Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-01-28


the rooms had worn grim and gloomy
look no hands Of tasteful women had
been busy delicately arranging and or.
dering. Rich and handsome rs was the
furniture, it had the formal -. of such
things at some show castle or palace
where we miss the evidence of human
direction
During that short reign, no gentle hand
had moved or even touched it: there was
a stern seclusion in the upper rooms, or
else slow and austere progress across
rare passage, at long interval, with
perhaps a pause at the great windows as
the fierce and deadly eyes ranged the
park, as it were waiting till the figure
OF the detested enemy should fit past
among the trees.
But on this evening all was changed.
Everything was bright and animated. A
gentleman sat on the sofa, and close TO
him stood lady, fair and handsome. but
with features a little worn, and hair a
little changed in color. In her eyes
seemed to linger a sort of nervousness,
as though some old anxiety had not yet
departed. The gentleman was young,
but his figure was bent and delicate look
ing, and his hair was gray and even griz-
zled.
Tom ought to be back from town by
this he said. II fear anything like
delay or putting off. Ever since that
dreadful telegram / have lost all conf
dence, and"
His wife lifted up her finger in gentle
warning.
Now, now, dearest. you promised, you
know. We have both promised to look
back as little as possible"
He smiled Il had forgotten. All,
Lucy"
The door was thrown open, and. in the
midst of the children. Lucy came trip
ping in. looking bright and beautiful.
CHAPTER XXX.
Tom has not come yet" said Ned,
but he is only just due. He will not
lose moment. we may be sure. Tell me.
Lucy he added with some hesitation.
you do not mind about your mothers
absence? For your sake would have
tried to make her welcome, but after th mt
dreadful season l could not bring myself
to it,
Lucy looked down on the ground. then
hid her face In her hands
Mamma is very good" she said. "af-
ter her own way. You don't know her
and must make allowance. She is easily
led by others, and was brought up in n
peculiar way. Her mother was all for
the world, and taught her to think the
same"
ITO be sure BY and by" said Ned
kindly, II shall try and not think of all
these matters, and l am sure / shall be
able to see her.
'She told me- said Lucy, in great con
fusion. that l should give you this let
ter. l told her that | would say all that
was necessary. and that you were so good
and generous. it was not in your nature
to bear malice. l told her this. and,
and"
Here Lucy, glowing. and still looking
on the ground, held out tn letter in
tlmorous way. Ned took it with a smile
and glanced over it. 1t ran:
MY Dear Mr. Burton-Lucy will
bring you this and all my best wishes on
this happy anniversary. God grant that
it may be the beginning of my darling
child of many morei As her wedding day
is fixed. everything will now go on well.
trust.
Don't think l am the least angry at
being left out of your party to-day. |
am an old woman of the world, and nave
seen more life than most old women of
my day. Don't mind making any OK
cuses, as / know your good-nature aud no
likeness will tempt you to do. Surely
know the truth, that you don't like n
and never did; no. nor never will. Al
must say | don't blame you. For
know ! had the look of behaving shah
billy and of deserving you when the storm
came However, think us BADLY of me
as you like, set me down as selfish old
woman if you will, but don't let my little
Lucy suffer. That is all thought of the
whole time. My time will be short here,
so | bear no malice to any one. You ere
n young man, comparatively speaking,
and came out well through everything. As
| say. l can wait a little, and yen will
find that / can forget and forgive like a
true Christian"
Such was Mrs. Forager's candid sp.
peal. not at all unskllfuly made. Ned
smiled as he put it into his pocket He
felt for Lucy.
YES" he said to her encouraginglv,
I'VE shall see her here by and by There
is Tom! knew he would he in time.
Enters Tom now, eager and deligh. ed.
The handsome young couple had met
again after Il thre' ,veks' absence. ! xn...
had he his hands / of presents, ,noueF
when Mrs. Burt, .aw him opening Il G
boxes and spre' : them out a So. Of
tremor passed her. for it b-edght
hack the memory of another evening that
promised To be one of the happiest of
gheir lives, aud which ended so ,lisas-
trously As he entered one of the chill
dren called from the window. clappne
his hands;
''Oh, papa and mamma, here is Kiss a
body such being the name in the family
for Mrs Charles Hunter In another mo
ment those genteei and agreeable Phari
sees were entering. cordial and smiling
Mr.. Charles Hunter giving his host a
significant squeeze of his hand, ms who
should say You well 1Cserve nil this
You have be- aved nobly. thought :,
all along"
1t was only these wonderful Charles
Hunters that could perform feat OF thi'
kind Ned Burton felt very much TO then
rs he had done to Mrs. FOrager, ant
ou the occasion of this little hoIac fes
tiyal would have kept them al dis
lance. But they We're not to bc TINS de
MED. He tCharles Hunter WHO had -
deeply sympathzed all through--who has
seen the end all alouG-who had diScoV
cred the true aud generous heart the for
titude and gallantry- who had seci
that truth must prevail in the end h
would overlook any danger of misconcoV
ton. aud at all risks felt that he dNre'
not deny himself the happiness Of bein
present on this occasion In reality, 81