Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-02-26
CHAPTER 1.

The person addressed loOkeI at the per
son addressing her with big brown, puz-
sied eyes,
my dear. when you give mp that habit
of nicknaming every person you meet
you will be infinitely more ineligible.
To whom do you want an introduction
now
!. Can you ask? Doesn't his appear
sRee. air. languor. self-satisfaction. an
nounce him? mean the individual lean
ing against the door post. He looks half
asleep. | suppose he's bored. In any
case. | want 10 know him. | think |
might put some animation into him"
Madge Dunbar smiled.
Il think you would put animation into
an sutomaton chess player That lazy
looking fellow is a friend Of Cosmos. He
asked him here tonight. I've never seen
min before. He's the nephew Of Sir Hec-
tor Grant, and his name"
pray don't tell me his name" inter
rupted Berry, Foster, hastily. Mine
suits him infinitely better Bring him
over here and let me see what he's made
9f-mentRly, of course. Natures done
her part, | should say. but never knew
much brains TO 20 with good looks
"Now. Beryl,' demonstrated her friend,
"no wickedness. Remember, you have
dcne harm enough in your time, and IN
che very eve Of"
Hush whispered the girl. hurriedly.
Then a smile broke over her face. The
law Of attraction is inevitable" she said
my Lord Ccnceit is coming TO me. since
yeu won't bring hir;.
Across the room, with its soft lights
and tasteful combinations OF color and
effect. in and out of the scattered figures
Iounging, standing sitting, as fancy die
kated, on and up to the two women-one
OF whom was his hostess-came Ivor
Grant.
Mrs. Dunbar" be said. and the listen
ing ear Of the girl could detect nothing
In the voice 10 mar the effect of that
face-"Mrs. Dunbar, would you have the
kindness to tell me the name Of the lady
whe has just sungY'
Certainly. she is a Miss Kennedy
DO you admire her voiceT
''Can you ask am filled with won
der aad admiration at the amount OF vo-
cai disguise thrown over what family
remember az a simple Eng ish ballad.
Bhe muet be very clever. 50 t. metamor-
phsse IL.
"Oh, she is" asserted little Mrs Dun
bar. eagerly. And she has studied in
atsiy. and"
THANK YOU" he said, gravely. "All
doubts as to her projections are set at
rest. or course. il she has studied in
Italy that says-everything."
Mrs Dunbar glanced from one to the
other Then she said, not without some
misgivings:
May | introduce you TO my friend,
aIiss Foster? She shares your musical
tastes. though she has not been in Italy"
A bow, a quick yet comprehensive
glance. tribes enough. Yet, after all,
10 there anything In life that so little de-
serves TO be considered triAiug as the
introduction of two people, strangers up
to just that moment-strangers, and liy-
ing out their individual existence, frank.
free-hearted. content-only to date from
thence the sorrows and heart-burnings.
che misery and remorse, that Fate calls
onto life beneath a meeting of such as
this FIRST one Of Ivor Grant and Beryl
Foster?
Conversation following on a first in
troduction is not apt to be very brilliant,
and TVOr Grant rarely troubled himself
ne found them insipid Yet he could
talk well when he liked.
Keeping to his usual rule, ne allowed
his companion to begin. and she, having
summed up his character by his outward
appearance, as she had a way OF doing
with people, opened fire in a way that
startled him.
II don't think you understand music,
Judging by your remarks. Miss Kennedy
70 beautiful singer
why don't you say, is considered
soT" he asked, cooly. That would be
q saving clause. and | might take refuge
under the plea of being unable to con
slider her that Ny taste in music is
very simple It is my misfortune. of
course"
"In the present instance?' was the
quick rejoinder,
your inference 81 correct But to me
1t seems there might be a worse mis-
fortune
What she asked, CHANGING up and
wondering whether he was in earnest or
Only-stupid.
TO be able to appreciate what You
ssid was beautiful Trills. roulades.
ecrcams-heaYens, what would it be to
sive in the same house with that woman"
II sm sorry you don't admire her." said
che girl, demarely. Il enjoy the treat
yeu describe very often. The lady is my
cousin"
Ii was not often that Tvor Grant lost
his cOmposnre. not often that the serene
face changed or altered either its ,oIor or
expression. But it did both nov. Be
meath that embarrassing announcement.
before thar mischeyous glance, he blush
ed like girl.
IL beg your pardon" he stammerci.
Pray do not, she said cooily. 1t
L. rather pleasant 10 hear the unvarnished
truth sometimes. suppose you under.
stand music thoroughly
NO" he said. quickly. aud rouscl oui
of his habitual languor by his compar-
TONS manner, a once so frank and uu,
conventional. YET so removed from mod
ern young ladyism. That's Just it,
understand nothing about it. ex "ept when
q thing pleases me. | learned il as one
iearns at school, and my friends are
pleased 10 assure me l have a voice.
There il some music | feel and could
listen 10 for-well. say for half an hour
but not much"
OH said his companion. with another
glance.
The oh" might have been meant to
close the subject. but the glance encour-
aged him TO continue speaking.
"A good voice is gift one can't sutf-
ciently value. in my opinion. Why. then,
spoil what Nature has perfectedf'
Most people consider Natures handi-