Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-03-22

bent upon his breast, his eyes fixed on
the carpet.
Il am quite ashamed to display my
musical ignorance. Miss Vavasour
must dispel my discords with some
real music"
GO. Rose" says Lady Letchford.
TIE beauty puts down her fan, arises
to her full height. and sails to the
piano.
1T is | who ought to be ashamed to
sing after Miss Dalton" she murmurs.
I "Vane, viii you find that sonata of
Schuberts?"
| Vane goes on his knees and rakes
about among the music in the canter-
bury, and sits up, the sonata in his
| hand, all in the most dutiful manner,
and Rose Vavasour touches the keys
with that peculiar touch which only a
musician acquires, and sings.
One of the best masters of tie 10y
| mas the credit of training the powerful
/ voC which has been heard in the
best salons of the fashionable world,
with princes of the blood applauding.
She sings perfectly; not note or
crochet out of place, but-ah that
bdt-perfect a piece of art as it is, it
Lacks the one touch of nature which
would larry il 10 the hearts of her
hearers.
Mays simple ballad went to the
heart even of Vane Vavasour, the
blase man of the world; Rose Vava-
sour's elaborate sonnet does not go be-
yond the ear. Lady Letchford looks
up with something like a sigh.
Thank YOU. Rose" she says Sing
us something more"
Sir Heron finds his voice, too, and
mutters cold thank you" Then he
leans over Carrie. Are you fond of
music Miss Carrie?" he says.
Yes says Carrie. q could listen
to it forever"
"That's a long time"
"To Mays" says Carrie. with frank
candor, But she will not always sing
when one wants her. Sometimes she
used to sing in the evening when pa
pa came home from the city, and be-
fore the gas was lighted-before she
went away"
"Oh, she sang to YOU and papa. No
one else?"
No one else" says Carrie. There
was no one else"
Where then was the Sydney
whose portrait he had dived for.
Il didn't know. And what else are
you fond of-pictures?"
yes I'm very fond of pictures
not landscapes, but figure pictures,
with something in them"
Sir Heron smiles, and he takes up a
lock of the golden hair which has es-
capped from the coil and toys with it.
Would you like to look at some pic
lures with something in them?" he
says.
"Oh. yes" says Carrie, eagerly.
Come along. then" he says
Carrie jumps up, then looks across
at May, who is talking to Mr.. Vava.
sour
Might May come, too? She is aw-
fully fond of pictures"
Yes; go and ask her"
Carrie makes her way around the
chairs and tab.
May" she says, "Sir Heron is going
to SHOW us some pictures. Come
along
May hesitates a moment then al
lows herself to he dragged gently
across the room to where Sir Heron
| ctapdc hcldipr hooI- Tho o,,r4o;p-. a., 4
Rose Vayasour. looking around, has
the satisfaction of seeing them disap-
pear. and while she is singing
Sir Heron takes Carries hand, and
they cross the hall and enter a long;
narrow room. which, in the daytime,
is lighted by a stained window, now
dark and colorless. All four sides of
the room are covered with pictures.
by ancient and modern masters, some
of them priceless gems, all of them OF
note and value. Sir Heron touches
spring, and the room is Instantly
lit up by sunlight gaselier in the
ceiling.
why, it is like an exhibition. Oh,
what wonderful place this is, Sir
Heron you seem to have everything.
Iou ought to be yery-very happy"
Not everything, Carrie" he says.
Count no man happy till he is dead.
said a wise man"
That's horrible idea" says Car
rie, stoutly What beautiful pictures.
Look. May"
May looks around the room. Sir
Heron looks at her. Never since the
! first time he saw her has she appeared
more beautiful in his eyes than she
looks tonight; her voice rings in his
ears. Lut when he looks at her he sees
coiled around her warm, white neck
the chain to which is suspended the
iocket of the unknown Sydney" A
bitter feeling of disappointment arises
and wars with his admiration. The
girl whom he thought so fresh and in
! nocent is living a life of deceit and
concealment; for it is evident he
augues, that her father knows nothing
OF the man-her lOver-whose portrait
she carries about with her. He can
scarcely bring himself to speak 10 her.
and yet-and yet how beautiful she
looks, as, apparently unconscious of
his gaze. she stands beside him. And
then the vulgar. self-sufficient father,
Boosting of the fortune with which he
means 10 buy a husband for her A
strong wave Of disgust rushes over
him, and he turns away. resolved to