Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-25

1t mas us Revolutionary HcuoilcNr L
suppose" Barbara remarked, gracefully
! lifting her long riding habit.
| Most of these old churches have" re-
! piled Bli1c. leading the way into the in
| closure. The gray-haired pastor made
! a stirring appet! from the pulpit then
| walked from il to a tree on the lawn,
enough of the pensioners raIlyng
around him to form a company, himself
| their unanimous choice for captain He
! went off TO the war, was killed at Stony
/ Point, or in the fight in Germantown,
or elsewhere, and was brought home and
buried with military honors in the grave
| yard connected with the church in which
he used to preach. That is the thread of
about all the stories. They are as nu-
merous as Santa Annals wooden leg.
There are enough of the so-called genu-
inc legs in the museums of the country
TO make a cord Of wood by actual meas
urement"
He laughed and f0undered awkwardly
over some of the graves, for the paths
were not outlined with much distinct
ness. They chatted. deciphered the
moss-grown tributes Of affection and crit
icised the quaint spelling, the puzzlng
| Authorizations and the odd way Of sep
aratiug the syllables,
Brice gathered some wild roses and
fastened them in her riding hat. He
tangled her brown fringes more than
there was occasion for. and she play
fully beat him away, her white little
! hands reminding him of two hutterng
doves.
They rode back to Croylands at
brisk trot. Brice offered no suggestions
in connection with her manner of riding.
from which she inferred that he had
none to offer.
He sprS1g from the saddle. then ex-
tended his hind to her. She took it and
dismounted IN a sufficiently proper man
her, considering that the experience was
so new to her. He did not retain her
hand longer than was necessary, and
yet his touch thrilled her.
u would like to reopen the conversa-
ton Of yesterday" Brice said, in a grave
tone, and looking steadfastly at her.
you refer to hal--that--hcrrid
book" she stammered. "I'll burn it.
III never write another"
Il wasn't thinking of that" he slowly
said, but of your mission here and the
light in which my mother regards it and
YOU"
Il hope that your mothers opinion of
me is all that | could desire it to be-"
Barbara replied, with fiuttering lips IF
it isn't. then she doesn't reciprocate with
heartiness.
''She has apprised you of her desires,
no doubt" he said, a little gropingy
Thinks that l am in great peril COM
pleted he. Il am going to the dogs, and
hence I'm always on her mind. She
doesn't want me TO go abroad so often.
She would like me to marry you, so that
l.. be moored here mt Croylands."
Il do not believe that your mother
would presume 10 make snch n sugges-
tion to me, Barbara deliberately said.
the color receding from her face. steady
play of light in her brown eyes AS
for myself, please do not take too much
for granted. | assure you. sir that
have no designs upon you or upon Croy-
lands"
She swept away from him with
naughty toss of her head He started
after her, a stupid look upon his face.
She turned, stopped and said relent-
ingy. soft light breaking over her face:
You contributed very much to my en-
joyment this morning. Pray. do not think
that | failed to appreciate your kind
ness"
CHAPTER VI.
At 8 o'clock that evening Barbara Gid
ed softly from the house her shoulders
enveloped in her hawl. her movements
quick and wary. i'he moon was shining
and the shadows lay thick in her path
The spray from the fountain dampe red
the air and there was something weird
like in the flutter of the leaves. Just as
she stepped from the wide central walk
into one of less magnitude, which led
| to dusky rayine. she was confronted hy
/ Brice Rutherford, the young owner of
/ Croylands.
| A flush came to her cheeks and slight
| tremor ran along her frame. He, Of all
! others. was the man whom she had hop
/ ed to avoid.
WHITTIER now. Miss Bradleigh? - he
asked. not authoritatively, not even as if
he thought he had right to know
"I-scarcely she stammered.
vexed at her want of self-possession.
"A mere stroll. eh?" he said. You
must be in a melancholy mood. cousonant
/ with the broodng stiffness. VIII you al
low me to accompany you?'
Il prefer to go alone she replied,
I falteringly. yet distinctly.
"Au right" he said. brewing himself
MP II did not intend to intrlde. | sus-
pect that I offended You this morning."
! How funny" exclaimed she. her eyes
sparkling. Il was afraid that | had Of
Tended you. DO not be alarmed about
me. The noon is shining; | am not going
far and do not intend to stay long
She descended the gentle slope and
soon found herself in narrow ravine
through which flowed small brook Ii
was scarcely visible among the under
wood, yet made its presence known by 9
succession of low, gurGling sounds
Barbara stopped beside a low fence
designed more for 4 boundary line thar
to keep out the cattle. 1t was crosse,
by means Of stilc and there were II,
trees growing close to it. She wrappet
her shawl closer and looked Heeniy abou
her
Presently young man stepped iron
hehird cluster of stunted bushes an'
joined her 1t looked We e much as
they had met by appointment.
Barbara. you have come" he said
speaking with caution.
Yes. Basil" she replied. her face
triHe rigid. why did you send fer me
What do you wantY'
, There was something Of impatiencc !
her tones, lie was on one side If til
low fence and she on the other
' He was barely Of age. poorly drcSsc
aud attenuatcd in frame His cheek
' were sunken; there were dark shadow
about his eyes and the expression in the'
q