Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-04
BY FRANK H. sTAUFFER
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| persistvi;' ~
beg your pardon stammcred
Brice Rutherford, a
1T is granted, was her reply. and
now | suppose your royal highness will
allow ne to proceed p
| There vas merry twinkle in the cor
ners Of her eyes; there was half-ma-
licious pucker about her red lips; the
saucy dimples came and went. His fore
head famed for second Il suppose
you have been well posted as to my
my--misdoing, he said, hesitating in his
choice of words.
That is no compliment to your moth
err" she rejoined.
There are others at Croylands," re-
minded he.
"Oh. yesw admitted Barbara, but 10
one who would traduce you to me. Per
hays they thought it didn't concern me,
and it doesn't. Perhaps it was because
/ manifested no interest"
She said that in a provokingly quiet
and deliberate way, and with a quick
gesture of her white, shapely hand. A
sullen look filled his face, then died slow
ly out of it.
Proceed" he simply said, stepping
aside, his hat in his hand.
Thank YOU she replied. with a
pretty little nod, her 1.-THE, graceful form
disappearing in the shadows.
Brice Rutherford gazed after her, his
hand at his blonde mustache, a half
vexed, half-perplexed expression upon
his Saxon face.
II do not feel overpowered, but it
seems to me that / was most ungracious-
IL set aside" was his mental comment.
rs she girl or woman? She has the
naivette of the one aud the-the--assur-
ancc of the other I've been piqued and
I'll get even with her. III take time to
cultivate her"
Somehow, for the life of him, he could
not dismiss Miss Barbara Bradeigh
from his mind Her low, sweet yet dis
tinct voice still rang in his ears. He
could have tax Il out his pencil and
sketched her face. with its futterins
fringes of chestnut brown hair, full
cheeks, mobile lips and strangely blend
ed demure, piquant and self-conscious
expression.
When he entered the wide cleared
space, with it's neatly kept lawns aud
gently sloping terraces. lac stopped and
gazed at the old homestead with a keen
sense of proprietorshp.
1t was a grand old mansion, with broad
wings, which were more modern in con
struction. There were chimneys. high
pointed gables, lance-shqped windows,
projecting copings, and score of other
pleasing architectural eonceitS. Trees
century old lined the drive; statuary was
visible here and there; a fourtsin sent
up its rainbOw-tinted showers of spray;
the eye caught glimpses of arbors, rus
tic bridges and secluded walks, which
seemed made for lovers to saunter in
when the moon shed its soft light over
everything.
why can't be contented here?"
Rrice Rutherford musingly asked him
self. gravity darkening his face. II
have come home simply wiser because
of some wretched and regretful expert
ences of the kind by which the vericst
fool ought to profit, though ii is possible
they viii be lost upon me. | am none
the better in health and none the richer
in purse. have been eating husks.
| have made an egregious fool of my
self"
He had arrived at a correct conclusion
and he had stated it with commendable
force. But admissions of the kind
amount to very little, unless we step at
once from the path of folly into the cart
track Of reformation and stay there.
Now it can be taken for granted that
Miss Barbara Bradleigh was subject
ing Mr. BEIGE Rutherford to lust as
many mental comments, and that she was
as free in her speculations as to how
the new acquaintanceship was to end
HE may not consider himself van
pushed, but I'll wager that he's little
nonplused," she thought. Il foresee
reefs and wrangling' ahead; I'll be Meth
err left nor wrecked. 1t will result in
but one of two things; he will either beg
for an armistice, or let me alone most
severely. What if I--I-redeeraed
him? Reformed him. rather? Wouldn't
it be funny if that proved to be my mis-
sion here? Sometimes our work is no
near that we do not have Ia put spec
tacles on to see it. What, if in ne.
Croylands ---? Barbara BRAD. Ugh.
what are You thinking about? Don't be
SO SHY
A blueiay fitted by overhead and a
feather from its wing futtered to her
feet,
Il shall regard this as good omen"
she said CLINT of light in her soft
brown eyes. She picked up the feather
and thrust it into a buttouhole of her
dress.