Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-04-19
fiickers on MAYS lips.

tend to meet my natural and newt,
able remonstrance with levity, Miss
Dalton?''
Il did not mean 10 anger you Lady
Letchford. VIII you go on, please? l
will promise to listen to you patient,
ly."
Lady Letchford inclines her head
in stately acknowledgment.
Thank you" she says; Il trust we
may understand one another. Frank
ly | should not have set out on this
unpleasant erranG if | had not great
hopes of succeeding in convincing you.
| am quite sure that | have not to
address either frivolous Or a schem,
j ing young lady"
A hot flush rises TO Mays cheeks,
and her eyes flash.
Il say | am quite sure of that. I
have only to point out how unsuitable
this match would be. how surely it
would end in the unhappiness of both
of you, to gain your consent TO tue
| breaking of this-this engagement, If
it can be called so. Miss Dalton, Sir
Heron is my only son; he is the heir
to one of the oldest titles in this king
dom; the Letchfords have held the
, estates since Henry the Fourth. With
such a name and standing any man
might take a foremost position; but
Sir Heron has other qualifications,
and his ultimate success as a states
man is beyond question, unless be
should make some such false step as
the one which he now proposes to
take.
Miss Dalton, he could find no sureS
way of accomplishing his social ruin
than by an unfortunate marriage.
have always looked forward TO mis-
union with some one who should be at
least his equal In birth and station.
and who should be qualified to help
him TO the position in the country
which he is bound in honor to take
Should he marry as his friends
would wish, there is no doubt of his
rising; but if. on the other hand. he is
led away by transitory passion or
passing whim TO step beneath him.
he is lost | beg. implore you, t.
consider this. If you refuse, then I
must appeal TO your own self-interest.
Miss Dalton | have seen more of
the world than you have. and | here
sclemnly assure you that no unequal
marriage can end in happiness, either
for one or the other
And Heron, An You do not know
Heron! 1t grieves me, his mother. to
have to speak of his faults: but Sir
Heron has his faults. You know moth
ing of his past life, you know nothing
OF his temperament and disposition
you know, nothing absolutely nothing.
CT his prejudices and sympathies, ano
yet you think that you can hold him
fast"
Here her thin voice rises ana
trembles with eaInestness.
You cannot do ia" sac goes Oh.
her hand half appraised and quivering;
you cannot do it, l. his mother.
know something OF mis- disposition. and
tell you that his great weakness il
that passion which holds him for the
moment, AM which surely passes
away If MY son marries you. he will
grow tired of you in month--stop, "
for May has risen, with white face and
Z Hashing eyes; Il beg you will here me
out. He will tire of you in a month:
he win go back TO mis- old pursuit.;
and friends-pursuils ana friends
with whom you cannot synpathize or
associate-and you will rue the hour
in which you allowed him to deceive
yourself and him. Miss Dalton. | have
spoken plainly; but is 1t not best:
Think, l am mother, pleading for
tle future of my son. Do not look re,
sentful,' for May has arisen and
stands with parted lips and heasing
bosom IF need any excuse for
speaking thus, have | not the greatest
of all pleas?-I love him."
AT this. the first touch of tenderness
in this long harangue May winces.
her passionate indignation dies out
from her eyes; with sudden palIor
and culver of the red lips sne sinks
INTO the chair, and, clasping her
hands turns away her head.
Lady Letchford rises hastily. ana
coming over to ner, puts her hand on
her shoulder.
MY dear" she says, with stift
gentleness, Il beg your pardon-I am
so sorry to have spoken $3.50
plainly; but what could do? As a
mother, | could not see my son rush.
ing to ruin and dragging another
thither also, without speaking. | did
not mean tn inSuit Won MOT "a, -
would do the same again if it were
necessary. But see it is not. You
understand, do you not, how i'm
possible this thing is? Quite. quite
impossible"
Motionless ami silent crushed ana
heartwrung. May sits like a statue.
Lady Letchford waits, and looks at
her, and signs and is about to murmut
kind word of consolation ano
gratitude but some imp will not per.
init her to let well enough alone. bu,
impels her to add, as she thinks, the
top stone of the edifice.
My dear" she says. Il shall always
feel grateful 10 you for listening TO
me so patiently. and sacrificing your
self to my sous welfare. I am very
grateful very grateful, indeed. | can {
utter the usual commonplace truisms
about speedy lorgetfulncss, but you
will let me say that hope, that con
fidently believe 1his-this little in.
cident in yor life will soon pass AVA.
You have known each o.Ael so short
tiuno +baf II is iypuoccGl,la tho Fo.IEras