Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-04-20
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CHAPTER VII.


Mrs. Cholmondely sits at the table. with
every feature lighted up with JOY and
happiness and opposite to her sits the
pride Of her heart, her only son, Ernest
They say but little. while the silent
and attentive servant noiselessly removes
plates and dishes; but presently the cloth
Is drawn. and then they are left to them
selves, and she helps him in the old.
fond fashion he remembers so well, in
those holiday times when he was a
schoolboy at Eton.
He cannot but be affected by the deep
love q mis- fond mother, and he looks
at her happy face, radiant with solicit
ops affection. and is very content. He
remembers his father but very dimly,
hut from early youth he has loved and
admired his beautiful mother.
He is a spleudidly handsome man, this
mothers boy. He has his mothers fair
face. and exquisite Grecan features
deep gray eyes, short curly hair. well
suited to his Apollo-like bead, and The
Grame Of Il Hercules
lie is the fayorite or his regiment, and
the idol Of his men. He is the most
genial. goad-tempered fellow nliye;
eapital shot. can ride across country as
straight as the crow hies, and is an ac-
conplished athlete.
Ard how is Maud?" he asks, pres
@ntly; 'and how is she getting on?'
she is as well as she can be, dear;
and | think, as happy. Brighton agrees
with her wonderfully. Has she not writ
zen TO you iately?
"Oh, yes; | had letter from her last
week. always read dear little Maudie's
setters-that is. some of them. When
they are crossed. skip all the crossings
1t is hard enough to read what is actual
iy written ia the open. withopt taking
the hedges"
My dear boy. says Mrs Cholmon-
dely. laughing what lang uaEe to use to
lady! Whatever do yoI mean?"
That | ike your letters best, my dear
mother. They are written plainly. and
J can see you in every liue-straight, and
honest, aud open; no crossing to puzzle a
fellow; as pure and clear as your own
book Of life. And the young soldier
throws up his head iuvoluutarily. with a
great pride in the gesture.
4 gray shade, gradually taking the
light from the patrician face, steals over
the lady; and for a brief moment there IS
such a dead silence in the room that the
tick of the ormoiu clock on the marble
mantelpiece is almost fascinating in its
mon0ton0us distinctness
She rallies presently. though there is
still something little forced IL Eer man
ner. and says. smiling. Well. lear. I
must tell Maud not to cross her letters
when she is writing to you, and Shen
you win read hers. as you read mine, 20
the very last line"
She looks inquiringiy at him as she
says this; and he replies, ITO the very
last line. Thank heaven; my relatives
letters are worth reading. There never
was blot on our escgtcheon; that's a
a deal more thar az fellows can
.ssy. | am not proud. generally speak
ing" be continues, smiling affectionateiy I
but am proud Of the honor Of the old
name. and it shall never suffer, If | caa
help il, at my hands,
* quick. nervous t9emor runs through
che proud womaa's frame and then, ris-
ing hastily. she crosses over and kisses
the broad. manly forehead fervently
My own good boy she whispers.
Heaven grant that You may be able to
Keep your world And she goes back TO
her seat with the proud expression Of
i queen on the perfect features.
'Aprepos OF Maud. mothcr-is Gren-
feil at Brighton? | think Maud mention
ad something about it, but what It was
! forget now
Yes, he Is down for the winter. His
uncle came TO as to dinner last week.
He is very particular about Archer's po-
Iitical studies. Maud md he viii be mar
ried at the end ~ next season"
He is a capital fellow" says the
Captain. enthusiastically Il ana glad
lac takes to Maud so immensely
oh. yes, be seems very fond OF her.
and nothing c~n possibly look fairer than
hea, prospects. 6y the by, Ernest, IL
have got a new companion for her,
sowing young girl. as beautiful and true
Al she is good. and hope Maud will love
her dearly
well. let's hope so, rejoins the Cap
tain. rising, and suppressing yawn
. And now. dear mother. ] must be of.
Heigho! wonder II I shall ever live
with you altogether. and be a bachelor
son"
NO: I hope not" replies his mother.
81 hope you viii marry happily. and
nave boys and girls Of your own.
Il fancy not. mother" replies her son.
lightly. Il have never seen the woman
vet | could marry They say you are
hound 70 meet her at some period Of your
life; uu5 shall meet my fate some day
or other"
pray heaven il may be n pleasant
one my SON. Gays the lady. solemny,
And there is great quivering Of the
red lips. aud moisture in the large. sad
eyes. which does not escape the obserya-
ton Of the Captain; and so he kisses her
very affectionately sud bids her farewell.
and sends one or two TO his sister, and
ag sorts Of kind messages to Archer
Grenfell. and then rattles away 10 his
welI-appointed cab.
He did nor hook much like prophet
tls,, hght-heaued young man. rs he stood
in the mellow light this autumn night
aad yet. in 5he not far distant future, he
is to meet bis fate. and who shall say
what peep into the fuare he has unknow-
ingly illustrated tonight?
Another year. and these words will be
written on his heart. and woo knows
what dumb despair and awful yearnlng
shall trellis them about with an illumi.
nation of anguish
CHAPTER TX
The morning beams forth very bright
Is. aud the sun sends its Pickering rays
lnto every corner Of the breakfast room
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