Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-07-29

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den music through my frame. | rubbed
my eyes and looked about me, and there,
not far from whore ! stood, WINS my old
sweetheart. She was dressed now in an
elegant costume of gray, which fitted
her 70 perfection. a little hat with long
Dlumes was on her head, and her face,
looking ~lovelier than ever, glowed and
sparkled In the light: with her rich
brown skin and sparkling black eyes,
her erect carriage, graceful tread, she
looked ike some Eastern princess, She
was walking toward the spot where I
stood: George Redruth was beside her:
while behind followed the black girl,
Anita, her dark eses fixed upon her mis-
tress. This sudden eacounter unnerved
me. Quickly recovering myself, however.
| was about 10 nDge away, and so avoid
embarrassment, when the masters voice
arrested me.
'.Trelawney," he said; zone moment.
Miss Graham wishes to go down the
mine. ] tell her it Is impossible. What
do you say? Is It fit for a ladyT
Don't worry about it, George" she
said, I've abandoned the idea" Then,
stepping up to me. she held forth her
little gloyed hand. ] bowed over 1t, but
did not take II, giving as an excuf that
| was not fit to approach her.
Il daresay you were In quite as forlorn
a condition the other morning when you
snatehed ms from the wreck" she said;
yet you did not hesitate then, when
your W life was in peril. Mr.. Trelawl
ney, take my hand"
| did as she requested, | clasped the
little hand in both Of mine and raised
it respectfully to my lips. In doing so.
| caught a glimpse Of George Redruth's
face; Il vas black as the pit mouth.
Now, my dear Madeline" he said,
impatieatly. shall we go backfy
But Madeline was not ready, or per-
haps she was too imperious to be so or
dered by her cousin. She had abandon
ed all intention Of descending the mine;
but she was nevertheless anxious to in
spect the outside Of it.
"But you can go" she said. "Mr. Ire
lawney will escort me-
Nonsense returned her cousin. tire
lawney has got his work to attend to.
/ win stay
And he did stay for fully two hours,
AZ the end nf which time she allowed
him TO take her away.
Three other days passed without a sign
from her; then | encountered her again.
II was in the evening. when | was walk
Ing home. This time she was alone;
except for the servant. who walked at a
respectful distance behind her. She came
up to me unreseryeily. and again held
forth hc~ hand.
Il came to walk oaek with you" she
said. "Do you mirdT'
Il mindg" | reTeated In amazement.
YOU forget. Miss Graham, il is an honor
for me to walk beside you"
She gave a little Impatient toss Of her
head, aud we walked on together. For
some time not a word was spoken, but I
felt that she was watching me keenly.
Presently she said:
do you know what ! have been doing,
Mr.. TrelawneyY | have been trying TO
find in you one trace Of the boy / knew.
years ago, at Munster's-and / have
failed.
Il don't understand"
"No2 Well. | viii explain. The boy
knew was kind to me; frank, open.
hearted, generous. You are somewhat
unfriendly, reserved, harsh, and, If /
may say 80. S$rrlish. why are you SO
changedTf
HM btA 'h@A%NNs AAA9s NfFHuHlH UI8
IL | am, It is hut WIKI the tide of for.
tune. which has ebbed na1 not flowed
with me since we met before. when we
were at MINISTER'S / believed we were
equals, but now you are Miss Madeline
Graham; | am oyerseer Of your cousins
mine"
"rhen you wish us to remain as stran.
gersf"
II think Il would be better"
"Ah! you are ~crneller than | thought:
II you viii not accept my friendship for
the sake Of the old days when we were
boy and girl together. you will. at least,
have nme Pity upon me. | am lonely
and among strangers here, You seem
like an old friend. II you will suffer me
to talk to you sometimes il win make
my stay here more pleasant
Her pleading won the day, and we be-
came friends, | never went 20 Redruth
House. and she never came 20 the cot.
tage, | never sought her, but quite in
n~ocently and frankly she sought me. We
1ften went on the moor when. after my
long days work, l was making my way
home, and | could not regard these meet
ings as purely accidental on her part.
She was always accompanied by the
black girl. until one evening. when she
appeared alone.
"You are looking for Anitas' said
Madeline. noting ms glance. She has
gone 10 London with my aunt's maid,
and win not retura till clase on midnight.
My cousin counselled my staying at homo
tonight. or allowing him to accompany
ne. | knew l should not want for com
pany, so refused to submit. / may not
enjoy these walks much longer
What, are yoR going away2' l ask.
ed, in some alarm.
She shrugged her shoulders. "Per-
haps! | do act know: certainly | shall
have to GO sooner or later, but | trust
Il mGv not be sooner. When | was ship
wrecked here I was On my way to Lon
don. to take ap my abode with some 9th
er relations. They are troubling me
with questions. so l have sent Anita 10
satisfy them as 10 my safety. Yet |
suppose l shall some day have 60 go"
She tried to speak carelessly, yet |
fancied / detected u ring Of regret in
her voice. and l quailed before the feel
ing Of desolatioa which her words
brought 20 my heart.
In that one sentence she had unwit.
tingly shown TO me myself-revealed to
me the terrible secret which / had been
vainly trying to crush from my heart.
Even as she had influenced my boyhood,
she had influenced my manhood.
i loved her with the tame unthinking
love which had allied my soul as 4 boy
loved her even while / felt that such
a love ldjght be the means Of blighting
my life. knew chat no ta0A could come