Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-08-09

she longs absolutely longs for Samuel
Dalton to be still prosperous and liv-
ing, and his daughter her sons wife.
If he had married her." she muir
murs to herself, as she lies in the still
watches Of the night-''if he mad mar
ried her. he would have settled down,
and Should have seen him happy, and
had hin near me. Would to Heaven
he had inarr.ed her!"
Yes, it had come to this now. that
the naughty old woman would receive
May, penniless and ruined as she is
world even welcome her with open
arms.
For, with all her pride, Lady Letch-
ford is no fool, and bordering and
thinking, she has guessed during these
weary months what it is that has made
Heron desperate. and sent him to a
probable death.
But never word of this escapes her
lips. Even when Rose Vayasour speakc
confidently of Heron's return and soft
ly mu,murS of the apprc cning mar
fiage, the old lady utters 40 prophecy,
makes nc val; only at times when the
beauty mentions his name, mentions it
as If he Were on soD.e pleasure trip
On the continent, the old lady looks
up with a glance OF sad presentirnent,
and Rose Vayasour will take no count
of chances, and will not even listen to
Vane's vague murmurs of uneasiness-
and, to tell the truth, Vane is growing
both anxious and fearful.
Scarcely day passes but he looks
in and inquiries if they have heard any
tidings of the missing man. and when
Lady Letchford gloomily shakes her
head the beauty invariably laughs.
Heard? No, We don't expect to
hear, my dear Vane. Heron always
was the worst correspondent in the
world. No man hates writing
more than he does. We shan't hear,
We shall see, | give him another
month. BY that time he will have
grown tired of the whole execrable
business and be tearing home by the
quickest route and so heartily sick of
the Turks and the Russians that we
snan't get d wCrd from him about it,
AND Vane invariably gnaws his
mustache and looks down at his boots
and takes his departure in silence.
Not only to Vane, but TO all other in
quiries, and they are many, the beauty
gives the same answer, and the world
in which she moves. the little world
OF the upper ten, wonders and shrugs
its shoulders.
"A rare high-spiritedi one, the Vava-
sour," says the duke to Cornvale.
Looks very much as if Letchford had
become food for powder, and YET she
don't show sign; no mourning bride
about her." and the famous, or in
famous, marquis shows his exquisitely
made set Of teeth in significant smile
THE sort of woman l admire don't
wear her heart upon her sleeve for
DAVIS like you to peck at, duke AS for
the fellow, he doesn't know when he's
got good thing. He'll come back
ard fil,d he's lost if he tlon't take
care" adds her admirer.
No, the beauty is not ole to wear
her heart upon her sleeves; not even
her maid knows or guesses anything
Of the long, weary hours in which,
when all is still in the great house,
the famous beauty PAGES, with noise
less feet, up and down her bedroom,
tortured by wild anxiety and cease
less longing.
Tonight, ignorant that he is almost
within reach OF her. she comes into
the drawing-room, dressed for the last
ball OF the season.
She is magnificently dressed, dia-
monds CLEAN in her yellow hair and
rise and fall on her white neck; so ex.
quisite picture does she make as she
stands In the soft light of the shaded
lamp that Lady Letchford, as she turns
and locks at her. cannot help but won
Ger that any man should leave so rad
liant and beautiful creature for wild
life OF hardship and peril.
Where are you going tonight,
Rose?" she asks listlessly, touch of
reproach in her voice.
Surely this girl cannot love the alb
sent man or she could not thus array
herself In his absence.
ITO Lady Cranebrook's," replied the
beauty. 1T is the last ball. What we
shall do afterward know not. Die of
ennui. suppose Do you mind my go
ing? Say the word and l viii stay.
do not care for it."
The old lady shakes her head.
No; go, by all means. 1t is fortu-
nate you can enjoy yourself as you do
under the circumstances"
The beauty smiles strangely and for
the first time she allows nature to
show itself
Would you have me play the part
Of the deserted bride?" she says, and
there is a tone of bitterness in her
voice that causes Lady Letchford to
look up at her.
NO" she says, coldly and with a
naughty gesture. Il would not have
you assume an anxiety you do not feel.
You are wise in your generation. |
am past such wisdom. You have your
world. My son is. all the world to
me"
For moment the beauty stood toy
ing with her bracelet. then she came
and stood opposite the proud, upright
figure and looked down at her with
white face and flashing eyes.