Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-06-21

as this.
Mrs Owen says she would sooner
see her girls dead and buried than
leading such a life; but there young
things is always taken up with show
and glitter. and anything seems better
than honest work at home"
Braithy ate made no reply. His
divinity had come down from her
pedestal to stand before him in the
guise of a poor and suffering woman
and his heart was filled with a passion
of tenderness. He walked home over
the hills, his footsteps echoing on the
road and his face turned up to the
starS.
No prince" he was saying to him
self-'only a poor working man; but
if she needs me-if l could keep her
safe-Td serve her as if she were the
greatest queen on earth!"
The next afternoon Will Braith-
waite knocked At the door in Lake
Bank and the landlady came forward
To as his business. rs Miss We're in
the house? ] want to see her." he
said. simply, and the woman shrugged
her shoulders. Cant tell you, I'm
sure. Some of them are in. They are
coming and going all day long. Front
room on first landing. Go up and ask
for YOURSELF" She retreated to the
kitchen and VIII mounted the stair
case and tapped timidly at the door. A
voice cried Come in!" and he entered
an untiiy room, in the center of which
a woman sat at table, sewing some
trimming round the skirt of a gown.
did you want to see one of the
men? They don't stay mere! You'll
find them at the Ship If you go at
once. We are leaving at tonight"
Thank you no! l have no business
with them. 1t was one of the young
ladies | wished to see
co." the woman dropped her eyes
and took up the discarded work. "They
have gone out for walk, but they'll
be back in half an hour Sit down
and wait. They'll be glad to see you"
His glance passed on to the woman
who sat stitching at her task with an
indifference to his presence which
would have been wounding to the
dignity of vainer man. Her hair was
thin and gathered tightly back from
her forehead the exression of listless
melancholy on her face accorded i'll
with the f,,volity of her surroundings
"YOu are moving on today, you said.
suppose you never stay long in one
placer"
Scarcely ever so long as this. 1t
has been a real rest here. and so COM
Portable We don't get a place like
this in the towns"
you must get very tired!"
She smiled, as if the idea amused
by its commonplaceness.
20. tired! I've been tired all my
life it seems to me. I'm about used
% il now"
But when vou are at homer"
She laid down her work and stared
at him with her dull gray glance.
Il have no home! I've been on the
road since I was born, We have
no homes, young mani It's luxury
we don't understand in our profes-
sion!"
But but" He hesitated awk-
wardly. Some of you surely must
settle down? 1t stands 10 reason you
can't all remain single, and when you
marry you must have home, like
other people"
Very seldom, We either marry
among ourselves or remain as we are
How could it be otherwise? Two Days
in that town. two days in this. off
again by train to another part of the
country We make no friends outside
and have no time for anything but
work and sleep.
People who don't know about the
stage think ii IS a fine. e3sv life. hnt
they are mistaken. I ought to know,
for I came of a family of actors, ana
have had bitter experience Of what it
means. It's the worst fate that can
happen to a woman. for its swallows
up her youth, sends her aarift at the
first sigr of age"
"Ay that's hard" Brajthwaite
said. "but it, can't be so bad with
them all. Some get on well, and take
principal parts, and then, surely, they
are better off. There's Miss We're"
The woman looked up sharply at
was Miss We're then-Nellie We're
that you came here to seq"
Eyes, Nellie We're! Cinderella!
wanted to have a word with her.
have been to the institute to see her
act the last three nights. ] went by
chance at first, but after that ! could
not stay away. Her face was always
before met drew me TO her"
The woman laughed shortly. "She
locked pretty, you mean. and took hold
Of your fancy? And 50 you must needs
come and make things harder for her
Just to give yourself little amuse-
ment' What good will it do a girl
to nave you whispering sweet speeches
INTO her ear and upsetting her mind,
when she must go away and leave you
before another day is over? You can
nave nothing TO say to Nellie We're.
young man, that she would be happier
or better for hearing. Why can't you
keep your company for the girls in
yo " own village?"
/ know no girls" replied Wil]. al
most Indignantly. q never wanted to
speak to one before I should not
have dared to speak to her two days
ago. She seemed like a princess, far
above my head, but yesterday 1t was
different. She was a princess no
lonnor LIT or1r q Lit Of q c.irI " nrlt-