Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-06-29

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mate-out vi it"
Wen, it's about that lunatic fellow.
Now. my idea is he's got away from
some asylum. and think that II we can
get him back. we may get iive-doilar
note, and then we will share II. you
know. You help me; III chance the
resi-" qs.e.
"oh. I'll help you. I'll ketch him for
ye if,tlAat be all"
'Weli, that is all l want, II | can
get him 10 my house. can coax him to
tell me where he came from, and per
suade, him TO go back again"
so it is settled And this mad fellow,
who is the subject Of so mach delibera-
ton. is crouching in the wood watching
the lights fitting hither and thither In
the noble mansion of Mr., Royston, and
muttering eagerly as a shadow passes
the window now and again. 1t is She
he says presently. NO, it is too tall for
my darling Shall | never see her! Why
does she not come to newly notF' he
whispers; then be shivers, and cries out
softly. and there he will wait until the
last light disappears, and the house Is
in darkness: then he will 20 90 his straw
in a loft. forgetting hunger, and rags
and wretchedness in gentle thoughts OF
her who Is making ready for her soft
luxurious couch. with no feeling for him
in her heart. bat one Of dread and aver
sion
The alehouse is closed at last, and his
two enemies sit still aud motionless in
the dark shadow OF tree
nng to get cramped. and they get up
quietly, and walk up and down the mar
row lane leading past the Hall away
from the village. one on each side. IL
the shadow % the hedges
Then twelve O'Clock sounds from the
Uncovered steeple Of Chansinoor
Church. and Jem ticks of each stroke
on his fingers. ana stops at the tenth
stroke. for his practiced ear has caught
the rustic of garments; and presently
tbs poor beggar mnatic, with his shoes
SO thin as 70 make no football. and his
rags 50 caught by the wind that every
now aud again they catch in the BRAN
bIes Of the hedge. almost passes him
like shadow.
Re is dr0ning ont q few lines IL
low voice. unutterably sad in It's tren-
bling wretchedness He is almost pat
them In the darkness. but Black Jem
remembers the voice. and springs on
him ke a tiger, bearing him down heav-
lily. It very quietly and twisting b.s
handkerchief tight till he can hardly
breathe for the pressure on his neck.
He is exhausted: tley allow him to
ger his breath once more, and then 'em
takes of his eravat. and. whispering
to Mr. Atkins. gags the begsar with it.
and they drag aim on to his feet aud get
him TO the lodge.
Mrs Atkins is on the lookout. and
comes forward eagerly to look az this
man. who calls hlraself George Temple,
and says that Miss DuncOmbe Is his
wife. Her face lights up with pleased
surprise. and she slips the bolt Of the
door after they have brought him in.
He Is deadly pale. his eyes hale start
ing from their sockets, red rim round
bis throat. and hands that open and shut
nervsgsly But she is not Inkind to
him she is womanly enough TO suggest
that the gag shall be taken from his
mouth. when he gasps OUT, Nv ater.--
water brings him some; and after he
has drunk eagerly, she laves his face and
hands. and says soothingiy to him.
There is nothing to fear-nothing to
fear; only that you must be kept quiet
/ for a few days
Yes. res" he says, taking the wom-
ans hand but you win ct me 60 You
are good and sind. nor cruel to me. I
must go and look for my darling, my
Maggie
Yes. yes" she says. humoring him:
''to-morrow. not tonight You must be
tired. and must go 10 bed, not go out
again tonight"
Tired, be murmurs, YEARLY. Very
| tired: God bless you" And avaricious
| as zhe IS. and dearly as she loves gold,
| there il enough in this poor fellows wan
| face. with its remains OF manly beauty
-somethlng ia the cough that racks his
I very frame every now and taen-tha'
nleads for n.a. SO powerfully, that she
resolves no harm shall &C . to him,
/ though she viii earn Miss Duucombe'
money.
She leads him to a rather deep bat
/ fair-sized cellar; very dark. even with
| the light shown at the farther end bu;
III, . is q maCtrass. and A couple Of 6lsn.
kets, and a coIored Counterpart. and an
Old armchair, and some straw in tbs
farther corner on q heap OF rubbish. Al
together, IL cooks far from uncomforta
ble. for Mrs, Atkins love FOR order u
/ appa rent even here. and IL Is only wher
the ladder Is drawn 90 aad George lef
,Ioue. that he begins to feel frightened
aud to cry our Ia the darkness, a. b
hears the heavy door descend
He goes 20 sleep az last, poor fellow
prisoner though he ia, aud dreams tAa
he Is nearer % Maggie. asa IS face u
face attn her az last.
GU PTER XVIII