Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-05-08

time. They did not work as usual. AT
| length, however. they left their post and
came slowly up through the garden. They
! were conversing still.
What is it about. wonderf" asked
the young girl, mentally.
The two entered Robin did not speak
| but Hugh advanced straight to Rose
Rose" he said. gently, here is our
! good neighbor Robin, who wishes to mar
ry you. What do you say TO it,"
Wishes to marry me-" iterated the
young girl, faltering and blushing.
Exactly. Is it not sufficiently plainT'
Rose was silent, her eyes cast down to
the floor, and her fair cheek reddening
still deeper. The tears fast gathered in
her eyes. Robin wished to marry her.
Hugh turned away, and, with folded
| arms, paced the room. Robin came to
her side
Dear Rose" he said, softly, taking
her hand, your father has told you what
have asked him. 1t is true that / wish
to marry you, If you are willing. / did
not think yea disliked me. Will you show
me that you do notI"
She did not answer, but sat with her
eyes still cast down, and her hand in his
Il know. dear Rose" he said, again,
'that | am asking a great deal / came
here only few weeks ago, and | was
stranger. | came seeking for work and
found 1t. | am poor. and have yet no
home of my own, bur that trust TO have
some day. / love you, Rose, and | ask
you if you will promise to marry me
when | am rich enough to buy lit.le
farm of my own"
Yut-my fatherT' she hesitated rails
ing her eyes sorrowfully, as she thought
OF his loneliness. Mono; cannot leave
him.
Rose" said Hugh. turning to her, 'the
future is not in ycrr hands DO not think
Of me. If you love Robin sufficiently well
to marry him, answer Gim at once. All
will be we'll"
Then | will marry you, Robin" she
said in low tone.
You will forget that l am poor. and
stranger?
Il do not need to forget it," was her
answer. And her glance of timid. af-
feetionate confidence was raised to his.
He bent forward with thrill of mex
pressible delight. and pressed his lips to
those Of the blushing girl.
Use. though you should meet with trial
and temptation and dap1er"
mo; never-neyer, Robin; But why
do you fear--and whatY
Il cannot tell you, Rose. But 1t will
be long time before we can marry, per
haps; for will not ask you to share my
lot with me until | have risen higher
far higher than | am now. And no one
knows what may happen in that time. 1t
will be q long time" he continued, after
a while; "but l shall be patient: for
want to rise to something better than l
am now, Rose. You are too good to mar
ry a farmer. or a gardener. For your
sake. | shall strive to render myself
something higher than either"
You need not be better than you are,
Robin said the girl, gently.
But l mean to become more worthy
of you, nevertheless" was his rejoinder.
And now Hugh Lamonte turned to
them.
Since this is DONE" he said. Il give
you both my blessing. Rose. my child"
and he laid his hand solemnly on her fair
head. "be true to Robin until he comes
to claim you, and you will be rewarded"
There was a moment Of deep silence
The young lover bent down. and tenderly
kissed his etrothed bride, from whose
gentle eyes the tears stole down.
And through the opposite easement
gIared and CLEANED pair of fiendish
eyes upon that little group. The brig
and-lover, Gasparde. had heard every
word witnessed every look and action
within. They did not see him; they did
not hear the bitter curses Kissed through
his shut teeth. nor mark the clenched
hand that menaced them.
ITO be continued)