Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-03-16
BY MATTE DYER RRITTs.
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I = y
/ again" said Vance. claspiug her closer.
Never TO give up my own girl a'iy
/ more"
NO no, could not live il you iiG ~
/ fervently sighed Marcia forgetting wha'
/ n confession she was making. forgetting
! Louis, Florence. everything. for the mo
ment. except that Vance had come, and
/ she could feel his strong heart beating
| with great throbs against her own
/ Vance smiled, and his face kindled A
/ bold plan had been forming In Nance's
/ mind during the last half hour Perhaps
/ 1t might succeed
( Still clasping her closely, he said, gent
/ ly, Marcia must ask you two ques-
tons. An your future and mine depends
on what you say. DO you love Louis 2
II try to. for papa's sake. Vance.
All, that is answered Then. il even
now, something happened to release you
from him, would Won grievef"
Il would bless heaven for it. Vance. ."
Thank heaven. Marcia. you are ours
-mine-stiIl. and forever, | bring news
which viii release you Trust me, darl-
Ing. believe ma-you are free. can't
explJin now. but 90 to your room, and
wait till you are sent for. Then come.
and YOU shall hear all. Where is uncleE'
IN sho library"
Then 1 will 20 to him now. Ran,
Marcia, someone is coming"
Marcia flew az the sound Of steps. and
Vance vanished iato tie library where
Squire Douglas welcomed him with joy
full surprise
You're just in time, my boy - he
cried, glecfuly. Just in time for the
wedding But, bless my soul, boy, what
has kept you so long?'
Uncle, that is what / Travelled day
and night to tell you." Vance stepped
to the door and locked it. then threw of
his cap and overcoat, and drew two
CHAIRS near the fire, saying
sit Gown, uncle. and be as composed
as you can for | shall be Obliged 10 try
your strength largely There is cause for
grave thoNght and decided action. Try
to hear me as calmly as you can. sir
for / have q long story to tell
Don't keep me in suspense. Vance"
Il will not, sir" Then Vance began
Mt his first suspicion. and revealed every
thing. step by step. The emotions If
Squire Douglas. as he heard the tale,
would be utterly impossible to depict. He
gasped. lie wept. he rayed. When the
story was all told, the old Squire clasped
Vance 10 his aged breast and blessed
him for saving his daughter.
Yes: when her old father was deceiv
ed. powprless 10 shield her tender head,
you did il. my dear boy. Boss you,
Vance, my son, my SON. breathed the
good old Squire. in tremulous tones.
Vance was also deeply agitated, But
he reminded his uncle that Mr.. Edwards
would soon arrive with his charges. and
Marcia must he told before they could
confront the villain who was awaiting
SO serenely upstairs. Hearing Rosa's
voice in the hall. Squire Douglas opened
the door a tiny crack. and babe her send
Miss Marcia to the library instantly.
Marcia WAS not dressing, but waiting
for het. summons. with happy face. and
eyes Ike great stars What had happen
ed she did not know. But Vance had
said she was free, and she could trust
him. His manner was not the manner
of another womans lover. but OF man
who loved her, He had .,4lled her his, ="
too. Whatever was coming she had
been wrong in thinking him Flo-Fy's lov-
or. and nothing else mattered. She had
time to brace her nerves for n shock be
fore she was called down, and she heard
the story very calmly, with her hand
clasped tightly in Ter fathers.
well. papa" sad she. Il am sofe
now, and cannot be taken from you.
Promise me that you wiz do Mr. lie Dru
no violence, hesore you see him
Il don't know. won't promise '
growled the old gentleman. Il should
like to tear his vile heart out of his vile
body
At the sound OF footsteps he opened
the door. and Mr.. Edwards entered the
room with y stie and little Willie. who
chung To his mamh,a's hand,
We'll. old friend, here is trouble
said the Squire. rising and grasping Mr..
Edwards by the hand
/ Aud then. taking the hand Of the pale,
/ aritatcd lady. he drew her close To him,
/ saying. IN kindest tones, Come in. poor.
wrouged girl come in. You are with
/ friends now This is your home. | am
I your father. for the present
oh sir heaven bless your noble
I heart" sohbei Ncttje. And Won. dear
young lady" turning to Marcia with inn
ploriuS tones. oh forgive me Tor bring
ing this woe ta your door
Nay. lady. you bring blessing" said
+ March, putting her arms around Nettic.
/ Il thanl YOU for coming SO far to save
t me And reiaemhcr you have not only 10
do that. but to establish your own rights
1 md those Of this dear boy And she
lifted Willie mp and kissed him.
While they arrange for their final tab.
leau, let Va see what has become Of the
exnectant bridegroom. Mr. lie Dru. OF
course all this had taken less time in the
happening than it does in tho telling, yet
Mr.. Louis was beginning 20 wonder why
his groomsmeu did not come for him
when DO was told that Squire Douglas
,vonld like to see him a moment in the
} library.
Some tr1inG formahty ] suppose.
said Mr. Louis. lightly. rs IN nil his
bridal bravery he trpped downstairs t,
the library HenveIs, what a change in
human lives the mere openiug of dea
door may make.
Lightly. deboun1irly, Mr. Louis laid hi,
whites loved hard upon the handle " tbs
library door opened t--and rcelcd like ;
drunken man.
Mr. Edwards stood near the door
Vance. with Marcia beside him. n'ar III,
sofa In the center, Squire Douglas
with a lady On one arm. child hold b!
the other hand, The lady. white ant
cold rs death. the child with round, as
Tot ishcd eyes.
e loHis tottered n step forward. ash.
/ White, with strained eyes bent upon III
t group before him, with parChed. chokin
a throat. with stifened lips, An instan