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

@you wonder why have sent for Tou
Mrs. Atkins" said the cold. clear voice;
land think. I dare say that benevoience
mas had little enolgh to do with ig! Wow,
l tell yen this 81 the beginning, thar you
may see l am 40 hypocrite."
i ana sure yoa are not that. returns
Mrs.. Atkins. in a low voice.
-.No.7 said her visitor. L arm not. |
profess only Just what / feel. [ want a
servire done me- you offered. in the
past. 10 do anything you could Tor me;
zsw 7 am going to put you to the test
Understand me. Mrs Atkins, for perhaps
1 may not be able TO come to you again
before my marriage. and therefore l
wiSi4 Won to understand every particular
rs ".
Mrs. Atkins, completely overawed
with the proud. imperious beauty and the
sweet, monotonous tone, can only bow
a reply.
Il want a certain ssI.iee rendered ne.
and mzz prepared 10 pay you ver~ lib
ErzFfv for your troubsc II Is a trining
matter, but Of some importance 70 me-
What is the service speak said
Mrs. Atkins. in shrin voice. and pant
fss. with eagerness. Il accept your
rvrrus. Whaf is jt2-quick tell me-
&uS yap wunan's countenance IS pic
rure, in its compiacent greed and coyet-
business
The dark lady sits quietly ana watches
her for a moment with great satisfaction
IN her face. Then she says. quietly: 1t
Is very simple matter. There is d poor
mad begxar staying down at the beer
aouse in the village-he is q iunatlc, in
Heed. bat he may annoy me, ana be- very
troublesome. situated as | am. for his
madness has taken the form Of fancying
I am his wife Who or what The poor
fellow il. neither know nor care; but
ne may annoy ne, and 10 not ekoose
10 he annoyed
For all the world. Mrs. Atkins could
not have held her tongue now,
Perhaps he is an escaped convict
who knows9" she says, pointedIy.
who. indeed ? responds Maggie, look
ing with such scrutiuizing contempt al
the woman before her that she troops
her head suddenly. Well. whatever ol
whoever the man may he. I waas hin
taken care Of till after my marriage, al
ali events, and then. after that, othel
arrangements may be made She arise
At this. aud says. Well. Mrs. Atkins
what is your answer? Can you assis
ne: Yes or no.
Yes" repuies Mrs. Atkins. fercely
1t shall be done at once
Maggie then takes ont some ctisl
bank notes aud gives them to Mrs. A.
sins. whose fingers fasten on then
-xreeIjly: then she stops in the doorwa,
between the two rooms. and says, "Oh
nv hi hv. Mrs. Atkins, this poor fellow
. url-r the delusion that he Is II
husband and that his name is Georg
Temple"
And how shall be able TO commu
uicafe with you. or let you know whe
we have him safef"
.'OE. had forgotten that--ii is mos
important. 800. Let me see, Suppose
lose nay ring here. ana you bring II u
ahen the matter is settled, ell ~
That will do says Mrs. Atkins.
And accordingly Maggie takes off th
-ting--Randars gift Of betrothal, an
gives u to the hard faced woman. Thei
with 8 sweet smile ou her face. MaGgi
departs
Mr. Atkins comes home by and b.
aud his wife seeing that he S sobe
breaches The plan 10 him.
Il win just drop down &c che vjnel
afteq 3 grcr,> dusk, and see what can L
ssoscf Ire Say7.
SO Mr. Atkins goes down TO the bee
house again and finding Black lem sri
Ioafng round ne door. pats him on h
shoulder.
Il say, my friend. speaks Mr.. A
kins. you arr rather hard up. amt yor
not a poekeleul Of money TO thro
away, ehI'
Black Jem looks suspeiou,'y aud sou
Is at him for a moment. and then E
plies. grufly. Nay there he little bra
khst falls TO the share o. the likes
me-
'Ah. i thought SO. Now, il cou
put jolt in your WY worth, say. co
pie OF dollars OF so. l suppose YOU cou
do It, and keep it quiet, a. z
"A coupleso' dollars" said Black JeI