Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-04-26

I
ladyship always sits enthroned is
empty. the lights are low and the fire
smoidering. With an unnistakable
! sense of relief he is about to leave the
room wnen Rose Vavasour arises from
low ottoman hidden behind 4 screen
beside the ire.
"Halloa" he says. 81 tho .sht you
rad all fed the festive scene"
mo" she says, mot all. but | am
the last"
And she comes forward into the
soft light of the candelabra.
Heron looks at her absently; his
! thoughts are with the girl whom he
left on the steps of Gresham House /;
ne looks at her absently at first, then
something about her seems to force
his attention, and he notices that she
is in evening dress. A robe of some
satin or velvet he knows not-of a
rich subdued hue, 1rapes her tall and
! exquisite figure with perfect grace.
On her neck, which rises like a
column Of white marble, CLEANS a
hecklet OF dull gold set with da-
monds; a dead-white flower nesties in
the gold of her hair, and mos beauti-
ful and potent than all else, a smile
full of subtle sympathy shows in her
eyes and rests on her lips.
As she stands with the light falling
on her she makes a picture that the
most insensible of mortals could not
gaze on unmoyed; and Sir Heron is by
no means insensible to beauty in any
| form.
Unconsciousiy the absent .ook fades
from his face and gives place to one
of frank admiration.
With a sudden sense of relroach,
he remembers how he has deserted
/ this his guest for one whole dav, and,
with a half-repressed apology in his
voice, he says:
An alone That is too bad / am
afraid you must think NE perfect
, boor."
"Do not say word, - she says. why
Should you? There is no apology be-
! tween us"
Il Don't know that: I've been guilty
, of the most abominable selfshness.'
you have every excuse" she MUIR
murs.
My mother mas gone to bed? Where
is Vane?"
In the smoking-room, of course.
He sat for an hour. and yawned so
piteously that sent him away. Lady
i4etchford has gone TO bed"
And you sat up for me?"
Eyes; I have a message to deliver
/ from Lady Letchford.'
"A message?" he says; "a declara-
ton of war to the knife | suppose. OF
course, she has told you of the scene
she made at Gresham House," and he
, bites his lips.
'Y-es, she told me that there was
some unpleasantness, she murmurs,
looking down at the tiny, white
salined foot that rests on the marble
/ fender. 81 am so soIry-so very sor-
ry that she should have gone"
80 am l." he retorts. grimly.
80 very sorry" she repeats, glanc-
ing at him with look of frank SYM
pathy And this is my message: she
babe me tell you that she also was
sorry"
What" he exclaims. with in
credulous surprise.
/ Eyes, she is very sorry" she re-
peats 'It was done on the impulse
of the moment, and under the impress
sion that you, neither of you, quite
knew your own minds"
Being children" he says. with a
smile.
"And in short. dear Lady Letch-
ford is filled will remorse and sorrow
for the way in which she took the mat
ter
Heron stares.
as it possible? My mother apologize
ing She must be-ill!"
"She is very much upset" says the
| sweet voice. ut has been a disap-
pointment for her. You cannot feel
cause for annoyance in the fact that
she-that we all looked for great
things from you?"
Great things" he says. impatiently.
Great Heaven, what should make you
think | was going to do great things
Is it because | have done such unuttar-
ably small things hitherto, that you
| thought l must perforce take turn the
| ether way? Great things, what on
earth do you mean? Did you expect
was going to marry a princess or the
Queen Of Spain?"
She looks down at him with a little
meek, deprecatory smile.
Don't be angry with me. Heron."
she says; and her voice is as soft and
low as a flute.
Il beg your pardon" he says,
pulling up in a hurried pacing to and
fro and dropping into a chair again.
Angry with you, No. I should be
an ungrateful beast. for. of course.
know whom have to thank for my
mothers altered mood It is you who
have brought her around. You have
besn trying 70 make things pleasant
and comfortable for me, while T.
have been most possibly neglecting
you. Upon my word. feel ashamed
of myself. Forgive me for being so
selfish. Rose" and in his earnestaess
he puts his hand on her arm. Why,
how cold you arel" he says, with
concern. Come nearer the fire." and
ne goes down on his knee and stirs the
great logs of wood on the dog-irons