Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-04-10


agreeable cousin had taken his departure.
She ran joyfully TO her fathers side,
exclaiming:
''He has really gone. them
lyon dc not like him, AIignonne?"
asked her fstLer, tendcrly.
Like him2--no, papa, nor ever did.
He is not a pleasant visitor. by any
means. Well. you shall come and eat
some supper. See, it is all ready. and
while you are doing so, | viii tell you
sumething."
Let me hear It,"
Somebody has been here. papa. 1t
was the young Count Louis-the Count
dArtos, papa. He has come to visit
the chateau, as we heard he was about
to do"
At this Hugh I.amonte slightly started.
His knife dropped to the floor, and he
quickly stopped TO pick it up. exclaiming,
How Careless Rising. he resumed his
repast.
The count has been here, Rose? What
did he come here forI''
For shelter"
Hugh Lamonte turned pale
"Well, Rose--for shelter? You are not
very explicit. Shelter from what?" His
tone was hasty and agitated. He seem
ed TO be aware of it, for he added imme-
diately: You must talk both to and for
me. dear child. tonight. and not leave me
anything to DO. for you see am fatigued.
Tell me all about it, Rose What did he
want shelter for. and what did he say?"
lit was raining very hard. you know,
papa, she answered. gently. "and he
was journeying to the chateau. He stop
ped until the storm was over"
An hour later Hugh Lamonte paced his
own apartment with a stern brow and
heavy heart, in which a thousand rack
lug aud tormenting thoughts rioted. Low
iy and humble seemed his daily life; hon.
est and good, though poor, he himself
esteemed, and vet secret sin and years
of hidden anguish and Femorse were daily
and hourly cankering in his soul Uuder
cover of his constant industry aud the
estimation Of his neighbors. he ! - a life
of hidden crime But it was only in the
darkness thai he practiced it; only when
he could steal forth and no neighbor was
abroad to watch his steps; and stealing
back again ere the dawn, pass another
day of rustic labor, aud await another
night Of crime.
Thus it had been for years. and this
was not his woFst deed. either Yet this
man had not always been bad. Away
baek. in the lapse of time. shone forth
the light Of happy years, and innocent
thoughts and deeds; of an unstained con
science and a pure heart: of life that
once was sinless. But he dared not look
upon these things now. For though he
had tong since siekened Of these scenes
Of crime, and though he would gladly
have forsaken them, he could rot burst
asunder the bonds that held and shackled
him. He dared not seek separation
from the crew of desperate, lawless men
who booked to him as their leader.
And the consciousness almost madden
ed him. There were times when he
would have plunged thousand degrees
deeper into vice than ever he had vet
done, that he might stihe these better
feelings these promptings OF the yet liv-
ing monitor within, since they were in
vain; and then it was only the ever-pres-
cnt image of his child that saved him
the memory of her sweet face and limo
cent life, Of her faith and Of her love.
Poor Rose!
II was this Gaspardc-this man whom
we have seen with him to-night-who
planned the last expedition. They were
Lamonte's men who attacked Louis Oar.
tots in the forest; and Gasparde was one
of them. They were defeated. as we have
seen 70 tn" infinite surprise and secret
satisfaction ot Hugh, who, while he had
been unwilling to give consent to the
plan, and yet had not dared offer oppo-
sition to Gasparde who was next to him
self in authority. had yet managed to
avoid joining in its execution. Indeed,
his errand that day from home had been
secretly to warn Louis Of the danger
awaiting him; bat ne had missed seeing
him, and failed in his project. He did
not know that the count had been warn
cd. Notwithstanding: and, knowing that
the weapons Of Louis had been rendered
useless i'll measure. before his days
journey was commenced. was astounded
10 learn, On reaching the rendezvous in
the forest, that he had batilcd his enc
mics. aud not only baiiled them. bur given
them ample reasons for remembering him
for sope time 10 come.
Hugh Tsamoute had reasons for not
wishing to injure Louis d'Artois. or any
of his people; and he earnestly desired TO
save h,m from the clutches OF Gasparde.
who had led this affair throughout; for
he was more than appreheusive that il
the count made Il firm resistance. and
gave them too mucli trouble, unless that
resistance were overpoweriug, he would
only exasperate his assailants who might
easily murder him in their rage ana i'm
patience. And now that he had indeed
escaped, aud left them with SO severe a
reminder OF their defeat, Hugh tremhlcd
for him more than ever. He knew that
Gaspardc was cnraged NJ the loss of the
prize he had counted on, and vet more
deeply at the treatment TO which he and
his men had been subjected. and that, If
opportunity Were given. he would be
made to feel the vengeance Of his dcSper-
ate adversary, for GaspaTde had sworn
to make him pay dearly for that night
work.
These things occupied him long after
Reese had retired. and it was not until
an hour after midnight that he sought
las own couch' yet he remained for som,
| ZINE, still, in a state of wakefulneSs, re
| volviug a thousand affairs in his miut
! that had already brought many an III
/ timely wrinkle to his brow, and many ,
silver thread To the rich brown locks tina
clustered abou- his heed, *
CHAPTER N.
AT the break of day, Rose Lamont,
| had risen, and was husying herself wifi
her simple household affairs Her faith
/ er slept until an unasual late hour
| hut she would not disturb him. rcmem