Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-05-17

CHAPTER XVIII.

long DlSdtH. Go On, OSu! Oh,
know hat is coming"
Hush. don't tremble so. l s all
best now"
GO on-go on"
We'll, she read it, and bursting
into tears, held it Out-with her face
hidden in her apron-to me,
Il read it 1t was a letter, just
the sort of letter nobleman's edu-
Gated son would be able to write-ask-
ing her to meet him that night, and go
to London with him. OF course he
promised to marry her!"
"And--and you?"
az? Well, used strong language,
May. and | did a foolish thing. ought
to have taken the letter to the colonel,
but wanted to have my revenge on
the cowardly wretch. I went back
and told him. as if in answer to his
note. that the girl would meet him"
"Oh. Sgd"
yes; and he was SO pleased that he
threw me half a sovereign"
Mays hands frightened on his
breast
"All right, wait minute. The time
appointed was nine o'clock. the place
a barn just outside the barracks l
watched my friend start, and then
crept out Of the barracks. got around
by another way, AMI met him.
All"
May you should have seen him
start when he met me instead of the
poor child. But he kept his coun-
tenance-these men can do it!
didn't give him time to back out of it,
but | just took the letter out of my
pocket, wrapped the sovereign in it,
and flung it nthe ground at his feet.
He was on me like a tiger but l was
prepared for that. and. stepping back,
] caught him a cut across the face
with my cane. He's got the mark
now, | fancy Hush-hush!" for Mays
arms are aroun1 his neck, and her
lips pressed adoringly on his pale
face.
THAT brought him to book, and
gave him the advantage. He stopped
short and stood in front of the door.
Out of bounds drunk, striking an Of
hcer! Good says he, ami he shouts
for the guard. | knew he'd got the
hest OF it. He'd got the letter-my
word would go for nothing against
him, and if it had. I'd struck an Of
ficer. You can do almost anything
but that-that is the one unpardon-
able offense. l coull hear the
guards bugle-see the lights in the
barracks! | made spring for it,
knocked him down-worse and worse,
you see-and bolted."
"Oh, my darling-my darling! My
poor, brave, COOL sgd"
Il had just eleven pence-half-penny
in my pockets, ami j should have
starved if it hadn't been for a good
woman who gave me a loaf and a
piece of cheese-tut-tut Don't make
so much of it. dear"
God bless her, Sgd! God bless
her."
And | made my way toward Lon
don. Yesterday by luck--I get some
luck sometimes. after ALL went into
the alehouse in the next village to
this, and there l heard my own name
and found that you lived here
came on the next day, and-you know
all now. There, it's a long story"
May clies-and wisely he lets her
cry-in silence for a minute or two;
then she looks Gp.
sgd, if you knew how grieved-
how grieyed l feel, sgd, have de-
serted YOU
Mono"
most forgotten you in this new love of
mine; and you SO worthy of all my
thoughts. Oh, Sgd, forgive me! And
what shall l do? OH" and she
shudders, those dreadful men we saw
this morning!"
by George," he says, with a smile,
lit was a narrow squeak if it hadn't
been for you they would have had me
Confound them-but there. they were
only doing their duty"
And you are in danger still. Oh
sgd, what shall we do?" and she looks
around, shuddeyng.
Hush" he says, coolly-indeed, he
is by far the cooler of the two. This
is my plan. | mean to get to the
sea-coast as soon as possible, of
course. Once there, can get on
board a merchantman-they don't ask
awkward questions-and work my pas
sage out somewhere. Where doesn't
inter But-but | must have some
money, May" and his voice falters.
Money" she says, eagerly, of
course. Oh. sgd, how glad am
How much--two hundred pounds ?"
and she dives into her pocket.
He laughs
Two hundred pounds, Bless the
child, No A few pounds, just to
help me on the road You see. they
think I have not got a silver ana by
George. they're right and they'll keep
to the highroads. They won't try
the trains If can get en- the line
I'm safe. a few poulls viii do it."
She takes out her purse. tears it
open eagerly, and thrusts the check
which Mr.. Dalton has so generously
given her to buy bonnets into his
hand
What's this?" he says.
a check for two hundred pounds
sgd. Oh. wish it was for more"
He puts it back into her hand with
a laugh.
May. you are a good girl-you al