Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-04-15

! you exhibit in overlooking my-my--
rudeness. 1t all arose from my stupid
| ity. ] may as well be frank enough to
! admit that | misconstrued your motives;
| misinterpreted your words; I assailed
| you without cause; | made demands
which had no right to make; I acted like
| a boor and-an--idiot! You see / am
making a clean breast of it." he added.
with something like a grin. my Of
lenses have been so numerous and fire.
quent that | am constrained to apollo
gize for them by-by-the gross. / 70
greet every one of them and most hum bly,
beg your pardon"
1T is granted" replied Barbara, With
soft smile. Had / felt resentfll
would not have come with you this Morn
ing" her long, silken lashes dipping
prettily into the flush on her cheeks.
That is not enough" he resumed. "On
my part, l mean, and not on yours. for
you have forgiven me when / didn't de-
serve to be forgiven. | pr.isl consent to
be more considerable, in fact, not to Of
fend again. | promise that now. Nay
| swear to It'll" and he clenched his hand,
his face darkening with gravity. IF |
keep my oath may / hope to be taken
back into your favorT He paused and
added, provided ever enjoyed it?''
His voice shook; there was a plead
Ing look in his blue eyes; his air was con-
rite, respectful, expectant. Barbara's
heart beat faster
You are ags.n upon probation" she
said, her dimpies appearing and disnp-
pearing.
Mother wishes 1t, and so do l." he
added.
And you will stayY' he asked.
Il won't have her say that I drove you
away. Won't you stay, Miss Bradleigh?
If Il Is necessary for me to go before
you will consent to remain, you have only
to say SO"
Il would not presume TO Danish you,
SIR" Barbara said, agitatedly.
But. why should any of us have to
go? Or want to goT asked Brice. 1--WE
can live in harmony. l may have been n
disturbing element in the past, but
faithfully promise that it shall not be my
fault any more"
Barbara glanced past him. In the
yawning gloom of the stairway behind
him she saw a pair Of burly shoulders
and a scowling. revengeful face. The
eyes cleaned balefully out Of the semi
darkness.
She recognized the man as the one who
had logged Brice in order to assassinate
him; and who had dealt her such a cruel
blow because she had defeated his pur-
pose.
She was afraid that Brice was again
in peril. She wanted to warn him, but no
sounds came TO her lips. A deathly pal
Tor filed her face; she gasped and fell
forward, Brice catching her in his arms
He saw that she had swooned, but
could not divine the cause. Tie knew
that she was not pretending; ne might
have suspected Miss Wentworth, but he
never would have suspected Barbara.
He gathered her to him with passion
ate embrace. He gazed down into the
hushed, upturned face; he saw the eye
lashes tremble and the so1+ cheeks twitch.
Barbara" he cried, n suppressed
alarm. What it is? C-my darling.''
Her consciousness had slowly return
cd. She heard the endearing, passionate
ly spoken words. Ter heart gave a wild
bound. She loosened herself from his
embrace.
Miss Bradleigh -what-happened 2"
he asked, with tenderest solicitude, his
eyes glowing as softly as n woman's
THE tramp" she gasped. 1.-THE man
who shot at you! He is-or v as-on the
stairway behind you
Her face was still white and she stared
downward into the m. g.. =.