Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-05-17

Heron takes up the post bag ana
turns over the letters. There is one
for him from the heroic Charlie, and
he opens It. just glances at the heading
ana puts it into his pocket Then he
looks at the clock; it is too soon to
dress
Come and have a game of billiards.
Vance ne says putting his head into
the library.
Right says Vane. only too ready
to shilk his letter, and they go into
the billiard room.
/. Fine sunset. Win you break? How
IS Miss Dalton?"
- VERY we'll. says Heron. I'VE
have been over to the fair Nane,
want you and Rose to dine thereto
morrow, perhaps. I'll speak TO May.
And. Vane. want you to tell Rose
how grateful ! am to her for her
thoughtfulness in talking nay mother
over. can't thank her enough"
Then hanged if / can. says Vane,
nalvely, "A word from you viii go
further than a printed book from me-
GU tt'AON' IoN INV way w thlhh u
taking flight"
NO. net yet" says Heron. 4
don't deserve any mercy at your
hands, but you mustn't go yet. want
to have a good time. We must get
up frolic I've behaved shamefully
but then, | am hard hit, you know.
IIalloa--whos that?"
only l. May | come in?" says the
beauty. opening the door with nice
umidity
Come in, says Heron Have you
been out?" for she has on her hat and
Jacket. and her creamlike complexion
is tinted with warm flush. She comes
into the light of the gas shades, and
he looks at her again with a kind of
, admiring curiosity; her usually calm,
serene eyes are brilliant with sort
Of suppressed excitement.
eyes. | have been out" she says
and wish | hadn't, / am so sorry
TO disturb you-but do you know,
have been stupid enough tc drop my
! locket."
Your locket!' says Vane, with dis
gusted surprise. for it is a valuable
) trinke. ser with diamonds and pearls
Yes" she says, with little laugh
of annoyance. Il have been in the
wood. | know where it dropped, be
cause l heard it fall. though il
! il was an acorn--'
! Acorn. nonsense saws Vane
or something she goes ca, quick
rs. Bat when | came on I missed
! my locLet. and feel sure it was that!
dropped il just in the little wood
where we stood that night he first
night we were here"
"On all right" says Vane, compos
/ eddy. we will go and look for it in
the morning"
In the morning" says Heron
promptly. NO. III 90 now"
/ oh. no: pray don't trouble" she
says, but with an eager, grateful look
III her eyes.
1T is no trouble, says Heron
Don't disturb yourself, Vane. Come
along, Roosevelt find it,"
And he catches up his hat and fol
! lows her
Il am quite ashamed of troubling
you" she murmurs, but should be
so sorry TO lose it. 1t was given me
by the Countess of ST. Clair on my
birthday"
"Of course we must find it," he
says; don't speak OF trouble. owe
you a great deal of kindness in the
matter of May and my mother. Shall
we want lignt?"
"Oh, no." she says, eagerly: there
viii be light enough. The diamonds
will glitter, you know"
IAN right" ne says. laughing; youI
: eyes must be our light. Take my arm
j So eager and anxious is she, that
when they reach the wood, she be
comes quite silent; ana Heron strides
along. silent too
Presently she stops Almost at the
( identical place at which they hal
stood and discussed the Daltons, or
the night when May had declared that
( she hated Sir Heron Letchford.
1T was here she says, in a whis
per Just here j dropped it, oh, what
is that? | can hear some one talking
/ 1t must be poachers. Hush don't
! speak
And she presses his arm.
"Poachers, says Heron. early as
this?-not likely. Some trampah!"
For there strikes on his ear the well
, known voice of the woman he loves.
For moment he stands stock still
staring in the direction whence the
voice proceeds; then. as her words
reach him. words of loving tenderness
and self-reproach-wor framing a
confession of desertion-he moves a
step forward; but the strong white
hand on his arm draws him back into
| the shadow Of the trees, and so over
come is he by astonihsment and an
ger. that he does not resist
! The sweet. sorrowful voice goes on;
every word can be heard by the two
. listeners. every word burns itself into
| the brain of the man, and helps to
! deceive him.
For now he hears a mans vo.ce-a
mans voice consoling and soothing
! the woman
Had the beauty brought him five
minutes earlier some phrase of sgd
rey Dalton's would have informed Sir
! Heron that he was listening to Mays
3 brother: but as it is, there IS nothing