Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-01-02

him stealing cautiously along in direc-
ton nearly parallel t. the path taken by
her lover.
She had already t,,rown a short cloak
over her shoulders. with the half-formed
intention ~ GLOWING him, and by her
presence defeat any sinister purpose
whsch he might have formed against Har-
leigh, when Mildred, whom she imagined
to be still sleeping. suddenly reused her
self
You are preparing for an early walk
this morning, my dear Alice, :" said she.
Il half suspect that there's lovers APP
pointment to fulfill"
Il can assure you there is nothing Of
the kind she replied.
GU are merely tempted by the beauty
of the morning, | suppose, then?"
Alice, who still stood close to the win
dow, instead of answering her. bent Gag
erly forward, having. through an opening
among the trees, again caught a glimpse
Of Guthry, whom, for a Jew moments,
she had lost sight of. Mildred was at
her side in an instant, ant in time to see
man holding aside the branch of a tree,
ms if to prevent its intercepting the view
of some object. Alice hurried from the
room.
Mildred watched her from the window,
and saw her hasten to the woods, which
she entered, and soon disappeared
Il should begin TO think" said she to
herself. that v hat told Harleigh con-
corning her and Falkland has some truth
in it, il | hadn't seen that steeple-crown-
ed hat looming w in the morning mist.
1t cannot be tina; she has taken a fancy
to the grim Gabriel. Compared with
him, Mr.. Walworth is pattern of refine
ment and affability. But never mind.
Falkland or Gutbry, / can make equally
TO subserve my purpose. She might have
staid long enough TO arrange my hair
And she went to the looking glass, which
was about the bigness of a common-sized
window pane.
Before commencing the unwonted task,
he opened small pearl box which sat
on the table
II thought this was where she kept
Harleigh's gift when she didn't wear it."
said she, as one of those rare opals,
whose lively play of colors makes ii one
of the most precious Of gems met her
view. As she removed it from the box,
the sun darted his first beams in at the
window, and kindled it into a dazzling
brilliancy. Il am half a mind to make
sure of it now" she added. For a mo-
ment she stood irresolute, and then re-
turned it, mo; it will be premature.
The broad Atlantic must roll between
him and Alice when she misses it, or an
explanation win make all right between
them" were the thoughts which passed
through her mind.
Alice. after entering the woods, stop
ped and looked in the direction where she
had last seen Gabriel. He was nowhere
in sight. but just as she was about to
again move forward, she heard a slight
crash, like the breaking of dead limb
It was not long before she came in sight
of the man.
Gabriels usually pale face was now
pale to ghastliness. He stood as il root
ed to the ground, with his eyes glaring
still more fercely than when, the pre-
ceding evening, they fell on Harleigh
Alice was near enough to see that they
were fastened on some object at no great
distance. All at once she heard voices.
One of them was Harleigll S. the ether a
sweet, girlish voice, which she knew was
the Indian mai3ens, who dwelt IN the
lodge hard ty.
At that moment, Gabriel Guthry chang
ed his attitude, and then she saw that
he held rifle in his hand. He partly
raised it, and Alice, springing forward,
was about to utter cry of warning.
when he suffered it to TALL back again to
its former position.
"A curse on the ungodly cavalier and
on the little copper-colored heather by
his side. | should have had him if it
hadn't been for her." said Gabriel, in a
voice quivering with rage.
The next moment he turned and plung-
ed deeper into the woods, while Alice,
with an unuttered prayer of thanksgiving
in her heart, pressed close to the fur
Their edge of the woods, that with her
own eyes she might see that Harleigh
was safe. At little distance, the wat
ers of the bay broke on beach of hard,
silvery sand and Harleigh, in a tiny
canoe which would hardly have afforded
space for the accommodation of sec
ond person, and which Alice knew be-
longed to Mildred Dacres, was just push
ing off from the shore.
Bird Voice, with the golden arrows of
the sun glancing in and out among her
ebon hair, which was ornamented with
a wreath of delicate and many-colored
Shells and with lips parted with smile,
stood in front of a rude though pictur-
esque lodge, watching him. Harleigh
waved his hand to her, and then applied
himself diligently to padding his canoe.
In a few minutes he rounded the head
land. and could see that Mildred was
standing GU the upper step. awaiting his
arrival.
She was skillful in the science of atti-
tudes. and the naughty grace Of her mag
nificent, almost Amazonian beauty, was
now artfully softened and toned down, in
a way which she knew would be fascinat-
ing to Harleigh Her peLSive air, in
striking contrast with the sparkling aud
breezy freshness of morning produced a
favorable impression
"A lovely morning" said She, in soft
and sad tone of voice.
"Exhilarating too, Is il notE" said Har-
leigh. while at the same time be remark
ed that her countenance wore an express
sion Of melancholy.
1T should be, | suppose" was her re-
ply; but the truth is. my spa its are too
much depressed for ne to be dive 10 the
cheering influences of nature
What ca uses the depression: Has
anything happened?"
Il believe | should answer sou in the
negative: for why should it affect me
thus, even if Alice is guilty Of an indis-
cretiong''
What second indiscretion has she been
guilty of ! thought beg cgeeFHess last
evening 70 act Hpen Falkiand's hint was
enough for the present
Nothing very serious. ] am foolish
for letting it affect me thus. But then,