The diamond drill., 1921-04-09


tin. walked along the dusty
road OF the little village where for
more than thirty years he had been the
cure. At the entrance Of the castle
of Longueyal he stopped and mourn
fully regarded the big blue posters
fixed on the pillars.
They announced the sale OF the
castle, The former home Of the cures
dear old friend, the marqulse, who had
recently died.
And the result Of the auction?
The great estate bought by two en-
tire strangersl
"Do you know who they are?" asked
Madame de Lavardens.
Yes, Mrs. Scott is an American pos
scssing colossal fortune. Ten years
ago Mrs. Scott begged in the streets
4 of New York, they say. They are rich
parvenus who amuse themselves by
throwing handfuls OF gold out OF the
window, and who Will turn up their
noses at us and care nothing for our
traditions or our life"
Such was the story.
But when young Mrs. Scott and her
beautiful sister arrived, TO take pos
session OF the castle and called i'm.
medlately upon the able, he learned a
different tale. Religious, generous,
amiable and lovable they proved.
And they were certainly beautiful,
particularly the younger sister, Bet
tina Perciyal.
At the cures little home they met
Jean Reynaud. the son OF that gal
liant doctor OF the village who, while
advancing with the soldiers in the war
of 1870 TO carry on his work Of mercy
side by side with his dear old friend
the able. had suddenly been struck by
n bullet and killed on the spot. Jean,
inherited the noble traits OF his father
was beloved by the whole village.
But he was poor while the American
sisters were immeasurably rich.
As acqualntances and friendships
grew. very pleasing II was 10 the
gentle, lovable old cure TO learn that
his new parishioners were most anxi'
GUS TO extend their bencfactions among
the poor In the hamlet, asking him,
Indeed, to be their medium.
They had indeed, been poor until
an Inherited silver mine made them
fabulously rich. Now. they had hosts
OF admirers--Mrs. Scott because she
was frankly flirtatious; and Bettina
because. as she realized, the fortune
hunters-thlrty-fou Of them she
counted, including a French duke and
a Spanish noble--sought her wealth
And when. one day. they all went
over with Jean 10 visit the little
church, and Bettina AT the organ
played n reverie OF Chopin, good gentle
Able Constantine heart was filled
with such Joy that the tears came TO
his eyes.
But all this left n deep problem In
jeans mlnd--"Which of the two Sis
ters is the prettierT' AT first he was
convinced that It was the coquettish
Mrs. Scott who charmed him the more !;
then he would Gee Bettlna. smiling and
blushing amid the sunlit clouds OF hei
floating hair. and he would declare 70
himself al was mistaken, the prettiel
was Miss Percival."
The days went on and Jean and Bet
tina were often thrown into each
others company. What resulted Il
best pictured in Miss Percivars own
remark 10 her sister when one day
she exclaimed:
"He Is the first man, positively the
first. in whose eyes I have not read
y.Oh. how glad I should be TO marry
That little bodys millions
And then as Mrs. Scott went up
stairs 20 kiss her sleeping children
Rettlnn remained long leanins on the
balustrnde Of her balcony.
"It seems TO me-" said she, that J
am growing TO be very fond OF this
r,Innn ~