Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-11-27

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oncs since the adventure in the wood,
and he had always stopped to speak TO
her. And the previous day, as she had
been sitting reading in the garden. she
had heard the prancing hoofs, and. look
ing up, had seen him pull up his fey
chestnuts. which had frightened her SO
an hour before in the lane, and, throwing
the reins to the groom. jump down and
enter the little gate.
Winifred's heart beat fast as she saw
Mr.. Hastings coming up the garden to-
ward her.
Il have come to call on Mr.. Eyre-is
he at homer Enrol asked.
NO" replied Winifred; she has been
out since two O'clock. and | do not ex-
pect him until the evening"
II am sorry" Enrol had answered, look
ing in her face, as he always did now;
"5Gt Il ycu will allow me to make his
absence to-day an excuse for calling
again, shall not regret It too much"
Can | say anything to him ~ you 2
asked Winfred.
II am afraid not" Mr.. Hastings said,
smiling: lit is on a question of a new
method If farming, which | fear is too
abstruse for me to discuss with you. But
| am interrupting your readings your
book very engrossingT
And as he spoke he glanced at the
cover Of the book and observed with
some surprise that it was an old French
romance.
"Wil you let me send you some books
to read?'' Enrol asked. gently. Il make
9 all Orlya
both foreign and English. and it would
be such a pleasure to me TO think some
one besides myself would take an in
terest in reading them"
''Oh, how kind you are?' exclaimed
Winifred. eagerly, blushiug with delight
sit would be such a treat to have some
thing new to read"
dWhat shall it be?" asked Mr.. Hast
ings-"history, novels, poetry. or theol-
ogy2 When you read Tennyson. look for
my fagorite poem. 'Oenone;' / am sure
you will agree with me in admiring that.
Do you sometimes indulge in romance.
Miss Eyre"
Sometimes" laughed Winlfred do
your
Yes" said Enrol Il must plead gull
ty. although am long past the age when
that youthful foible is permissible. But
when | am alone like to- sit and lock
at a beautiful landscape. until my very
power Of vision is absorbed in thou CHIT;
and | like to go back centuries. and live
in the past ages, that from their vide
distance from US seem golden. Do you
ever fancy you would like to have been
one of the celebrities of the olden times
l should like to have been Alexander and
conquered the world or a Leonidaa. dy-
ing gloriousy in battle; an undaunted
hero. like Alcibiades; an emperor like
Caesar; Mark Antony, beloved by
Cleopatra or a Launcelot. IL you might
have been GulneveFe."
His voice had dropped while he was
speaking, and as he uttered the last SEN
te1ee in low. thrilling whisper, his
eyes sought hers with a passionate ex-
preston Of admiration.
Winifred eolored deeply, and the tone
of her voice was naughty as she made
answer, looking far away into the woods:
II would not have been Guinevere to
the noblest Launcelot who ever breathed.
Had been chosen By such a godlike
knight as King Arthur. l think | could
have appreciated him too well to requite
his love with falseness"
Il beg your pardon, | ought to have
bur for the moment | did
not think Of her falseness, only recol-
lected that she was beautiful and charm
ing"
Enrol had never once taken his eyes of
Winfred's face while he had been speak
l.. H. ~ ~ 80
that OF all the women he had ever known.
none had such a sweet grace Of womanl-
ness as this one. He rose suddenly to
flee the temptation
Pardon my intrusion, Miss Eyre; |
have detained you already too long"
And Enrol Hastings held out his hand
to her. She put her own timidly into it,
and he clasped it FOR a moment with
a strong. passionate clasp, looking into
her eyes the while with a look that
brought the blood rushing to her face.
Then he turned slowly. and went back
20 his phaet0n. her eyes looking dreamiiy
into the distance. Her reverie was d.
verteI by seeing a young farmer, Mr..
Tom Fenuer. sauntering leiSurcly down
the road. hitting of the tops of the grass
viciously with his stick. She had seen
him pass before, when she was talking
with Mr. Hastings. aud his presence an
noyed her. He came deliberately in at
the garden gate, and walked up TO where
she sat.
Good afternoon, Miss Eyre" be said,
putting out his great coarse hand to her,
II suppose | may come in now you are
disengaged?"
Winifred was compelled TO give him her
hand, sercly as it chafed her that his
coarse, heavy touch should brush off the
tender clasp of Mr.. Hastings lithe fin
gers.
Certainly you may come in. she an
swered, ccldly; "you might have done so
when you pleased before. was not par.
tieularly engaged"
oh. you did see NE, then2 | thought
you were too much occupied with your
fine new friend to look at me-.
Winfred WAS beginning 10 get angry;
this man had never presumed TO use such
tone to her before.
DO you want 10 see my father she
asked abruptly.
NO. | don't: l left him not an hour
ago in the mrnip field want TO see
you"
oh. very we'll" remarked Niuifrcd,
hut please let me know at once what
You want of me il is time 20 So in and
see about the tea .
oh, you weren't in such hurry just
new, when you had that puppy Of a
Hastings here" said MIR. Feuner. wrath
fully.
Wnifred rose like young juno, with