Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21

Why should my private history be at the
mercy Of every chattering fool? What
gain is it now to be known as Beryl
Marsden, or 'Damia'E
Il don't know about the gain" said
Mrs. Dunbar. II should think it was
nice to be celebrated, myself. / don't
think I'd hide my light under a bushel.
Why, the way you've got on is wonder
full Oniy three years. and already your
name is quite famous"
"Famous All. my deer, do you call
mine fame? just had the luck to write
on a topic and in a style that hit popu-
lar taste for the moment. / had twelve
months of trying and failure with that
same book. l am still wondering what
could have possessed Ferrers & Co. TO
publish 1t. am sure Col. Dunbar had
hand in it."
II wonder what your worthy husband
would think il he knew" said Madge,
incautiously
The beautiful, sad face beside her grew
very white.
Nothing / do can affect him now"
she said. slowly. He misjudged me by
the calumny Of others. l care very lit
tie about justifying myself in his eyes
again"
Il expect he is sorry for it now" said
Madge Dunbar. thoughtfully. "Mephis-
topheles rather overacted his part didn't
he? HIS treachery did him no good aud
you no harm. | wonder sometimes, you
consented to a separation. | should have
fought It out to the bitter end"
And faced the candal, the disgrace,
the horror Of Il all? Oh, could not,
would have consented to anything rather
than that. Wretched as my married life
was, | could not bear TO see 1t analysed
and discussed through the length and
breadth of the land. And what could
freedom be to me2 Only deeper shame"
was he very unkind to your asked
Madge. tenderly.
Il suppose he would not think so, SAID
Beryl. I'VE were only thoroughly un-
suited. II don't like to speak of this
subject, you know, even to you. / did
not think he cared for rue enough to be
jealous"
Madge Dunbar's face flushed suddenly.
My dear" she said, at was not that
only. Cosmo told me long ago. He want
ed to screen himself at that time. Every
one knows the reason. All Simla was
ringing with it. / should think Mephis-
topheles has often ground his teeth in
wrath over the money wasted on that
telegram. Failing Ivor Grant, he must
have tried John Marsden. | shouldn't
think he was an easy subject to wiring
moneq out OF, though. | wonder what
has become of the wretchw
Don't talk of him. cried Beryl, with
a shudder; This name is always ominous
of trouble. | hate its very sound"
"And poor Ivor"' continued Malge
Dunbar, softly. How completely he has
disappeared! l wonder when they will
find the missing heir TO the Court.
They've been nearly three years over it
now, and it looks so desolate. all shut
up and neglected"
Beryl Marsden only sighed Her
thoughts went back over a passage of
years. sad and cruel and bitter; years
which had changed her from frank
bright girl into suffering woman. Years
in which she lad striven to do her duty
braveiy and honestly. yet somehow al
ways seemed to fail. All effort to Justify
herself in the sight OF her husband had
been unavaaing. the truth being that ne
dared not show himself in England and
dared not have her out in his retreat
among the hills. His own gaoaler was
a tyrant as INSCRIPTIONS rs himself, and
would have thought nothing of ordering
his death had the within seized her to do
1t. He was not ayerse, therefore. to turn
the tables on his wife. and utterly refuse
to believe her own and her fathers as
sertion OF her Innocence, VI put his own
suspicious to the proof
Some day" he said to himself. lit
may suit my purpose to be magnanimous
and forgive her. but not just now. |
must teach her lesson first
Beryl had been three years learning
that lesson. The first year had been spent
at the rectory with her father, and spent
also In setting herself to work at the only
thing for which she felt she had any tai
ent or inclnation--lite
Once launched upon that treachcrous
sea of public favor. it was surprising
with what cagerncss and enthusiasm she
threw herself into the profession she had
adopted Her life and thoughts seemed
to hold nothing else. Experience OF life
and iudamitahlc perseverance are abso-
| lutcly necessary to genius, however great
its NATURAL gifts and Reryl Marsden pos
sesscd both. Her whole heart was in her
work and in the characters she produced
| The sorrows aud joys she had lived
| through were actual things TO he trans
| crbed-not phantoms TO be outlined
| Word painting may be very beautiful
! but il is got lite-it cannot touch ns tt
| tears or smiles or laughter. Ne, that il
an art unteachahle aud marks the un
approachable difference between mer,
| ability aud genius. The former is la
bored effort to accomplish what the lattel
/ performs with no effort at all. 1t is tht
rare combination of the TWO " hich mark
out the path OF success aud brings thci
poSsessor that laurel wreath OF Fam
| which thousands yainly coyet.
\ long silence had fallen between tn
two fricuds-slenee filled by tina
thoughtful retrospect Of her past. i
which Berry, Marsden rarely INDUCED. /
made her weak and sorrowful, it too
the very light Of hope from life; it mad
her say 20 herself
or what use To struggle. to hight. {
waste time and thought and energy. Wi
any single soul. out Of the many VII
read or know mc have even one graIef'
or rcgretful memory for me when l al
! dead
, CHAPTER WI.
) Have you fallen aslecp?" cried Nj
Dunbar with sudden start. "No
. haven't spoken a word for a quarter {
: an hour
Reryl reused herself with an effort
. II was thinking she said
< She rose from her scat. and stood Wit
o au arm resting on the oak mau,el-she
% aud leaned her head on her hand. II,
Z face had resumed its expression Of Settl.