Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-01-11

taken between the parties in Devon and
| Cornwall, and the country at peace. Lit
tie cared, at the time; but was content
How spring was come-tO loiter about
the tors. and while watching Joan at
her work. to think upon Della. For.
albeit, | had little hope 10 see her again,
my late pretty comrade held my thoughts
the day long. l shared them with no
body; for tho it's probable | had let some
words fall in my delirium, Joan never
limited at this, and | never found out
One day-'twas early in May-we
went to Bodmin Fair. where | bought
Joan a hand mirror. which | handed to
her as we Were riding home
What / the world be this?" she ask
ed, taking and looking at it doubtfully.
"A glass to see your face in" l ex-
planned.
BE this my face?" She rode for
ward, holding up the glass in front of
her. why. what a handsome looking
gal l he, to be sure! Jack. art certain
tbs my very own faeeY'
ITO he sure" said |, amazed
Well" There was silence for fun
minute, save for our horses tread or
the high road.
BY the way said /, did you mark
carriage just outside the crowd by the
Cheap Jacks booth with a white-hair-
ed gentleman seated inside:"
John nodded. Master Hannibal Ting
comb steward O. Gleys"
WHAT
jumped in my saddle. ana with .
pull at the bride brought Molly to a
standstill
"Of Gleysg" cried Steward Of Sir
Deakin hiliigrew that was?"
Right, lad, except the last word.
That is, should'st rather say"
Then you are wrong. Joan; for he's
dead and buried. these five months
Where is this house of Gleys? for to-
morrow | must ride there"
" lis easy found, then; for it stands
on the south coast yonder. and no house
near it; FIVE miles from anywhere. and
sixteen from Temple. due south"
The cottage door stood open as we rode
into the yard, and from il a faint smoke
came curling. with a smell of peat With
in | found the smoud'ring turves scat
ter'd about as on the day Of my first ar
rival. and among them Joan's father
stretch'd fiat on his face: only this time
the cat was cun'd mp quietly. and lying
between the old mans shoulder blades.
| marked a purplish stain on tho
ground by the old mans mouth, and turn
ed him softly over.
Joan" said l. hes dead
She stood above us and looked down,
first at the corpse, then at me, without
speaking for a time; at last:
Then l reckon he may SO well be
buried"
Girl" l calrd out, being SHOCKED at
this callousness, its your father-and
be Is dead
"Why. that's so, lad. An he were
alive, shouldn't trouble thee to bury ="
And so. before night, we carried him
up to the bleak tor side, and dug his
grave there; the black cat following US
to look. Five feet deep we laid him, hay-
ing dug down TO solid rock. and having
covered him over. went silently back to
the howell Joan had not shed a single
tear.
The next morning. following Joan's Ill
rections and her warnings against quars
and pitfalls. / was soon riding south
across the moor and well on my road to
the House of Gleys.
i was high noon-and duh, cherries
QaN-~beIDie IHe NlliS broke ana let me
have sighl of the sea. Nor till the noise
of the surf was in my ears did l mark
the chimneys and naked gray walls of
the house | was hound for.
A thin line of smoke blown level from
the chimney was all the sign of life In
the building; for the narrow lights of the
upper story We're mostly suffered. and
the lower floor was bid from me by 2
high wall enclosing n courtlage in front
One stunted ash, with boughs tortured
and bent toward the mainland, stood by
the gate. which was lock'd. 4 smaller
door. also lock'd, was let into the gate.
and in this again shattered iron graf.
ing. Hard by dangl"d a rusty bell pull,
a: which | tugg'd sturdily.
On this a crack'd bell sounded, far in
the house, and scared a flock Of starlings
ont OF d.sas'd chimney. Their cries
died away presently. and left ne sound
but that Of 1he guls waiting about the
cliff at ny feet This was all the an
swer | won.