Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-09-22

most important fact. Joseph Maillard
uld not own any stock in the Bayou
vi company at the time your land
was sold them by him, and he had no
interest at oil In the real estate con-
Germ that bought YOUR ST. Landry
swamp lands and made a fortune off
them. We have really blamed him
most unJustly. / do not believe that
ne mas profited in the least from you.
his investments In the companies con-
cerned were made afterward, and |
am certain he sold Inc lands inno-.
Gently"
Lucle drew deep breath.
i am glad you have said this" she
returned simply. Its been hard for
me to think that Uncle Joseph had
taken advantage of me; think that
ne honestly likes me. as far as he
permits himself to like anyone"
He'd not loan you money on it."
said Fell. Friendship isn't a tangible
security with him."
well, who really did profit by my
loss? Anyone?"
Felrs pale gray eyes twinkled, then
cleared in their usually wide inno-
cence.
my dear Lucie, is there one person
/ in this world to whose faults Joseph
Maillard is deliberately blind - one
! person to whom, he would refuse moth
ing, in whom he would pardon every
thing, of whom he would never believe
any evil report?'
'You mean" Lucie drew a quick
breath-"Bob?"
Eyes, / mean Bob. That he has
profited by your loss / am not yet in
a position to say; but l suspect it.
When l have finished with the
Masquer, 1 shall take up his trail"
joachim Fell rose. "Now / must be
off, my dear. "Will you dine with US
tomorrow evening, Lucie? My mother
commanded me to bring you as soon
as possible"
"Oh your mother!" exclaimed the
girl, contritely. 81 was so absorbed
in the Masquer that l forgot to ask
after her. How is she?"
"Quite as usual. thank you"
"I'Il come tomorrow night gladly,
Uncle Jachin."
"And Wen take look at the Pro-
teus ball afterward, If you like. I'll
send Ben Chachcrre for you with the
car, if you're not afraid of him."
'Tm not exactly afraid of him."
Lucie responded, soberly, "but there
is something about him that l can't
hof 1,r.n To
regenerate him, in a way"
Fell shrugged lightly. "All life is
an effort, little one! Well, goodby."
joachim Fell left the house at three
forty. Twenty minutes later the bell
rang again. Lucie sent one of the
servants to admit Henry Gramont;
she kept him waiting full fifteen
minutes before rhe appeared, and then
she made no apologies whatever for
| the delay.
Not that Gramont minded waiting
he deemed it q privilege to linger in
this house! He loved to study the
place, so reflective of it's owner. He
loved the white Colonial mantel that
surrounded the fireplace, perpetually
alight, with it's cleaning sheen Of old
brasses, and the glittering fire-set to
one side. The very air of the place,
| the atmosphere that it breathed was
sweet to him.
The Napoleon bed that filed the
low window, with it's pillows and soft
coverings; the inlaid walnut cabinet
made by Sheraton, with it's quantity
| curved glasses that reflected the old
time curios within; the tilt tables, the
rosewood chairs, the rugs, bought be-
| fore the oriental rug market was
flooded with machine-made SIENNA
knots--about everything here had an
air OF comfort, of long use, of restful-
| ness. 1t was not the sort of place
| built up, raw item by raw item, by
the celor-frenzied hands of decorators.
| 1t was the sort of place that deeora-
tors strive desperately to initiate, and
cannot.
When she made her appearance,
Gramont bent over her hand and adj
dressed her in French.
"You ale charming as ever, Shining
One! And in wears % come you will
be still more charming. That is the
beauty of having a name taken direct
from @the classics and bestowed as
good fairy's gift"
"Thank you, monsieur - but you
have translated my name at least
twenty times, and I am weary of hear
ing it," responded Lucie, laughingly.
.sPoor taste. nademoiselle, to. grow
weary of such beauty!"
| mot of the name, but of your exc
gesis upon it. Why should / not be
displeased? Last night you were pos
itively rude, and now you decry my
tastei Did you leave all your man
ners in France, NJ. lie priice?