Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-06-17
CHAPTER /

old. was mopiug alone. l had only ar
rived two days before from London
where / had parted from my father, a
travelling lecturer in the cause of what
was then known as the New Moral
World. My mother h, J long been dead
and / had led somewhat neglected
life, sometimes accompanying my father
an hls wanderings, more often being
left 10 the care. or carelessness, Of
strangers. At last / had been sent to
Southampton to complete very per
functery education,
1t was afternoon, and a half-holiday
my new school fellows were playing close
by. | was too used to loneliness to be
very miserable. ] merely felt an outcast
for the time being. and took no interest
whatever in my new associations.
As ! sat thus. / must have fallen into
a brown study, from which a slight
sound startled me, and looking up. | met
the fash Of two dark eyes which were
intently regarding me.
Are you the new boy| said a clear
poice.
I nodded, and stared at my interroga
tor, a girl about n own age. whose
black eyebrows were knitted curiously
Ear arms and neck were bare, and she
was fondling kitten, whose lissome
movements seemed to have something in
common with her own beauty,
What is your name 2" she continued,
In the same clear questioning tone, alto
gether with the manner OF superior
who was not to be triAed with.
Hugh Trelawney."
She continued 10 regard me with the
same keen scrutiny and then said. why
don't you 90 out and play with the other
boysg"
Il don't care about play. I am tired. -
Tired with whaty" she questioned,
quickly
made no reply, had meant TO i'm
ply that l was w-spirited and dull. She
understood me- and troubled me with
no more questions.
Glad TO direct her attention from my
self, for her bright eyes troubled me,
stroked the kitten. which she had placed
upon the floor, and l began TO question
in my turn.
Are you the schooImaster's daugh-
ter
At this she laughed with such good
humored sympathy with my blunder,
that my FIRST impression Of her began to
improve. and / saw that, besides being
a rather iiuperioGs. she was very
pretty, young lady
II am stranger here. like yourself, 4"
she said my people live far away in
South America. aud are very rich. My
mother is dead. and ! don't remember
her. NY father has sent me here to be
taught but | shall soon G. back to him.
He is q great man. and when he gave me
these earrings, he told me my mother
had worn them before me, and he kissed
them. We live far away from here. in
a brighter place, Don't you hate Eng
landT'
This was rather n startling query. but
being in state Of mind bordering on
disgust for life in general, | readily as
scented. Her eyes cleaned.
X Is q dreary place she cried; dun
and miserable, and 81 rains nearly every
day. But it is different whore | come
from. IL is always bright there. and
there are flowers everywhere. aud the
trees are full Of fruits and there are
bright insects. and beautiful snakes
without stiugs. that can be taught to
twine round your neck, and feed out Of
your hand"
Il seemed that was transported to
she land Of which she spoke; her eyes
were SO sparkling, her face so bright and
sunny, her form so foreign in its slender
teauty--and her earrings Elstened, aud
her beautiful ivory teeth gieamed-~and
I saw her walking in that land. a won
der among all wonders there. with fruits
aud flowers over her head. and brilliant
insects floating round her, and luminous
snakes cleaning harmless in her path.
and dusky slaves waiting upon her, for
for | had been a s,udious boy fond Of
reading Wild books Of travel and ad-
venture. and of picturing in my mind the
wonders If foreign lands
When she next spoke, her clear. Inn
petuaus tone was greatly changed and
sofuncd. and a kinder light dwelt on
her face
"If sou viii come nth me-" She said,
- viii show you tt.e place. There is
mot much to sec but the garden
] rose aWkvardly. as ii az a word Of
command, ard followed her Ashamed,
yet pleased. 20 he chaperoucd by a girl.
wondered what my school fellows
would thinG u it. They were playing
cricket They paid no attention 60 me,
liant lnoard &C my companion with curl
ouS and mat jno friendly expression She
passed along hyperion. without deign.
3nE 70 cast single look in their dircc
s5on. and | Noticed that her dark brows
We're knitted with the former unpleasant
expression
Our first visit was to the top If high
6noH behind this houst, whence we could
see she surrounding country. and. som,
miles to the southwark, the distant sea
with a white frost Of pillows ON the edg,
of silver eolorca sands The girl lookcs
nj the passing sails with much the sam,
peculiar expression she had worn ON Qua
airst encounter.
Are your cicvor3' she asked sudden
by. Il mean. do You know much :"
explained 20 her that my acquire
anents We're very slender, and merely con
sisted OF the stray crumbs If kaawlede.
which | lad been enabled TO pick up a
day schools could read and write. o
course. aud knew arithmetic as far a
he rule of three aud had got thruuE
fhc first fonr declensions 10 the Iat
grammar. hut all was a chaos. and ha
no accomplishments.
IF you are not clever. an1 know :
iittle." observed the girl. thoughtfall,
take care of the other boys, Why don
you make friends with themY Why j
YOU like 90 sit alone, and be suleu3
there were girls here, / should maxi
friends. / know but boys arr diffsIen
they have cruel ways. and they hate rat
other The boys hatv me- she pursue1
because they think me proud, am n,
proud. bnt | am quicker and eleven
than they are. and I ,spme from a bets,
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