Carnac's Folly, Volume 1.

n actual buoyancy of the early spring. She had tact and ability, otherwise she could never have preserved peace between the contending factions, B

then, fully understood by no one except Carnac's mother and old Denzil. These two having suffered strangely in life had re

terest to her personality. Carnac was conscious of this increased vitality, was impressed and even provoked by it. Somehow he felt-for he had the telep

She was attractively alive. Her hair waved back from her forehead with natural grace; her small feet, with perfect ankles, made her foothold secure and sedately j

es into which he had been tricked. Luzanne Larue had a terrible hold over him. He gripped the letter in his pocket as a Hopi Indian does the body of a poisonous snake. The rosy su

tell me everything, and I will help you?" Or, was it: "Why don't you tell me everything and end it all?" He longed to press her to his breast, as he h

nzil? How

n her face. She seemed dum

ht, but he does not l

oe! Where do

had," was the reply. "What you would

derstand how he i

's life if it weren't for you; if you had d

ing to help my father's business! I don't see why he sho

that Belloc and Fabian

man alive. But there's a screw loose somewhere. . . . It wasn't good enough for me. It didn't give me a chance-in thin

s, which your father isn't," th

s are the things I want to do; or the things he says are those I'd like to say. He's a strange man. He lives alone. He never was really near Fabian or me.

father you'd have ma

are, I'm one of the most useless people that ever wore a co

ng to live after him, doesn't it?" the girl asked

me," he said, as he turned and

to see you. He almost

t once a blessing or a curse. A

nd a curse!" she

nk I'm a blessing to

longing to me who

" she said. "He

ong to me; he i

genius. It's worldwide-of all kinds. Denzil belongs to you, because you helped to save him years ago; the Catholic Archbishop belong

ician," said Carnac

n why he shouldn

a Fren

hmen genius?"

he can think, he can write, and he can talk; and the talking's the best

make good la

or not is another question. I shouldn't be a

ause you're

with the French when I was in France. I was all

Saxon, and yet I feel French. If I'd been born in the old country,

He gets drunk sometimes, but he's gre

has quee

worshi

it's abnormal," sai

a wheel. Something stormy and strange swam in Carnac's eyes. All his trouble rushed back

don't wor

ave of genius?" she questioned, a little paler t

hip me, I know how hollow it all is," he declared sul

e dared not tell her so. He half drew the letter from his pocket, but thrust it back again. Tell this innocent girl the whole ugly story? It could not be don

from him the place in the business which should be his; he ha

o the girl. "I must

he man who all her life had been strangely near and dear to her. With

ed. Then he gripped her hand and said

e glanced affectionately at the greyish, tousled head of the

mself again. "Not a bad

!" he

e of the girl fluttered through the doorway of her h