Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-12-02
CHAPTER NNIu

/ At this time, partly for the sake Of
I practice and partly because she did not
! feel equal to starting another picture,
/ Rachel was occupied in painting a por-
/ trait Of herself And. although she had
at FIRST intended only to make mere
/ sketch. With the idea Of giving it to Mrs.
! Damas TO set In a corner Of the big stu
| do. no sooner did she find herself fairly
az work than her instinct Of thor0ughness
began TO assert itself, and bplore she
| knew what she was about she had the
tision Of a carefully finished picture in
ler mind
When Gen. Eandeens about Il o'clock
the next day. was shown into the studio
Rachel was there working alone, Mrs
Damas having just gone out on impor-
tant business. She looked up as he en-
tered and put down her palette and
brushes. and looked critically Mt her hand
before she held It out to him.
1T is quite clean" she said. with a
desperate effort to be cheerful. You
know. General Vandeleur. we are not
supposed 10 receive visitors during work.
ing hours. You are the only one for
whom Mrs. Damas relaXes a very rigid
rule"
The old man took her hand in his and
held it there in close grasp while his
fiEce. angry old eyes scanned her face
keenly.
Rachel he said, Il have come to
know what It all means"
Il don't understand you" she STAN
r7ered. trying 20 draw her hand away
from his
oh, yes think you do" he said
quietly. very quietly. considering the yr-
rible temper he had been in since the
previous night. why did you send my
dear lad away ~ you did yesterday? He
told me that you refused him definitely :"
Il did refuse hini-that il enough. ="
she answered, with dignity
1T is not enough for me, returned the
general, in a voice which, as Jores could
have warned her. betokened that his pa
tienee was fast leaving him 1T is my
right 90 hear your reason and I insist
upon hearing H."
I question your right. sir" she said
stepping back from where she stood.
You can have no possible right over my
private affaJrs~-they concern me. aud me
aous. Even il you had been the grand
father which yen have not been to me.
you would still have no right TO ask me
sHch a question or to insist upon an an
swer which ! am uot willing 10 give
say 20 you that | have dccjinei the honor
whjrh Ms Harrington has Offared ae,
/ and I have no more 20 say about IT,"
b. this The old msn knew that il was
useless 70 try % sco}d or frighten her
( into submission. SEQ be tried another way
Of getting tbe Information be wanted.
Rachel he said, will you look me
in she face and tell me that you have
NOT done this thing because you knew
thar ! wished IT,
"But Wig shoa!d do soy" size cried
/ in ams1emeu;.
"Bee1Use. rs yo0 .raly said just now.
| have NOS been the grandfather to you
that | might have been
Upon ms sscred word Of honor" said
Rachel holding cat her hand 20 him at
once. "such an unworthy thought never
entered nay mind for moment"
The old general bent down and kissed
her hand ;enderiy.
My dear" he Saj3 pcrsaasively, II
want yon 10 marry my dear lad, II
jd not frel sure that yon jl6e bim-that
yoa Ike him mora than suy ether man
>ou know, my dear-I should neither
WISH it nor ask H. But know that you
do -
Rachel said nothing because ou that
subiec, she had no;h.ng 10 say hut she
/ shnok her head again as res0lu,cly as
/ before.
If you viii tell me tha, you dom, ike
him. ihe Did men urged. I'm never
1 Speak of the matter 10 YOU again"
I 4 cannot tell yen that" said Rachel
suddenly raising her eyes and looking
[ straight az him, "but | am not going %
marry him. 50 whether like him or not
I is matter Of no moment"
Go be ccntiuued1