Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-11-05
CHAPTER III.


Ned Burton was q strong, well-set
man, with light hair, good-natured eyes
that twinkled with lusking jest. He seem
ed to be always entering, Drowned and
heated With the sun, with one or two of
his wild girls hanging on to his arm.
This grouping, IL he ever sat for his pic
ture, would bring him most Familiarity to
his friends recollection. The morning
on which our story commences, he had
thus entered the drawing room to his
wife.
II am going to the station to meet
Tom" he said "and Dolly says l must
take her. No school books, you know, for
the next three days; marriage is always
a holiday"
Mrs. Burton smiled. TITS not mar
rage yet" she said: Tom is only going
to ask Lucy; though. indeed" with
sigh. 'there is no need to be in a hurry"
NO If course, dear. You and took
our time, didn't we? consulted parents
and all that: and it has turned out very
badly. on the whole, hasn't it? We're
an awful illustration Of marry in haste
and repent at leisure
Dolly, a bright, refined child of ten
years old. hauling Mt her fathers arm
as If it were a ships rope, quite under
stood this irony, and screamed with de-
light. yes. 1t turned out shockingIy."
How dare your" said Ned, hosting
her up suddenly to kiss her. We must
take Widgey and all the rest TO meet
Tom. Give mammals compliments to
Miss Perkes, and tell her to shut all
school books"
Mrs. Burton could say nothing; she was
very happy that morning, and when Dolly
had rushed off eagerly on her errand she
said softly:
Indeed, everything has turned out only
too happily. | 'hink it is only a reward.
dear. for your faith, love and patience
under many trials. feel was account
| able for most of them"
lyon" said he, warmly: why, what
would have become of me without you
and the little ones? / should have ended
as began, useless, idle d-for-noth-
| ing fellow declare / was new-h horn
again when I met You. We had to rough
! it for few years; but now, dearest see
where we are. There you are. the Lady
/ OF Abbeylands. and it never had fairer
or finer lady to rule over IT,"
| II wish-I wish, dear" said his wife
| anXiously. that you would make up that
old feud; there will be a good opportunity
now. on Toms marriage, when they come
here Il Eonld be ouly generous, just
in your handsome. cordial way. 10 say
that y1u went too far. and that You had
learned to know her real merit; for she
| has been a good wife to him."
You don't know the woman he said +.
''and as to being a good wife, don't be-
levc It."
"But see how she has behaved. We arc
in a peculiar position; no man is cordial
to his next heir. She might have poison
ed Burton's mind"
POISONED him, I really thought You
were going To say. There are reasons for
that; she had no settlement no tower TO
make one, and she had wit enough 10 see
that If anything happened to her hus-
band, Tom and ] would deal literally
with her. Heaven knows | wish and
pray that he may live long, long as |
win myself Tom will have all one day
aud that's sufficient. No, 40, dear. We
are doing very well en- the present foot
ing"
II feared it was no use to ask you
dearest" she said. lit is the only point
on which l have ever found yoa obsti
nate"
The party seampered away to the rail
} way, to meet Tom, who was to arrive h,
, the l. o'clock train. Ii was joyou
walk. In n few minutes Tom arrived
? and was led back in procession \ tall
r fair young fellow. with an even, leye
! face. and slight silky mustachc Their
= was a laugh in his eyes. but about hi
. mouth hrmneSs that looked like purpose
, II events that required purpose to dtrec
+ them should arise in his path He WA
a fond of his father-called him Ned. as di
e all the family.
Q Here are the presents" h, said point
5 ing TO a leathcrn caSket which he carrie,
e | caretuily-''yours niue ana mother's
2 And have done It handsomely this tim,
a Ned; but that's your look-out-you toll
a me YOU know
4 "An right. my dear boy; why ~hnulju'
you do it handsomely? Ii will lee a
. yours one Of these days, 70 make duck
{ and brakes Of. No, l didn't mean that
; It's good my making such speech. VII
I made ducks and brakes of every thing ,
= "You never saw such diamonds, faith
e err went on the young man: Dolly