Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-07-12

his sight; then, with a gesture of in
finite grief and despair, he springs in
to the saddle and rides away.
May does not break into passion of
tears.
She hears the sound of his horses
boots growing less distinct each mo-
ment-knows that she has let him 20
when word might have held him;
knows that he has said is last farewell,
and that by heF silence she has re-
Unpublished him to her riyal-but she
cannot weep.
! She simply leans upon the gate and
looks at the stars twinkling family in
the sky. and listens with a benumbed
sense of some swiftly-yanlshei delight
to the nightingale that pours out its
plaintive song above her head. How
long she stands communing with the
echo Of the fierce. iespairing voice.
calling up the memory of his pale, bag.
gard face. she knows not
A step BEND her arouses her: a
voice says at her side:
lis that you, Miss Dalton?
/
Graham Gordon. the vicar.
! 81 wondered whom it could be-" he
says, and his voice betrays his pleas.
ure at the recognition. What are
you star-gazing?"
Yes she says, with a smile of self
mockery. Il am stargaziug!"
And she thinks OF the star that has
fallen from her view forever.
Something in he voice strikes upon
i his ear, that has grown sensitive to
her every tone
1T is rather late" he says. looking
at her anxiously. 1T does not do to
trust these spring evenings too i'm
iplicitly. You should have wrap
about your throat"
Il do not feel cold, she says; but a
faint little shudder passes through
er Is it late? promised to
meet Carrie in the Manor Fieli-she
has gone up to te Hall"
i met her sr-mpering up the vii
lage half an hos ago, he says. 'She
said she had mi sad you"
Half an hour ago." she echoes
can they have been talking half an
aom'-"I did not know il was so late
-I--have been thinking"
He looks down at her as she walks
at his side.
Thinking" he says, in low voice.
Sometimes I have an iIea--you will
not be offended"
She looks up at him. striving TO col
lect her thoughts, and give him her
attention.
Offended! No why should I be-"
Il don't know / am always fear
full that I may offend you was go
ing to say that I am afraid sou think
TOO much
She smiles.
One cannot help ones thoughts
she SAYS. slowly
But you should not give way to
them" he responded. Sometimes when
| am looking at YOU fancy ihat-that
your thoughts are not too happy. Is
that SOP"
His voice drops almost to a MUIR
mur as he looks at her, and his eyes
seek hers with a tender usefulness.
May laughs, not bitterly. but YEARLY.
One cannot lirect ones thoughts -
! she saws: ''if one coull---" And she
stops
He does Tot press her to fill up the
pause, hut he touches her arm in a
protecting, revevential fashion.
"Wili YOU put your handkerchief
Ground yonr neck?" he says at is
colder thar you think"
She laughs, but she obeys him.
You wouid almost make me believe
hat | am delicate" she says, where
as am quite ridiculously strong.
Arc YOU" ne quastious. q am moi
quite so sure of that; I have seen you
look anything but strong at times"
oh. You are quite wrong she re
torts. 1T is Carrie who is delicate, IL
/ either of us; | have to take care Of
her. HID she a shawl on when you
met here"
! lie mods. with smile
Yes. your shawl; I recognized it in
moment"
Another woman would have noticed
the significance of the little admission
hut May smiles innocently and blindly
They pass out of the lane and under
the shadow of some trees, and May
ztumbles slightly in the sudden dark
ness.
win YOU take my arm?" he says;
and he takes her hand and draws it tc
his side
How soon the twilight fanes " she
says Carrie viii think am lost
DID she say that she had enjoyed her
self?"
Yes he replied; "she seemed very
happy. heard her singing as she
n