Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-05-20

any Of his old, questionable habits.
The morning glided by. then the clocks
atruck eleven. II was time to think about
dinner. Where was Barbara? at what
was she employed? Was she sick2 Why
had she seemed so absorbed at the break
fast table? She vent from room to
room, calling her and looking for her
Next she visited tie spring house, then
the stables.
Richard. the hirod man, lifted his hat
to her. He was as conscientious about
his work as BeEson had been. but lacked
Benson's experience and power of adapt
ability.
Have you seen Miss BradIeiSh this
morning." Mrs rutherford asked.
About an hour ago, ma'am. She
went down through the orchard. To the
city, / suppose"
why do you think so?"
Because she was attired for jour
ney ard carried a small black vaIise."
Mrs. Rutherford was not only mysti-
fed but also apprehensive. Going di-
rectly to Barbara's room she instituted
careful search. Presently her eyes
rested upon card stuck in the frame
Of the mirror. She intuitiyely OWNED
that il was intended for her. She took
the card with trembling fingers and read
what Barbara had written upon it. just
one short. significant line;
"Brice has repudiated me-"
Mrs. Rutherford sat down in the near
est chair, quite overcome, all the placid
ness dying out Of her face. She strng-
gled bravely TO comprehend and get at
the hard facts Of the case. She heard
Brice enter the hall below, and she wear
lily descended the stairs, a woe-begone
look on her face She would force him
to explain: she would LET him see how
thoroughly she despised him.
He was in the sitting room rummaging
his desk and whistling absently. His
mother glided near to him and remained
so quiet that he looked up at her in sur
prise. When he saw the despairing PAL
or in her face be knew there was a
stnrm a-brewing aud braced hims IL TO
meet Il. She still looked at him in a
mournful way.
Barbara is gone" she announced.
He flung up his head, vexcd 10 know
that Barbara had forestallel him. He
now had an inkling of the trouble in his
mothers mind,
What reason did she givc?" he asked
with a furtiye glance.
You will find her reason written on
this card. bis mother replied. her voice
hollow.
He read what was on the card.
"Humph' he growled. bis brows can
tracted. she could not have selected
a more explicit word. Yes--I repudiat-
ed her.
Perhaps you win tell me why?" she
asked in a couchant sort of a way"
'Oh. 10 be sure" be replied, with
toss Of his head. Il found her unwor-
thy Of me, that was all As usual with
me. did not mince words In telling Ter
about it,
"lll wager you were in the wrong"
his mother said. catching her breath.
Wrong all the way through"
"Oh. she's perfection. while | am con-
temptibie and unreliable" he anerily
said. You measure il out In that I'M
partial way. If you knew that she was
not what she represented herself 10 be,
You should have told me. l made mar
row escape from disgrace. Hereafter
hope you'll be more careful about taking
strangers into your confidence. | am go
ing away myself 50 I've no objections If
you succeed ia coaxing her back She
may bring the child, for all | care As
don't expect to be here it will not matter
so far as am concerned"
The childt" gasped Mrs. Rutherford
Yes. You knew about a child. didn't
YOU? Everybody else seemed tn know
il. That's what took her to North's so
often
THE trouble was abo;a child--the
trouble between you and Barbara: -
Yes" he spitefully said. Il east 1t
into her teeth. | forced her lato CON
frssioll. She said that the child helcrg-
ed 70 her took back my engagement.
She saw chat she had no claim upon my
esteem"
"Oh. Brice. what have you doGe?'
cried his mother oh. it Will kill me.
May heaven forgive you. for | can't"
she moaned. gosred, wrung her hrnds.
aud went of into something Ike hys
terical fit When she came 9Ht of the
attack her face was deathly white, with
look upon II which be never forgot.
"Oh. Briee." she moaned, broken in
spirit. one hand pressed against her heart.
/ oh. how you must have made he poor
sweet thing suffer! How she must have
writhed under your base accusations,
/ How Respondent her patience must have
shouc! Briee, whose child do you think
| il WAS. or is z"
Her own, to be sure. She did not
deny it. Worse still, she afrrontjngjy ad
mittcd il"
she said that il belonged to herr Sh,
did not mean by that that she is IL,
/ mother Il was left 20 her hy dyiua
friend, and she vowed to love aud cher
ish II. Rrice. the child is Marscry Ben
sons chId"
Eth ?" sasped he. with n wild stare.
And you are its father"
He sat down on top of his desk knock
ing over half the things which Uttered il
a dumfounded look on bis face
Mother, Il can't be true" he said
with wide-staring eyes.
All. but Il is!' insisted his faogher
her face growing rigid. The child liv
ed, Benson kept the fact from US. VII,
hr did so. | can never guess. This 1
the child that she visited. that called he
mamma. that she sought 10 .earn L
love Margcry' child and yours. An
Why shouldn't she bring it here? Wber
has il a better right to beg 1t is IN
graudchld, aud | should have eared 70
it
She spoke with fierce vchemencc, Bric
watching her, the daKed look stlli on hi
iscr,
Now that You have learned the truti
on. bow highly you must eSalt her. an
how thoroughly you must despise y0ul
3 self Compare her conduct with your
! and you'll pronounce her an angel Know