Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-01-14

one O'Clock, and some were stealing away
to bed
The governor looked round with a
rather distrustful look for the host. and
then walked straight up to him. They
whispered for some moments, and then
with a smiling air he looked round on
the company, as if to give a gracious good
night, and went away TO bed. Mr.. Doug.
las, with a frown on his face. and with
his hardest and most abrupt business
manner, came over to Mr.. Burton, and
said he wished to speak with him in the
study for a few minutes. Ned followed
him. When the door was closed he said
simply:
1T is all true, what she says, except
about the child. My hands have no blood
on them, but the rest is true"
Then you have deceived. imposed up
on me. 1t is a shame and a disgrace, "a
have taken in so kind and good a friend
as / have been to you, and what | think
worse of, to have allowed me to compr0-
mise myself with a man like Sir Duncan.
He will never forgive me. | dismiss yOu
from my service. | don't care to enter
into the question whether you have done
what you have been accused of or not.
That is for YOURSELF it is nothing 10 me,
But you have wormed yourself into my
confidence, and imposed on me with a
false story And you have also made me
impose upon a dear friend. who prides
himself upon his reputation for sagacity.
To have forced upon him person like
you, accused of such n crime. | emit
bear to think of it" added Mr. Douglas,
in great agitation"
He left Ned Burton The unfortunate
man, with his head bowed on his breast,
took his way from the house with his
more unfortunate wife He made no
complaint; he had made no defense or
protest, little TO the surprise of his late
patron. He seemed still to be stunned.
TO his wife he was gentle and resigned.
When he spoke il was in the same re-
signed tone His mind seemed MS il
were exhausted. He seemed eager to lie
down and rest, and above all. to be alone.
When they had reached home it was
close on two o'clock in the morning. He
said to her:
You can 60 to bed, dearest should
bc only tumblng and tossing for the rest
of the night 80 l shall sit up little
Besides, / want to think over our posi-
tioil. All this has cone little suddenly
and it is hard to Auow what to turn to
next. What have l done TO deserve this
persecution? All my life I have tried to
be good. As for the poor innocent child
but it is of no use saying anything now.
1t does look as if ! was guilty, and that
my punishment was coming on me in
thick pnd heavy blows. Now go to bed
dearest. Leave me-"
He was so earnest that she went. rot
wishing to add to his other anxieties that
of worrying by opposing his wishes. Two
such wretched hearts were nor to be
found that night in the little ton, n. nor
indeed, in the whole of Scotland Cor ii
was the wretchedness of blank despair.
Ned Burton sat down at his desk. and
with a sort of weary wonder kept putting
himself the same question; What had he
done to deserve this Cain-like persecu-
ton? The day was beginning TO break.
but re sat on. still having that curious
numbcd feeling which would prevent him
forever lifting his heart, spirits, limbs.
OH he said again and again, in the
same dazed and bewildered tone mo
mortal man could resist such a continued
oppression. 1t is something superha-
man"
He then thought over all that he had
passed through. even during the last few
months; how he had suffered and strug.
gled brayely, worn his very heart out in
the contest, in hhe wish to keep up a
brave front. There was point beyond
which human fortitude could not go. No:
when he was thus given over to the fury
of all that was evil and oppressive, it
was time to yield.
Weary with watching. aud herself or
pressed with misery, Mrs. Burton waited
long upstairs, until morning began to
break. Then. overcome with the weati-
ness that is born of grief. and which is
as cxhausting as physical labor itself.
she at last, and against her will. dropped
oil to sleep She did not hear the steps
of him who stole up softly to look at her.
and found her lying back in her chair,
sleeping her weary sleep. Neither did she
feel the lips that were pressed gently vet
passiunately To her FOREHEAD. Nor could
she have heard the hall door that was
closed SO quietly, as a figure passed forth
into the morning air. The Waterman.
one Of the three who were sufficient to
look after the peace of the little town.
told afterwards how he had noticed the
captain" as he was called. going ont M
this strange hour, aud how he wondered
what could be the meaning of it, But
he noticed that the captain took his way
along road which led up to a lonely
hill, outside the town. the top of which
was always shrouded in a thick veil of
damp mist, and where few head Of
game sometimes mrked.
CHAPTER XVI
Over Mr.. Burton the elder. ever sine,
the misfortune that Ind befallen him IN
the loss of his child. had come n curiou.
change. He seemed to have acquired
more purpose of character. and to have
taken up more decided tone. He meyer
1. 81 81 81