Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-18
CHATTER ".

"You will go because you are n gentle
man." Miss Bradleigh answered, with
slow distinctness. And from n desire
to please me" she added, her lips "elax
ing into soft smile.
He debated his course for half min
ute. Her eyes reminded me of brown
birds flying into the light he afterward
said.
You are right, Miss Bradeigh. he
slowly rejoined, with nod of aequies-
cence.
He strobe out of the door and closed
it after him A sparkle of triumph nit
ted over Barhara's face,
These issues must not be frequent,
she thought the grave look returning to
her face.
Just then there was a knock ut the
door--a low, respectful, half-tmorous
knock She answered the summons, ard
there stood Brice Rutherford He had
walked to the end of the hall and back
May / come IMP he asked, his tone
humble and worshipfui, though probably
feigned.
For a second Barbara was nonplascd;
next the affair struck her in such a com
ical light that she found it impossible to
repress 2 smile.
Yes you may come in. she said. con-
scious that she must decide at oEce to
properly support her dignity.
He entered the room and seated him
self, but not in the chair which he had
previously occupied. He wanted her to
sit in that amid the soft glow of the
waning sunlight.
"You elected me n minute ago." he
said. well, you've forgiven me, haven't
your"
i've received you on probation, was
her reply, as she seated herself in her
easy chair. gracefully disposing of her
drapery. the fringes of brown hair 8ut-
tering about her temples. the canary
greeting her with a charm hg outburst of
song
Docs he only sing when you sit down
to writer Brice r. hcrford asked
"Oh. no." she re y ined. as she rear
ranged the papers upon her table.
He walked to the book cases aud read
the titles Of the books Then he said:
Miss Bradleigh, you do not believe
that | fumbled with your manuscript? r.
You intimated as much. aud made me
lose my temper" she rejoined, with q
half-regretful smile.
Il inadvertently saw the title of the
manuscript Is it completed and soon to
be published?'
No, Mr.. Rutherford shall recast
it,"
Why? Are you not satisfied with
t?"
Il see how l can strengthen it. have
come in contact with fresher expert
ences.''
Here at Croylands?"
Yes replied Miss Bradleigh, with
a flutter of red in her cheeks.
Quite recently" he asked. bending
nearer to her. IF you say yes to that
you will lead me to suspect that you re
Ger to my arrival"
An untranslatable smile came to her
lips. There seemed to be acQuiescenct
In the droop Of the silken eyeashes.
You regard me as IA character? ?
he asked We'll. l suppose we all are
And you propose to make note of all
say and do, my faults and follies, my pc
culiarities and perversities, so that yol
can caricature them?'
mo" she promptly, gravely said 81
would defeat my purpose A carcatur,
is a burlesque. ridiculous exaggerat;on
L utsiEt 10 He u uLhAhi- I u pet Il
find in you something 10 commend"
"Ah, indeed, Why didn't you sa,
much, Miss Bradleigh? Well. draw !
true TO life. Others viii take warning
and keep off the reefs, and so I'll be &C
complishing good in some way, at least
If / can inject any vitality into you
serial. consider me at your service. T.
sit for the picture at stated interval.
If SUCH is your wish"
Il would rcther study you when 20
are not aware of it," Miss Bradleig
quietly rejoined You know when w
sit for a picture we want TO look yer
nice and precise. and thereby fail 10 GI
pear natural. We put on our compan
manners; we are under more or less cor
straint
where's the story laid = asked Bric'
an some breezy old place like Croy
Iands3''
Where could there be a better?"
u don't know Of any" reioined Bric'