Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-06-28

We were just lamenting our solitary
state. Where is Vane?"
"Vane?" he says, absently. 'Oh,
yes he called at Mivart's today, twice,
| think. Was he to be here? | came
in only just in time to dress"
Then he begins on the soup, and
they leave him alone for a little
while.
BY the time he has finished, Lady
/ I.etchford has taken her cue from
Rose, and makes an effort to initiate
her light carelessness.
He is 10 oe treated as if nothing had
occurred. Even the butler catches
the tone. and hovers about him with
an earnestly unectionate obsequious-
ness, taking care thai he gets his IA
lCritc dishes ana favCrite wines,
! they treat him as if he were a prince,
who had suddenly returned from long
travel aud foreign lands, and as one
who could not be made too much CT.
! Anu then, when the fish has come
and gone. Rose begins TO talk. She
/ does not ask questions, she puts him
to no trouble, she talks to amuse.
Nov, it is a difficult thing to with,
stand a beautiful woman wneE she is
silent. but a beautiful woman who is
clever to boot and who exerts her
/ cleverness on your benalf, is simply
irresistible
Fer some time Heron sits and lis
I tens Win an absent, wearied express
I sion; nut gradually, as the dinner
progresses-a dinner carefully chosen
with view TO his taste, accompanied
! by rare vlntages-his pathy yields and
melts beneath the sunny warmth of
/ her beauty aud the Irresistible charm
ot her manner.
/ Lady Ietchford, watching her close
/ ly. is too clever to spoil the effect by
joining in the conversation, ami mere
/ ly throws in word here and there.
Gradually but surely, the charm
begins 10 work. the exquisitely fur
nished. yet home!y room. the beautiful
woman exerting herself, and yet con-
cealing all evidence of effort, begin to
/ tell; and not once or twice. but often
/ the stern lips relax into a smile, the
cloui of WEAKNESS lifts from mis-
brow, his lips grow softer and his
voice ess harsh.
For the moment he Almost forgets
those dark, loving eyes, with the wist-
ful tenderness and half hidden pas
sion
Not till she has won a smile from
him does Rose Vayasour arise; and
as he opens the door for them. she
looks over her shoulder and giances
up into his face.
Don't be long, will you? am go
ing 10 Lady Mcrivale's."1
He iuolines his head, then says,
suddenly:
Don't go tonight"
NO! Why not she asks, with
smile Well will think Of it.
He goes back to his chair, and the
butler brings in a bottle of the old
Letchford port and uncc ks it care
fully.
What is this?" asks Heron
The As. Sir Heron; / ;hink you
will find it in good condition. There
IS the LATTE i'll town, if YOU would
like it,"
No" says Heron, leave the port"
And h, throws himself back in an
oasy-chair.
Meanwhile the two women sit over
the fire, Lady Letchford anxious and
wistGul Rose Vavasour confident and
smiling,
How ola he looks" murmlrs the
grim old woman. He has aged five
years in these few weeks. 1t Kills
NE to see him. Rose"
! The beauty smiles ami lays her
hand caressingly On the best shoulder
Don't let him see that you are
,nxious." she says, in q low voice.
Flow can help it?" he old lady
rcJorts. How could any mother look
on her son so changed, and appear
lnconcerned?"
And yet that is what we must do,
We must not frishten him, unless we
want 10 lose him"
Lady Letchford looks mp obviously.
No we must not lose him, Rose,
/ I have every confidence in you. Oh.
! have noticed how you influence him,
Save him. if You can, for my sake
The beauty smiles significantly.
Il viii do 50 foT my own" s.e says.
DO sou think he knows anything
anything about the girl?' asks Lady
/ LetChford
To he continued