Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-04-08
BY FRANK II. sTAUFFER
Darling 1" Missionary Madge." =
Eortene E7Te Efc

happened 10 be passing. you know. HOW
was Brice? And Mrs Rutherford? And
--and-Miss BrldIeigh? Did Richard,
the new seryani, give entire satisfac
ton? She was afraid not.
She ran on in that way, not waiting
| to have her questions answered, laughing,
| patting the neck of the restless animal,
the plume in her hat waving, a rich col
or mantling her cheeks, a play of light
in her black eyes
Brice stood and talked to her, for she
was pleasing to look upon and to talk
to. Her fippant style lifted the nppre-
hension which his mothers deliberate
words and manner had aroused.
Il am going to the fulling mill" she
said. II want to give directions aboft
some wool which l sent to be cardcd.
Haven't you time to sc along? We
haven't had dash over that picturesque
old river road for some tin E."
I'm sorry, Caroline" he said, but
have an engagement at ten O'clock.
with Miss BradleighT' she suggest
ed.
with my mother" Brice replied, with
a broad smile.
Prompted by a sudden thought he took
letter from his pocket. 1t was the
letter which bore her signature and which
Barbara had found on the lawn drenched
with dew.
do you know anything about this:"
he asked, as he handed her the letter.
She examined 1t with complete con
troll over all the muscles of htr face.
Her look of surprise and innocence was
admirably feigned. She prolonged her
al. l. slsnN
Brice was keenly watching her. The
more he studied her dark, piquant face
the more his passion for her was likely TO
increase.
II don't know anything about it" she
said, nor can | conjecture what it
means. 1t is seemingly a letter f,cm
me TO you, with illusions for which no
cause existed. and apparently signed by
me- Where did this letter come from?'
Miss Bradleigh gave it to me. She
found it on the terrace. She gave it TO
me, supposing that ] had dropped it.
When / assured her that | had never
seen it. then she declared her belief that
you had dropped it,"
Miss Wentworth bent her head and
fumbled with the reins, her real inten-
ton being to hide her face for a moment,
for she felt that the tel-tale blood was
filling it.
What right had she to say that"
she asked, pent-up sparkle in her eyes.
"She suspects that you wanted her to
infer that we are en-. aged and that you
had the first claim upon me- Brice said,
his eyes dancing. "A sort of an IRON
clad lease by which she would under
stand that it was no use for her to try
to win me-"
"Oh. iudeedr' cried Miss Wentworth.
frown upon her gypsy face, II am
not jealous of her in the least"
That was a statement wide of the
truth, but she had no computations of
conscience in that direction
Il have a theory" she stated. 1T
isn't complimentary to Miss BradleiGh
Il exhibits to us a new phase in her
character
] She supposed that Brice would prompt
! " express a desire to know. He made
no reply. and so she added:
Miss Bradleigh concocted this letter.
She didn't find it.. If she did. she found
it just where she had put it. She took
that plan to belittle me in your eyes, and
to find out whether you were engaged to
me-"
THAT didn't occur to me-" Brice said,
his tone manifesting no interest, in which
the brunette saw additional cause Of
vexation, and determined to vent her
spleen.
Now, | would not mind her artiice.
nor her desire to know how matters stood
| between us, but l most heartily despise
her attempt to misrepresent me and less
| en- me in your esteem. But we often find
! that those demure, meek-eyed, pious kind
of people are the very persons who can
be audaeious and mean when the occa-
| sion requires"
! Brice made no reply, nor did he at
tempt to defend Miss Bradleigh, fact
which the brunette accepted with sullen
satisfaction She talked n while longer,
/ then rode off. 1t was almost ten o'clock,
so Brice went to the library to keep his
4 engagement with his mother
He found her as punctual as himself.
She was seated in an easy chair. but not
within a strong light. He nodded respect
fully, then took a seat near her.
Il am punctual you see he said with
a faint smile. Il deserve credit for it, as
| am usually remiss. Then, too. | had
to break away from the fascination Of
Miss Wentworth. Mother, you Intend TO
blow me up about that mortgage uo
said, in a light tone.
NO" she replied. little 10 lis sur
prise. Il do not care what becomes of
yca~ money or of Croyauds, or of you.
1t sounds hard to say that. / know, but
have worried enough. l am thinking
of myself aud not of you. In the first
place, am anxious to know whether YOU
are going away this SUMMER
Mother, | can't answer that" he
said. Il may and may not. You know
how erratic ] am"
Well no matter. Suit yourself
am going away. | snail do SO whether
you go or stay"
You are--going away" Brice re
peated. with a dazcd look. for il was ~
unexpected announcement. You intnnt
to leave Croylands? Why. what would
do?" he asked lugubriously. Il NEAR
if | stayed. for I'd get along we'll enough
abroad. Who'll keep house? Oh. see
Miss Bradleigh will remain"
ITO be badgered. insulted and abuse,
by your his mother sternly asked No.
explosively. she has had quite enough
Of that She will not remain. and shat i
the reason why ! shall not stay. IL
not want to be separated from her. Wei
20 off together. | have become attache,
to her. She fills the place of daughte
. "a me--the place in my heart which yor
should have filed rs my son. But 70
! your willful, unhlial. ungratefui--'
Mother" he interrupted. his mus
4 tachc rising and falling, do not exhauS
, v0ur stock of sdieptfyes in thar why w