Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-03-08


lost anything"
Eyes, my locket. The pole caught
and broke the Chain-I heard it fall"
oh, May, S!dney's Iocket!'
yes" says May despairingly; Il
heard it fall into The water Look.
her is the rest of the chain. What
shall dor" and the lips culver and
the soft brown eyes grow suddenly
dim.
In their dismay and concern the two
have forgotten Sir Heron, and have
been too absorbed in staring at the
water to see the sudden flush and as
sudden pallor which has swept across
his face.
For a moment he stands looking at
the sorrowfuI face, and feels as if the
twin devils, love and jealousy-for
there is a devil as well as god named
love-were tearing at his heart. Then
he speaks, and his voice is so hard
and strained that May starts.
where did you drop it," he saws.
There" says May, pointing.
"Yes-oh. yes" she replies, eagerly.
1T contains the portrait" Then
she stops. Why should she tell this
proud, naughty aristo crat of the vaga-
bond brother, whose name she is for
hidden to mention? Yes" she says,
Il do value it,"
a gee. l am very sorry. You
have now some tangible, real cause TO
regret this mornings work"
at cannot be helped; it was my
fault. l ought not to have worn it so
so carelessly."
For Heavens sake. do not cry. All
the portraits and lockets in the world
are not worth that"
Then he drives the punt on shore.
and jumps out.
Slowly May aid Carrie follow him;
he can feel how Mays hand trembles
in his.
Good morning. and thank you very
much, indeed"
stop! Wait there-sit down on
/ that stone for a minute or two" and
leaping into the punt. he fights his way
! upstream.
where is he going?" asks Carrie
How angry ne looked And, oh. May
/ don't cry
q am not crying" says May, q
ah!" and she springs to her feet,
pale and frightened.
With swift strokes Sir Heron has
made his way to the spot-he knows
it by the tree on the opposite bank
then, letting down the weight, steps
on to the seat and dives ciean as a
kingfisher into the cold blue water.
"May-May. Oh. he'll be drowned,
l know he will Oh, what shall we
do?" shrieks Carrie; but May stands
like stone and as opeechless, and as
white, her eyes fixed upon the cold,
steel-like water that has closed on the
stalwart form.
A minute-it might have been an
age-passes, and then something
black and sleek comes up beside the
punt, and one white hand grasps the
sides.
oh" gasps Carrie. There he is!
OH"
In another minute Sir Heron is on
board and looking down upon them
the water falling and flying from
every part of him.
With a jerk the punt CRATES on the
gravel, aD9 he stands before them
the locRet lying in his extended palm.
White still, bit trembling nov. May
puts out her hand and takes it. but
her eyes never once leave the proud
face, now all hard and constrained.
Tha-how can thank you?" she
says at last, brokenly.
There is no need" he says. Il am
glad | have found it, Good morning "
and he turned away.
"Will-will you not shake hands -
she says.
He turns, takes her hand, holds it in
his cold one, that suddenly grows hot
as fire, and looks her full in the face
with a look that seems to grave itself
on her heart Then he touches Car
rie's cheer with caress that is as
gentle as a woman's, and is gone.
/ They stand and watch him as if they
could not leave the spot-as indeed
they do not-until the tall, noble figure
is lost to view
They then turn, and in silence wall
toward home
"Oh, May" at last whispers Carrie
did you ever hear of such a thing
How noble-how noble of him! Thinb
of the water. cold-cold, Oh, it makes
me shudder l shall never forget
seeing him go down, and the water
closing over him and floking on as il
he were dead at the bottom, and the
child begins to whimper.
"Hush-hush," says May, and hel
voice rings with something that sound,
like triumph yes. it was noble
thing to do"
"And you dislike him so You were
quarreling with him alI-all the ii
time we were in his boat, and he was
so kind and-and ge-gentle Oh, May
| think it is quite wicked of you"
And May, who would, few hours
ago, have flashed an indignant retort
hangs her head, and is silent
And abreast they go into the hal
just as the drawing-room door opens
and Mr.. Dalton comes out His hand:
are thrust into his pockets. his face
is crimson with proud pomposity and
satisfaction, his voice rings triumph
antly.
"Where have you been? l wish you
would not go out without coming, and
l.