Carnac's Folly, Volume 1.

from capacity to capacity, apparently without system, yet actually with the keenest desire to fulfil himself; with an honesty as inveterate as his looks were good an

alf-savage life, the clean, strong food, the bitter animosities and the savage friendships. It was a land where sunshine travelled, and in the sun the bright, tuneful birds made lively the responsive world. Sometimes an eagle swooped down the stream; again and again, hawks, and flocks of pigeons which frequente

to his mind's eye. The summer life of the river, and what is called "running the river," had for him great charms. The smell of hundreds of thousands of logs in the river, the crushed bark, the slimy ooze were all sugg

ut all the time he was conscious it was the things he had seen and the life he had lived which made his painting and his sculpture worth while. It was absurd that a man of his

ach other only at intervals. She liked him and showed it, but he was not ready to go farther. As yet his art was everything to him, and he did not think of marriage. He was

r, and had remained there. Fabian had at last married an elder sister of Junia Shale and settled dow

by the leafless trees and rail-fences and the mansard-roofs and low cottages with their stoops, built up with earth to keep them warm; and the sheds full of cattle; and here and there a sawmill going hard, and factories pounding away and men in fur coats driving the small Indian ponies; and the sharp calls of the men with the sleigh bringing wood, or meat, or vegetables to market. He was by nature a queer compound of Radical and Conservative

ense developed. He was keen to see, to do, and to feel. He wanted to make the world ring with his name and fame, yet he wanted to do the world good also, if he could. It was a curious state of mind

ife as nearly continental as was possible in a new country. He got in touch with a few artists and began to paint, doing little scene

her eyes lighted, for she was French. She told him at once that her name was Luzanne Larue. He offered to get a cab and take her home, but she said no, she was fit to walk, so he went with her slowly to her home in one of the poor streets on the East side. They talked as they went, and Carnac saw she was of the lower middle-class, with more refinement than was

to Carnac for saving his daughter's life. Coffee and cigarettes were produced, and they chatted and smoked while Carnac took in the surroundings. Everything was plain, but spotlessly clean, and he learned that Larue made his living by doing odd jobs in an electric firm. He was just ho

y talked freely then, though little was said while he was painting her. At last one day the painting was finished, and she looked up at him wistfully when he told her he would not need another sitting. Carnac, overcome by her sadness, put h

omise I won't do it aga

to benefit us both, and

ly as she did so. Her breast heaved and suddenly she burst into tears. It was evident she wanted Carnac to comfort her,

e-and something more. He was rich and he'd put money into Madame Margot's millinery business. He was brilliant, and married, but he had no rules for his morals-all he wanted was money and pleasures

slap my fac

e would have spoiled my life. He made it clear I could have all the lux

Junia Shale, beautiful, modest, clever and well educated. No, Luzanne could never be for him. So he forbore doing more than ask her to forgive him, and he w

lutionary of the worst sort-a revolutionary and monarchist. He was only a monarchist because he loved conspiracy and hated the Republican rulers who had imprisoned him-"those bombastics," he called them. It was a constitutional quarrel with the world. However, he became tractable, and then he and La

high spirits. They arrived at the spot arranged for the picnic in time for lunch, and Luzanne prepared it. When the lunch was ready, they sat down. There was much gay talk, compliments to Carnac came from b

pplause. "You'd make a good actor, a holy good actor. You got a way with you. Coquelin, S

ay a house full in no time and make much cash-I

She was excited, she was handsome, she was slim and graceful, and Carnac felt towards her as he did the day at t

mony between M'sieu' Grier and Luzanne-but, hush, why not!" he added, when Luzanne shook her finger at him, and said she'd do nothing of the kind, having, however, agreed to it beforehand. "Why not! There's nothing i

Carnac, who was half-drunk, did the same,

o perform the ceremony. When he had gone, Larue went off to smoke and Luzanne and Carnac cleared up the lunch- things and put all away in the baskets. When it was finished,

egal in my church with no dispensation to be married to a

pose I ought to be acting the lover now;

thers are present. Wait till the others come. Wait f

man who did not look legal, but was a real magistrate. He came waddling along in good spirits and rather pompously. At that moment Larue appea

id Carnac. "Get on with the s

c., and here they are all ready. Brought 'em along with me. Most unusual f

information, and Luzanne doing the sa

r. Larue, you go down there with the young lady and b

face, for it seemed good acting. When Luzanne came, her father handed her over, and the marriage ceremony proceeded. Presently it conclud

ly signed. It was now Carnac's duty to pay in the usual way for the ceremony, and he handed the

've ever seen," said Larue with a grin

was real enough to cost me ten dollars. One has to pay for one's fun. But

"I had it a long time. It was my enga

oo large-and gave it to him. "It's easy enou

yle, young man," said In

thing," said Carnac. "I've had my rehe

turned away from Carnac, but he winked at Laru

ve another hour hereabo

re's a circus in the vi

el register as "Mr. and Mrs. Carnac Grier." When he did it, he saw a furtive glance pass from Luzanne's eyes to her father. It was disconcerting to him. Presently the two adjourned to the sitting-room, and there he saw that the table was only la

"When shall I serve

and he said quietly: "Don't serve it for a half-hour yet-not till

She smiled, got up, came over, laid a hand on his arm, and said: "It's qui

gone. They've left us alone on purpose. This is a dirty game and I'm not going to play it

and overdone. "The dinner

won't wait any longer.

iness as she pushed the long pins through her hat and hair. H

anne," he said huskily. "You

e lived in New York some years. But you and I are mar

nac. "Married-married! When did I marry you? Good God!" "You married me this after

iage to-day at Shipton! You and your f

udge, and it was

I'll unmask it," Car

register as Mr. and Mrs. Carnac Grier. I mean to stick to that name

he worst of you ever. I'll

r saw but one man I wanted to marry, and you are that man, Carnac. You wouldn't ask me, so I made you marr

y own throat. I'm going to have a divorce. I'm going t

Grimshaw and see what he will say. Go and ask the hotel people and see what they will say. You're my husband, and I mean yo

it, and then she suddenly turned on her

, and slept little that night. The next day he went out to Shipton and s

pers, paid my fee, and kissed the bride. You could not get a divorce on such evidence. I'm sorry for

the street and went back to he

ertificate. You are validly married. If

. The next day he went to see a lawyer, however. The lawyer ope

you were sober when yo

mad prank

and they used them as a means of tempting me to act in the absurd marr

will try to win your case for you, but it won't be easy work. You see the Judge himself told you the same thing. But it would be a tr

d Carnac. "I could manage th

She could sue you for cruelty and dese

ead, paid his fee

a month he went to Paris for eight