. Years ago the es-
tate had been sold to discharge
, the debts Of its too-bountiful own
ers. Once again It had changed
hands, and now the must and mil
dew Of litigation had settled upon
II. A question of heirship was in
, the courts. and the dwelling house
of Charleroi. unless the tales told
of ghostly powdered and laced
Charlses haunting its dnechoing
/ chambers were true, stood unin-
habited.
Grandemont found the solicitor in
! chancery who held the keys pend
/ ing the decision. He proved to be
. an old friend of the family. Grande-
mont explained briefly that he de-
, sired to rent the house for two or
, three days. He wanted to give q
dinner at his old home to a few
. friends. That was alh
Take II for a week-a month, IL
, you WILL" sad the solicitor; but do
. not speak to me of rental" With
a sigh he concluded: The dinners
have eaten under that roof, mon
, flsw
, There came to many of the old
, established dealers in furniture
!. china, silverware, decorations and
, household fittings at their stores on
Canal, Chartres, st. Charles, and
,, Royal streets, a quiet young man
with q little bald spot on the tor
of his head, distinguished manners
: and the eye of a connoisseur, who
. explained what he wanted. To hire
: the complete and elegant equip
ment of a dining-room. hall. ro.
: ception-room, and cloak k-rooms. The
goods were to be packed and sent
b by boat, to the Charleroi landing
: and would be returned within thret
l or four days. All damage or loss
to be promptly paid for.
Many of those old merchants
knew Grandemont by sight, and the
III Charleses of old by association.
Some Of them were Of Creole stock
III and felt a thrill of responsive sym.
pathy with the magnifcently in
discreet design of this impoverished
clerk who would revive but for q
moment the ancient flame of glor,
81 with the fuel of his savings.
o Choose what you want" the,
Z said to him. Handle everythin,
s carefully. See that the damage bill
e is kept low, and the charges FOL
/. the loan will not oppress you.
oil To the wine merchants next: ant
q here a doIeful slice was Topped from
d the six hundred. It was an exquisit,
, pleasure to Grandemont once NOR
4 to pick among the precious win
h tages. The champagne bins lure,
. him like the abodes of sirens, bu
: these he was forced to pass
n With his six hundred he stood be
!. fore them as a child with a penn.
stands before a French doll. Blu
he bought with taste and discre
tion Of other wines-Chablis, Mo
selle, Chateu dor. Hochheimer
and port of right age and pedigree
The matter Of the cuisine CAV
him some studious hours until h
d suddenly recollected Andre-Andrt
n their old chef-the most sublim
Il master of French Creole cookery Il
!, the Mississippi valley. Perhaps h
:. was yet somewhere about the plan
tation. The solicitor had told his
:. that the place was still being culti
A waited, in accordance with a com
: promise agreement between tn
n iitigants.
!. On the next Sunday after tn
= thought Grandemont rode, horse
- back, down to Charleroi. The bis
y square house with its two long ell
= Hooked blank and cheerless with 1t
= closed shutters and doors.
q The shrubbery in the yard wa
: ragged and riotous. Fallen leave
from the grove Uttered the walk
le and porches. Turning DOWN tn
n lane at the side of the hous,
.. Grandemont rode on to the quarter
IS Of the plantation hands. He foun
1t the workers just streaming bac
= from church, careless, happy, an
e, bedecked' in gay yellows, reds an
N blues.
wool a little grayer; his mouth a
81 wide; his laughter as ready as eve
+ Grandemont told him of his plai
and the old chef swayed wit
d, pride and delight. With a sigh {
It relief, knowing that he need hay
Il no further concern until the ser,