The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-04-02

Wherefore Miguel rejoiced at the oppOr-
tunity Of a romantic quest and took a
Whirl up through Normandy In his big
H~ishana-Suiza with every symbol Of mag
nificanee attached 70 him. At his side sat
ais trim m~echanic3an, brought out from
BuenOs Aires, and to whom Miguel was
king. Behind them a valet, also Argentine,
but with an English manner from long
service with an English coffee exporter Of
Rio. Behind also were the luggage and
comforts Of the tour, which included q
hamper Of selected wines and some pots
Of choice enserves sent up from BuenOs
Aires. France was not rich enough I'm deli
cacies for this epicure. There were q
special dried beef, thin as cigaret paper;
guava jelly, a hot chutney, hearts Of palm
buds, picked peppers, and some Of the
cassava waters Of which Miguel was Ear
ticularly fond. He was a gourmet but not
a sybarite, being fond Of rough sports and
eXcelling at them, a splendid hOrseman.
daring flyer, boxer wrestler, and master
swOFdsman.
above medium height, broad shouldered,
agile and lean, of dark complexion but
with a fine, clear olive skin. There was
a streak Of cruelty in him, less OF a per-
verse than of a feral kind, like that Of a
Jaguar or other feline creature. It is not
surprising that up to this time he had
come and seen and conquered.
ScOrning all pretense Of subterfuge,
Miguel drove into the unkept park Of the
old chateau and fetched up at the perrOn
before the massive doors Of a house that
WaE nUk nc usual NUT AAAAN 0WALr Will
great diagonal beams let into mason work,
but Of Caen stone, big blocks in pleasing
proportion, rooted in heavy tiles.
Miguel was prepared for an initial rebuff,
but he was quick of speech, facile, and
plausible, and could be charming when he
chose.
The count, taken by surprise. received
him in accordance with the law that is
older than convention or Prejudice and
common to all peoples, both civilized and
savage, the law Of hospitality. Annik was
/ nWnu mira Cordial nnwrnff#oa him no IN geauE
cousin to kiss her cheek.
From that first visit their intimacy
rapidly progressed. 1t is probable that the
count neither liked nor approved it, but
it is difficult for the adOring and indul-
gent father Of a beautiful girl to forbid
her the thing she most desires and his
means cannon aIIOrd' especially when they
are Ottered by one with the claims Of
close relationship. Miguel's visits were re-
Leated. His big ear made quick work Of
the spin Of about two hundred and fifty
kllOmeters over the low bracken covered
hills and gOrges known as the MOntagnes
Noires to La Haye, the nearest center
across the prOmOntOry from CherbOurg and
looking out toward the island Of Jersey.
For some reason this young bull Of the
lpampas whose hacienda was far inland,
found a singular fascination i'm that sea-
scape and in the sea itself. for he always
begged his uncle to take him ont in his
little yawl. The count, wary of him at first,
seemed gradually to fall under the spell
OF his vivid personality and INDUCED his
/ A' NnNh = NEHAA ~ AEuAA LME MNAMANN2 OL
his boat. Annik always went with them and
usually the mousse, the fisher lad who
slept aboard the boat in the cuddy for
ward and took care Of her.
But there was one DersOn who did not
fall under the spell Of Miguel. and that was
RaOul. lie disliked and distrusted this
ARGENTINE cousin from the St.rt. though
Obliged to be rather more than LOlite.
polite. RaOul had made a good thing Of
his purchase. But as Miguel began to
shower Annik with costly gifts. RaOul
scented danger. First cousins often marry
in France. and Miguel was Of age and
master of the bulk Of his fortune.
COrentine kept out Of it. She came once
with Miguel to spend part Of the day and
was "%Olitely enough received. But though
a great lady i'm the Argentine and by way
Of becoming one near Quimper, she was
still peasant born, of a mother who could
neither read nor write. and the l~Oftiness
4 Of the aristOcrat chilled her and put her
i'll at ease.
And all this while the love affair Of the
\ beautiful Annik and the dashing pampered
Lampas tOrO was blazing under cover Of
= the matches Of cOusingly p~rerOgative. but
: with a flame so incandescent that It made
. no smoke at all.
? In the case Of Miguel. as stranger, there
p was not required the parents consent that
: certainly wOuld not have been accorded
: him. COrentine was intensely ambitious fol
4 the future Of her son. Just what pressure
Annik may have brought to bear to gel
her fathers duly attested permission tC
marry her cousin is not known. At any
II rate. they were properly married before
COrenttne guessed what was going on.
(TO be Continued I'm Next Tssuel
Copyright: 1925, by Henry c. Rowland,