Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-04-17
\ The COntrabandist; : ~
| One Life's Secret! , ,S :;

vanced towards her.
And | am very glad that happened
to be near he returned, with a frank
smile, TO chastise the insolent fellow.
Why he was oYer-bold, Rose! Who is
hep
"a worthless cousin Of mine, mon
sieur," replied Rose, "who has under
taken to annoy me occasionally Of late.
] nope his well-deseryed punishment will
teach him better manners for the flu
ture,'
II hope so; but it viii be best to be-
ware Of him now. You must keep, as
much as possible, out Of his way"
That | have always done. monsieur.
But he has never been so daring before"
II think heard h N mention me, Rose.
What did he say" asked the young
count.
Rose Lamonte blushed slightly, as she
replied.
''IIe said that you should never come
to the cottage again"
"Ah, yes: / heard it; remember now.
And he knew of my visit by the foot
prints? He must have been watching
me closely. Yet. where could he have
seen me? / only completed the journey
from Lyons last night"
The good marquis was standing on the
terrace steps as they went up.
Good morning, my child" he said,
kindly to Rose. Out so early with your
roses?"
She smiled.
"Yes, monsieur: and they are very fine
ones. Seei"
YES, indeed And you have brought
rare supply of them. But, after all,
you will carry back more than you bring.
Your walk has done you good, l see;'
and he smilingiy stroked her damask
cheek. to which the exercise, and little
excitement together, had indeed brought
the sweetest of roses.
CoIoring still more d,eply, our heroine,
with laughing eyes, ran up the steps. and
disappeared within the entrance of the
chateau.
The young count related to his uncle
the incident which had occurred during
bis mornings ramble, The good marquis
listened with interested attention, and
strongly evinced sympathy.
The rascal" he said, Indignantly, as
he heard of Gasparde's rudeness. Il am
glad you gave him a suitable correction.
That f.llow marry Rosev'
1T is to be supposed that her father
viii resent his insoIence."
so undoubtedy-un Louis.
He is a stern man, that Hugh Lamonte,
and will teach Gasparde his business af-
ter this. He is strange, stern man, ST.
lent and reserved. and almost a hermit.
as one might say. He seldom leaves
hot, works in his little garden, and tills
the sarifty patch of soil adjoining it from
morning till night. or cuts in the forest
the sood which is to serve for his win
ter's fuel, and often load to carry to
the town on market days, with the pro-
duce from his land, as may not be requir-
ed for his own use. He has. / thi1k, no
enemies. yet he seems disincliued 20 court
the friendship of any, though the few
neigLbors about him. among the farm
houses, are kindly disposed toward him,
and every one Of them loves little Rose.
He is apart from them--a distant charae.
ter"
And peculiar one. from your descrip-
ton
Precisely. He lives a peasants life.
and wears "A PEASANTS garb, and yet he
can assume-ay. and he does, at times,
the bearing of a very king. The humility
Of his position Is belied by the spirit and
demeanor Of the man He is uncommani.
cative, distant, almost naughty, toward
all others; to his child, he is the tender
est. most affeetionate OF parents"
You interest me, uncle. How long
have you known this man."
He .Ue into the neighborhood some
twelve or thirteen years ago, and settled
in the place where he dwells at present,
remote from every other habitation His
wife. ii is supposed. or has been gather
ed from some remarks made by him or
Rose. was dead. Rose herself was then
a little creature Of. perhaps three or four
years, A peasant he may be by birth.
but | cannot treat him like one. con
fess. he perpiexes me"
II do not marvel at it. What a mys-
terry the man must be, have the great
est curiosity to behold him.
That you will doubtless do. sooner or
later though it will be with difficulty, |
think that You will obtain cummunica-
ton with him. But here comes our Rose
Of the wilderness"
And, as he spoke. the young girl ap.
peared at the door.
Uncle" said Louis Il must so back
with her, to see her safely to the end OF
her way. She may meet that insolent
fellow again"
You are right, my dear boy-you are
right returned the marquis.
Louis could not help observing how
much more beautiful il possible. looked
Rose this morning. nam when he had
first seen her. although even then. il was
as If he had suddenly come upon some
lovely picture touched with the wariuest
coloring and most perfect grace of the
painters art.
How pretty She is:" thought the count:
land she is oay sixteen"
And it was not her face alone that
was thus charming, as he shortly found
nor the innate grace OF her manner; Tor
Rose Iamonte possessed quick and deli
cate perceptions. a refined love og the
beautiful. and mind cultivated to de,
gree extremely unusual in one OF her sta.
ton, yet scarcely surprising in her. For
both her father aud Mademoisclle Mon
tauban had taken pains to improve a nat
urally fine intellect. that expanded daily
with the care bestowed upon it; and
Louis was more deeply gratifed than he
could express. on recognizing this mental
worth combined, as it was, with such
physical perfection.
\ brief walk it was from the chateau 10
the cottage. So at least, it seemed to
the count. He smiled as they reached
the door.