The Yale expositor., 1922-09-07
and offended dignity. 4 pray ySu, ex-


a moment, gazed the Franciscan, then
shrugged his wide shoulders and
plunged into the crowd.
While she danced, while she chat.
tered and laughed and entered into the
mad gaiety of the evening, Lucie Le-
that Ominous Franciscan. How could
danOls could not Danish from her mind
he have known? How could he have
guessed what only she and one other
barely suspected? There was no proof,
of course; the very breath of suspi-
ciOn seemed a calumny against an up
right man!
Joseph Maillard had sold that Terre-
bonne land six months before any gas
or oil had been discovered there, and
eight months before Lucie had come
into the management of her own af-
fairs. He had not known about the
minerals, of course ii was case only
of bad judgment. Yet. indubitably, he
was now a shareholder and officer in
the Bayou Oil company, the concern
which had bought that strip of land.
Lucie StrOve angrily to Danish the
dark thoughts from her mind. Why
Maillard was rich man, banker, an
honorable gentleman To doubt his
honor, although he was a harsh and
stern man, was impossible. Lucie
knew him better than most, and could
not believe
May | crave pardon for my error"
came Il voice at her elbow. She turned,
to see the Franciscan again beside
her. with a thousand apologies for
impertinence, mademOiselle; / am very
sorry for my faults. VIII not that
admission obtain for me one little
dance, one hint of forgiveness from
taIr COlumbine?"
Something in his voice spelt sin.
cerity. Lucie, smiling, held out her
hand.
You are pardOned holy man. II
you can dance in that friar's robe,
then try itw
Could he dance indeed Who could
not dance with Columbine for partner1
SO saying the monk proved his word
by the deed and proved it well. Nor
did he again hint that he had recog-
'uized her. until, as they parted, he
once more left her astonished and
perturbed. AS he bowed he uilr.
INJURED:
Beware, sweet COlumbine! Beware
of the gay Aramis! Beware Of his
proposals :"
He was gone upon the word.
Arams? Why, that must be the
Musketeer, of course-BOb Mailard
The name, with its implications, was
clever hit. But who was this brown
monk, who seemed TO know so much,
who danced so divinely. whose French
was like music? A vague suspicion was
In the girls mind, but she had no
proof.
Half an hour after this Bob Maillard
came to her. and with impatient words
made path through the circle which
surrounded her. Il know you now,
Lucie !" he murmured. 81 must see
you at once-in the conservatory"
She was minded to refuse but as
sented briefly The words of the
monk intrigued her; what had the
man guessed? If Bob we're indeed
about TO PROPOSE she would this time
cut off his hopes for good. But-was
1t that sort of a proposal?
AS she managed TO rid herself Of
her admirers and descended to tho
conservatory, she was highly vexeo
with herself and the Franciscan, and
so came to her appointment in no
equable frame Of mind. She found
Maillard waiting in the old-fashioned
conservatory; he had unmasked, and
was putting cigarette.
"By CAD, Lucie, you're beautiful to-
night. Where did you get that collar
of jewels?"
"Indeedr The girl proudly drew
herself up. "What business is that
OF yours, sir?"
"Aren't you one of the familyi
D-n it-Lucie! Don't you know that
l want to marry you"
my dear Robert, / certainly do not
want to marry any man who swears
to my face-you least of alll' she
coldly intervened. 81 have already re-
fused you three times let this be the
fourth and last. Now, kindly fAform
me why you wished me to meet you
here" ~
81 have chance to make some
money for you In a hurry" he said
"Yous father left you a good deal Of
land up Bayou Terrebonne. .sway-'
"Your father sold some of It," she
put in, idly. His eyes fliellered to
the thrust. ~
Eyes; but you've plenty left, near
Paradis. It's away from the.gas field,
but I'm interested in an oiiTcompany.
We've plenty of money, and we're GO
ing to go strong after the liquid gold
That land of yours is good for moth
ing else, and If you want to make
some money out Of II III swing the
company into leasing at a good figure
and drilling there"
"YOu think there's oil on the land7"
"No." He made a swift, energetic
gesture of dissent. ITO be frank,
-