Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-01-21
CHAPTER XVII.

WHAT! said Ralph, lis what concerns
yonr dear friends, the Burtons, uniupor-
tant? Have you no interest in the I'M
justly accused Ned Burton?"
You should not allude to that she
said, 'and it i'll becomes you"
What! you think / behaved villain.
ously? Yet, consider this: it was all your
fault. You gave me no choice. If YOU
had not driven me to the wall with your
scorn and haughtiness. if you had only
condescended 10 express wish, | could
have saved him that disgrace tell
YOU" he added, hurriedly, the thing is
only beginning now. Lock at my sister
1t has become monomania. 1t is all
that she lives for. 1t has come to this
now, that she must destroy or be destroy
ed. 1t is shocking! She will not listen
to reason. Some serious step must be
taken, and at once And it all rests
with you and with me-"
"Why, what would you have me dor
asked Lucy, wondering.
Give him up. Take any time you like
1t is hard to do it of sudden. But /
like you and love you, and have loved you
so from the first. l would do anything
for you"
He was speaking very loudly and very
eagerly. They had approached that old
fashioned yew tree walk, and were pass
ing the entrance which yawned like the
mouth of cave. The moon was shining.
and its light, passing through the
branches of the trees, dappled the ground
with variegated yellow and black. Mr..
Ralph was looking down on the grass,
waiting for her. She gave a glance down
the walk, and TO her surprise saw a tall
figure leaning sadly against a tree, and
only a FEW yards away. Instantly an
idea flashed upon her. She hastily turned
aside out of the light. The figure never
moved. With loud tremulous voice she
went on:
And do you mean that you could tell
the truth about this charge against Ned
Burton! That you not only could but
would, and that it all depends on me"
1T all depends on you, Lucy. | can
make his innocence as plain as that bright
moonlight now shining. A few words
from me would set him and his straight
before the world. But | have my price,
and you must pay me. You must have
seen long ago hoe deeply / loved you. !"
Lucy was glancing roui.d nervously,
and saw that the figure was in the same
place. Ralph was a little surprised at
the calm fashion in which she accepted
his declarations, and with some triumph
in his tone went on:
You would be thrown away upon him.
hat coi3blooded, didactic fellow, who
would work ont his fathers good name as
he would problem in Euclid. Some enc
that knows the world IS TIE person for
YOU"
mo doubt" said Lucy, who was long
ing for him to say clearly what she wish
ed him to say But if l only knew that
poor Ned could be cleared You are in
such awe of your sister that you would
not speak out"
'For you | would" he answered 81
would give up all for youi But you must
give up much for me. Promise that you
will think no more of that man. | will
wait until you get to like me, and | swear
to you that l have the means. by my own
testimony, of clearing Ned Burton from
the charge made against him"
Lucy glanced round again. She saw
that the figure had drawn nearer, and
had heard Her first feeling was to rush
forward. confront Ralph with this Wit
sical denouement. confOunding and over
whelming him with the sudden apparition
of the one who had overheard this con-
fession Bur a sort of inspiration came
to her. something whispering that this
might be too precipitate, and that Ralph,
made desperate by what he might think
was trap would find some GINNING de-
vice by which To rescue himself. She had
determined to say nothing, but to get
back to the house, contriying some eX-
cuse. when her doubts were suddenly re-
solved. To her alarm the figure rose
from its seat and stood beside them. 1t
was Mr.. Burton.
Il have heard all, and it is no more
than what | long ago suspected. Thank
heaven for giving me certainty. / am
no longer blinded, and | see at last the
fearful conspiracy into which you and
your sister were leading me-"
The other was not in the least abashed,
though at first little surprised.
Il have been in no conspiracy" he
said. mo one ought to know better than
you the peculiar state of your wife. The
extraordinary idea that has taken pos
session of her had to be humored | was
only biding my time, and at the proper
moment would have spoken. | am ready
to do SO now, when and where you will"
Lucy answered him with some scorn.
las you did the other, day at the flower
show"
81 was driven to that, as / told yon
You saw how my sister behaved A lit
I'D more. as Mr.. Burton well knows, and
her wits will go. The doctors, have said
So
..Not to me" said Mr.. Burton. But
this explains yorr behavior. You find it
time to trim your sails.
II have no sails" said the young man,
smiling, NOR do | know much about
trimming. The whole truth is simply
this: was at my window in the study,
at the other side of the courtyard. and
/ noticed that the ycrandah shutters of
YOUR brothers room were open. ! mad
looked up several times. and when he
saw me- looking he came angrilr and clos
ed them. About half an hour later they
few open, and the poor child fell out
No one was near IT, And the next thing
l saw was Ned Burton rushing across the
room. and appearing at the window with
his hands up
Gpu forgive you lnF Iot leiitH- tiIS
before!' said Mr. Burton, solemnly; hut
/ can make up for it."
ITO be sure" said Mr.. R.iph with
alacrity, at is not too late. He has sui
fered a good deal. but all that viii be
forgotten. The only difficulty is = poor
sister. whose morbid hatred have Ueen
huIaorins. And re result is as is usual
in such cases, that have pleased nobody.
1 can assure you, Miss ForaGer. if / lad
not gone with her humor she would lYy