Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-08-26
CHAPTER XXI.

den. Truly her sun had set and, as |
predicted. she was vending her way
home. She cried out at sight of me.
and, instead of giving me a welcome, she
hid her f.ee and moaned. / felt no ami
mostly toward her now; whatever she
had done, she had been bitterly punish
ed. ! took her in my arms and tried to
comfort her.
Annie" / said, my poor Annie, tell
me what has happened TO you, that /
End you like this2'
We soon discovered the eatize of her
weakuess-it was hunger. The poor thing
3fad spent her LIST shilling. and had not
eaten a crust since the morning. and,
had we not found her, she would have
spent that night starving in the streets.
IL was the sSoEk Of a few moments for
John Rudd 10 run out and return with
food. When she came wholly TO herself
again. SHE lookb' AZ me, dreading lest ]
should question her again; and | thought
IL better 70 let my questions rest.
Annie" | said. do you feel strong
@1ougb to 70 nowi l must take you with
me TO my rooms. / can't leave you here"
she was too III TO offer much resist
ekcs; ~ after had paid the few shil-
iinss dsst she was owing, we left that
gsiis Fable den together-Annie. still faint
sas very weak. leaning heavily upon me.
Join Rudd had quietly kept in the back
ground, thinking that his presence might
serye to further upset Annie. He now
MS unobtrnsively took his departure. af-
Ter having whispered in my ear that he
would call for us in the morning. /
took his hint. and determined to act upon
AZ.
The night was very cold and as we
left the houses and passed down the
street, facing the chilly wind, ! felt
Annie tremble violently. 80 | hurried her
along and we soon reached the house
where | had taken my rooms. Had /
not crcpt into such good odor through
my acquaintance with honest John Rudd,
4 should have been almost afraid to take
Annie into the house; rs Il was, I ex-
pected a cold greeting. but 10 ny amaze.
naent We were received with open arms.
| afterward discovered that John Rudd
had been before as, and had prepared
the way for our coming. so when the
door was opened the landlady. who was
a good kind soul. came forward and al
most took poor Annie in her arms, and
led her, half-famting, up to the little
sitting room.
gave her my bed room that night,
and. rolling myself in a rug. lay down
on the sofa In my little sitting room and
tried to sleep: but 1t was impossible, and
sitter a while got up and began to walk
about the room. Armies room adjoined
milne: so could hear that she. too, was
awake and crying bitterly, IN the morn
sng matters were considerably worse;
poor Annie was delirious. Her pale face
MAS flushed. her eyes vacant, and she
scrlsd p~itifplly on someone 10 come to her.
Az 10 o'clock. John Rudd'E wagon
stopped at the door: a 'ew moments later
honest John himself VS. before me. /
took hfm TO the bedside and showed him
my poor cousin, and bis eyes filled with
tears ms he looked Mt her. Then we both
went back to the other room.
"Measter Hugh" said John. what do
'ee mean to daw. sirT"
y shall wait here till Annie gets bet
Ter" | said; then I shall persuade her
60 come home. You viii be back again
on Thursday. wont your
Yes; and mayhap she'll be well
enough by Their 10 come. Wen make her
a bed J. the avid wagon and take her
carefai. Mealtef ktNght
Never IN my life had / thought so
much of the honesth hearted carrier as
now. when | saw him shedding tears for
any poor cousin.
When John Rudd came on the Thurs
day, hc found her sitting up in bed, able
10 recognize him and talk to him. but still
400 weak 70 walk into the adjoining room.
Nothing was said about going away that
dag. bur | judged that she would be
alb to make the attempt on the follow
Ing Monday, the day of the carriers re-
turn.
On the Sunday morning. therefore.
when she had left her bed room, aud sat
In the arm chair by the sitting room fire,
l took her poor THU hand in mine, aud
sRid,
Annie. my dear. do yon feel strong
enough 10 take a Journey John Rudd
will lie here 10 morrow, aud | want to
take YOU home"
II was pitifnl TO see her face. "oh.
Hugh! | can't go" she cried, II can't
face father, it would kill me! You go.
and leave nie--try to forget yen have
seen me, and they win never know"
"Anhse." / said, "the time has come
when you MUST tell me the whole truth.
When we met 10 London, you said you
We're n married Was that true.
or faiseY''
When | told you, ! thought Il was
true. He sad | was his wife. We went
before a sort Of lawyer together ia plym-
outh. and though I prayed sore to be
wed in church, he said IL was the same
thing. Afterwards, when we quarreled.
he told ma that fhn man Ncas Ia hi ,.,
and that II was 10 marriage at all, That
was why I left him. and went out into
ahe streets TO starye."
Now, answer me-" l cried. who Is
the mani II he is living, he shall make
amends"
''Teo late. too iate.' she cried.
lis he deaag"
NO, Hugh; he Is liviug.'
Ills name? Tell me his name,''
Hugh, dear. I canuot-at least not
yet. But | trusted him. and be de.
ceived ME. He madc me swear to keep
his secret for a time, saying that if folk
knew Of eur marriage 1t would be his
ruin. At last. when | couii bear aus
pense no longer. he told me the truth.
With the aid Of him that's dead. he had
deceived me. What shall l do2'
Ny bead whirled; | had q sore struggle
20 collect my furious thoughts. At last
] mastered myself. and cried;
you must come home with me. You
must tell the truth TO those that love
YOU
4 shall never forget that Journey.
As we drew nearer and nearer 10 ST.
Gurlott's. her sritation inc rpasea terri
bly, and when at last John rallei up