Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-05-27
CHAPTER XIV.


the result of her very recent engagement
10 the Juns owner of Croylands
ut is singular how Suddenly it came
about" her mother was saying in con
gratnlatory tone II was apprehensiYe
about thar Miss Bradleigh, but it seems
he wasn't to be misled by her demure
ways and pious pretensions Caroline,
my dear / would not make my stay
abroad long one, now that you have
won him. He is wealthy, and may buy
up the mortgages and thereby release the
place"
"oh. let the old place GO" exclaimed
Miss Wentworth. 1T isn't any patching
10 Croyiands Wen live there"
But. Caroline. Mrs. Rutherford's
wishes win have 10 be consulted"
''Pooh" ejacuIated the daughter, with
curl Of her lip, showing how selfish
she was, and how Indifferent to the
rights Of other people. I'VE won't fake
the trouble TO consult her. She never
regarded me with much favor, and 50
don't owe her anything. Brice is so
infatuated with me that | can wrap him
around my finger. | care for him, to be
sure, but | care a good deal more for
yCroylsnds"
oh screamed Mrs. Wentworth.
There sroud BFice. not two yards dis
tant The doors being open, he had just
walked in, like the privileged character
that be was. His face was haggard, but
there was n look Of determination upon
II. He had wrought himself up to the
work which he had in hand.
Miss Wentworth turned white. then
red, qualm of fear nj her heart. Had
he overheard her3 What did this visit
FaurtatAS tEhxs l,aF r.ftnr4ta sr1s Ira
his blue eyes?
Caroline. | wish to see you alone for
a few moments" he said. ID a steady
tone, noticing her mother with a slight
nod.
Certainly" she rejoiued. rs she led
the way i1te the parlor, her face witch
ing neryons.y because of her apprehen
sions.
He didn't waste any time in skirmish
ing. II was a delicate subject. and per
haps best handled by plungiug straight
forward
Caroline" he said. II have come to
ask You to release me from my engage
ment'
Il was sudden shock for II exceed |
ed her worst onieetures. The color /
came and went 10 her face. She watch |
ed him half askance. a faint sparkle In |
Ter eyes. Perhaps she never knew that /
she had placed one hand upon her heart. /
why do you ask it?' she inquired /
her voice well under control.
Because | love Miss Bradleigh bet /
ter than | do sou. Caroline, I'm in |
scrape, and | believe the nearest way
out Of Il is TO coLfess everything. how
ever much you mag despise me for it," I
he went on to say. Il love you. I am (
candid enough 20 admit. When | spoke /
10 you rs | did this morning, | meant /
all | said. and thought I was doing /
right. Since then | have discovered how !
much ! had deceived myself. Call me /
vaelllating, IL you care to. but do not /
accuse me Of dnplcity."
''All this is very strange and very pain 4
ful to hear" Miss Wen worth managed /
90 say.
1T is just as painful for me 70 say /
M it is for you to hear il, aud | feel ms
face flush with shamc," Briee said. Still .
| must ask you to sever the compiled /
hou. / was engaged to Miss Brhdleigh (
but we quarr9led, and | demanded my /
release"
Just rs you now demand /. Of me
without O quarrel" his listener tartly /
said. And yon came 10 me, aglow with /
ardor, worshipfu In demeanor, pointed |
In iattery, and p}unsing hehdlong into /
new covenants? II was no compliment /
to me, for it was the result Of pique 4
II was an cggcsious bit Of folly on J, 1r 1
part"
Yes, Caroline, admit all that. and |
I ana afraid that no apologies of mine /
can mend g. | started the quarrel with I
Miss Bradleish ! had no grounds for !
1t. was hard, bitter, unreicuting-th 4
shame mine, and size ms gullless ns an |
angel, and NOT entering one word Of pro. /
test. You remember what you told me
about child? I went 20 her with the |
story, AMI don't know what all / said /
Afterward | learned that the child was .
not hcry bit Marsery beuson's"
'Eh3 z" calculated his companion.
Yes. You were raised about here /
and have heard the story" Brica said. /,
lifting his hand 90 his brown mustachc. /
his forehead redlening.
How dia Miss Bradlelsh come 90 have
the child under her caroT Miss Went |
worth asked
henson left her 70 her, with some
KIND of-of-rstipula}i1u Brice said,
furricdly. Il dIdn't know that-or that
the child was alive, Had l known it. /
woaId have been spared all this. You
can seq how hard i, was for her 10 pa
tiently listen ya ali said when il was
applicable TO nae alone and when | was
the culprjt"
You apoloejzcd 20 Miss Bradleih. aud
she forgavc you:'
No. When got home nj noon she
had left Croyiauds. 1 may never be
able to hnd her. may never be able
60 obtain her forgiveness.
"Briee,' Miss Wentworth said. with
uaiyerlug lips, has it not occurred 70
you that you arc asking a good deal Of
mo r
"0h, yes" he said. uneaslly. dropping
his eyes. II believe that You love me;
know that ic Will be hard far you 10 as
sent--that X Is grave stcriice. II is
the consciousness of this fact that makes
IL such q dviieute matter ger ne &c
breach and makes me feel ashamed of
myself besides. But what am TO do?"
win yen tell her tAat you broke your
engagement with her last night and made
one with me early this marningT' Miss
Wentworth asked. a CLEAN of malice IN
her eyes.
1t won't be necessary. replied nr.cc.
flush GA his Face. 1T has no coonec-
ton with my trouble with Miss Brad
leigh. ] don't owe her any apology Ter
that
What ii Miss Bradlcigh declines to
be reconciledE' she slowly asked.
II haven't debated that" Briee re
piled, thouchrfuNy THAT would enc