Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-07-20
CHAPTER XXXII

CHAPTER XXXII.
Mrs. Cholmondeiy and Jocelyn Hugh
iDamer had been left mere infants to the
guardia nship of an unwilling, selfish man
Another had Joined him. but took no heed
or care for them. and they might not
have had a friend in the wide world hut
tutors and goyernesses, and school fell
lows, for aught either Of these cared.
As childreH, the~ loved each other
more than anything else in the world; as
they grew into youth and girl. the feeling
ripened, and they stood on the defensive
against their Indifferent protectors, and
chung TO each other the more.
1t was thus Jocelyn Hugh Damer and
his sister. Edith Damer, began and car
1ried on their lives There was no pre-
tense on either side. For twenty years
they were all in all 20 each other. and
then Jocelyn began to so to the bad. He
did well enough at school-indeed, was
considered clever boy; but a foolish
freak had got him rusticated at college,
and his guardians declared that they had
mo hopes Of him, and should be glad to
wash their hands Of him and his affairs.
Edith. proud Of her brothers birth and
high estate, felt the blow keenly, and it
was the occasion Of the first quarrel they
had ever had
WHAT does It matter?" said Joeelyn.
,soolly. Il didn't care for degree; it
would have been Of no use to me. l in
1end to enjoy my life after my own fash
lon, and that is not the fashion OF people
4 like our guardian, for Instance"
"You ought to be ashamed OF yourself.
Jocelyn." she said, angrily. 1T is a dis
grace TO a gentleman TO be turned out of
his university; and as for spending your
life in your own fashion, If you continue
as you have begun, heaven only knows
where you viii stop"
We'll. | hope / shall be informed in
good time. that's ALL" he said. laughing.
Il am not very particular, bat If you
expect me ever to settle down into an
old fogey. and marry, and that sort OF
shing. Edith, you win be mistaken: so I
may as well tell you first, as to let you
see it at the last
Then he had kissed her, and gone away
En- celebrate his coming Of age with
grand party in his own chambers. gath
erplg round him all that was witty and
artistic and clever. but people who were
all strangers in the exceedingly severe
school in which Edith had been brought
-sp
There was no calling OF the Aristoc-
racy o. the ne,ghborhood roun 4 him at
fhie country seat--0o procession of ten
;sIits-no roasting OK whole oxen, or
adhool children's feast iis sent heque
TO the clergyman Of the parish telling
him to use It how he liked, and gave the
tenants n dinner, aud then for himself
q q. 81 Al
and after his own fashion.
And so years crept on, aud Edith had
found something of the hollowuess of the
world that was so strictly proper. then
had married Mr.. Cholmonde,y, and in her
children had been very happy,
But even now her brother stood FIRST
He wrote her long letters, ard gave her
an amusing account Of his l.avels: and
she never knew how much she loved him
till letter, written by a foreign hand
In provincial French told her that her
only brother was dying.
She took the letter straight 70 her hus-
band. and he had been greatly perplex-
ed, doctors had been consulted. and their
consent given. Next she was kneeling
by her brothers side, aud was talking
to him, the good cure having slipped out
OF the room.
She soon knew the cause Of his hapless
state--of the terrible railway accident
that had so crushed his spine that he
lay dying there this bright day.
Jocelyn was telling Edith the history
r5f his life, the which had been compress
81 into a year Of such exquisite bliss.
that the description OF it brought the
tears to her eyes, ane rosy blush TO
her cheek,
and this is what he said: "You know.
Sissy. have gone the pace pretty fast,
have had my share Of the good things OF
the world, and have had as much happi-
ness, perhaps, as many men twice my
are-untii one day that I shall come to
presently, | was very fortunate in my
life, as | am in my death, dear, for |
feel not the slightest pain, only a numb,
mess, that, when you press your hand on
my chest here. | can nc more feel the
pressure than ! could Il a fly settled
there. Nay, don't cry, my pretty sister
Kiss me-so-that is we'll, Let me SET
where was =? Oh. / remember now
i was at the beginning. Well deaf
Sissy. all the time | had been about
of all the pretty women had seen OF al
ranks, never once fell in love. | nigh
have had passing fancy, hut l ne, e,
knew womRn that touched mr. heart
till one night had to so down TO Wales
got out at junction. was too leisurell
In finishing my soup, and was left be
hind. No very great thing this. you vii
think. Well, it would have been an &C
cldent, perhaps, to ninety-nine men in
'hu7dred. To me it vas an epoch Of lif
not lightly to be put aside, for it chang
I'D the whole current Of my existence"
k1e paused a minute, and then contir
asd: "of course went to the best hotel
equally Of course, the place was SO <ol
ribly dull after he gas was lighted,
was bored to death. had my dinner
rf-y zap and actually now it was only
O'Clock What was 10 be done? l ran
for the lsndlord-put the case to him.
~Weii, sir, there is the theater. It
@Hamlet' tonight; but I am told tbs
che scenery is not very good"
The very thlng-a theater.' IN,
with the remembrance OF mine host