The Dolores star., 1923-07-13
The Joy of Living

armor than l do. Why not show II
to Monsieur de Jussac. SO that he may
commence his studies. You will find
most Of 1t in the hall"
| Il think Monsieur de Jussac had
better pursue his own investigations,
for 1 shall be fully occupied with
mfne," said Diana. land for the pres
ent will retire to my room, II you
will excuse me, Aunt"
She glided majestlcally through the
doorway.
The vicomte's eyes followed Dla-
mas departure.
Adorable blonde !" he mused. "The
invIncible phlegme brittanIque. But
it is the Icy. inaccessible peak that
spurs the courage of the mountain
eerw
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 abbots curse. But Ber-
trand de Jussac, looking like a re-
vived DArtagnan in evening dress,
contrived to chase heaviness away.
His merry. Infectious laugh and
quick sallies uplifted the spirits of
the others. He made q deeper I'm
preston 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.
Il 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. 1.-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 fiourished indeed"
Talking of mall" said Lady Fry
thea blandly, "the ghost always ap-
pears in complete suit of 1t, though
his coming is nolseless as breath of
mist. l regret to tell you, Vicomte,
that he came to bad end through a
romantic passion"
"Why regret?" protested Bertrand.
Il will wager twas worth it."
Because he was reputed-or dlsre-
puted-to be an ancestor OF yours;
De Jussac taken as hostage by Sir
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. I ap-
plaud hlm" Bertrand raised his
glass. ITO you. nameless ancestor 7"
He replaced the glass appreciatively,
AMI Mr.. Tarbeaux refilled 1t. 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
not find Mr.. Lambe very e1hila-
rating companion, but Alexander,
though drinking only water, kept him
at the table an unconscionable time.
When eventually they reached the
drawing room Alexander departed at
once to his library, and Bertrand
found that Diana had retired.
II must apologize for my niece, VI
comte, but she has gone to her room
to achieve the proper psychic attitude,
or whatever she calls it, for her In
| quiries as to this absurd ghost" said
Lady Erythea. "She can, Of course,
do nothing tonight. And as 1t Is late,
and you will not wish to sit up talk
ing to an old woman"
"Most spirituelle of hostesses," pro-
| tested the Vicomte. II should like to
sit and talk to you all night, If you
will allow me"
Diana put her head inside the door.
81 told you, Aunt" she said, "that
my stupid maid lost herself at the
terminus, and I cannot retire unat-
tended. May I have yours?"
"My own incumbrance has been
away for two days." said her aunt,
"but we have parlor maid who really
attends to ones hair very soothingly;
she did mine last night" Lady Fry
thea pressed the bell.
The butler appeared. "Tarbeaux,
you will tell Snooks to attend Lady
Diana in her ROOM"
"Very good, M lady"
Mr.. Tarbeaux found Aimee on her
| way upstairs to bed. and gave her
| the order. Aimee was astonished,
| and secretly panlc-stricken.
'"This has absolutely finished It I"
she reflected. II might as well bolt
at once" Suddenly she came to
resolution. "But-Fd better go.
| shall run against her sooner or later.