The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-06-14

IN psychic matters, and anxious to i'm.
prove his knowledge"
THAT is something in bis f.ror
said Diana with suspicion.
expect that is his car" said LADY
Erythea.
A rakish automobile of semi-racipp
type was observed sweeping along the
park drive. The vicomte de Jussac
mad motored direct from town
A minute later he presented b,msp,f
Bertrand de Jussac was tall. and, for
his age, rather full-bodIed. His com
piexion was healthily ruddy. he had a
little black mustache and a Jolly. rov.
ing dark eve. In spite or his very
material appearance, he had undoubt-
ediy the bel air. He raised Lady Ery-
thea's skinny fingers to his lips.
Enchanted, dear lady, to pay hon.
age to you sur vos terres. How very
amiaDle OF you to invite mew
Lady Erythea bestowed on him the
smile she reserved for elder sons.
charmed to have you. You know my
niece, surely?
bertrand's little start of surprise
was admirably done. He bent low
over Diana's hand, but refrained from
kissing it.
But this is delightfulI" exclaimed
Bertrand. You told me in town. LADY
Diana, that you were interested in the
ghost. Happy CHEST! l. too. am de-
veloping rapidly an interest in the
psychic. l hope"
II thought it was armor that at.
tracted you here" said Diana frig-
idly.
"Helas, mademoiselle," said Ber-
trand, allowing his dark eyes to meet
her pale blue ones, there are weap-
ons against which armor is of no
avail"
with your bent for ancient his
tory, Diana." interrupted her aunt.
you should know more of the Lambe
armor than / do. Why not show II
to Monsieur de Jussac, so that he may
commence his studies You will find
most of it in the hall"
II think Monsieur de Jussac had
better pursue his own investigations.
for l shall be fully occupied with
mine," said Diana, land for the pres
ent l will retire to my room, If you
will excuse me, Aunt"
She glded majestically through the
doorway.
The Vicomte's eyes followed Dia
mas departure
| Adorable blondel" he mused. "The
invincible phlegme brittanique. But
| 10 10 81,
spurs the courage of the mountain
eer!"
He sat down and made himself par
ticularly pleasant to Lady Erythea.
When the party of four assembled
for dinner Lady Erythea was amiable
and resplendent in purple Diana
frigid and ethereal in pale yellow.
while Alexander at first wore the air
under the abbot's curse. But Ber-
trand de Jussac, looking like re-
vived D'Artagnan in evening dress.
contrived to chase heaviness away.
His merry, infectious laugh and
quick sallies uplifted the spirits of
the others. He made a deeper i'm
precision than ever on Diana Lambe.
and with the usual perversity that
seized her when in mixed company,
she felt 1t due to herself to become
the more openly hostile.
II do not understand how you can
defend the spirit of the age" she said
coldly, In answer to a sally that made
even Alexander smile. "The days of
chivalry are dead. What romance can
one attach to the modern young man
But in the days Of heraldry, when
men were splendid In helm and gor-
get and camail-ah. then" she ex-
claimed, with rare touch Of enthu-
siasm, romance flOurished indeed
Talking of mall" said Lady Ery-
thea blandly, "the ghost always ap-
pears In complete suit Of It, though
his coming is nOiseless as breath of
mist 1 regret to tell you, Vicomte,
that he came to a bad end through a
romantic passion"
"Why regret?" protested Bertrand
II will wager twas worth it."
because he was reputed-Or disre-
puted-to be an ancestor of yours: -
| De JuSSac taken as hostage Dy Sif
Piers Lambe-after a most gallant re
sistance," said Lady Erythea smiling.
while here he engaged the affections
of daughter of the house. and being
discovered. was permitted to don his
armor and debate the matter with
Sir Piers. His end was-tragic."
mo end can be wholly tragic. If
reached by the path of great pas
sion. To every rose its thorn. / ap-
plaud him!" Bertrand raised his
glass. ITO you, nameless ancestor y
He replaced the glass appreciatively'
AMI Mr.. Tarbeaux refilled it. "Touch-
ing this ancestor, Lady Diana"
But his hostess had given the sig
nal. the ladies' rose, and the two men
were left alone-a custom that still
fingered at Jervaulx. De Jussac did