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

lduL, tliit IHuiSndul. N1lliOul T.
While she has been speaking,
strange thought has flashed through
mis- brain If it is true that this girl
comes of a vulgar stock. and has spent
her years in the humble position of a
teacher in a common boarding school,
from whence has she got this air of
| high breeding. this consummate self
possession and quiet dignity, and,
, above all, this irrepressible pride. Not
Rose Vavasour herself could look more
haughtily than this paryenus daugh-
Ter.
There is a moments silence, in
which Sir Heron has time to realize
that he is being lectured, rebuffed, set
aside, and by a girl of twenty A
| faint color glows behind his tan. and
the shadow of frown, not of anger,
but of peiplexity, hovers over his dark
/ brows.
You accused me just now, by i'm
plication. of pride"
"And you retort that I, too, am
/ proud. You are right
TOO proud to receive so poor and
conventional an attention as l have
shown this morning not TO you only
but to your sister,"
yes" she says. ignoring his refer
nee to Carrie. 81 am too proud to
! accept Sir Heron's acquaintance
! When
Pray go or" he says, graveIy.
wei, / will" she says while his
friends do not consider me worthy of
! it,"
He bites his lip, and is silent for a
moment, while he inwardly curses the
laws of caste which have permitted
his mother to ignore the tence OF
ner nearest neighbor for over two
years.
Il cannot affect to misunderstood
you" he says; 'but l will not under
take to answer for others shortcom
ings, though l may have to suffer for
them"
you do not misunderstood me in
another way, | hope" May says, with
a quick flush. q am not complain
| ing"
NO" he says; Il can see that
though my mother came on her knees
and implored your pardon she would
NOT get il. But if | am frank, you
nave set me the example Is there
no other reason for that implacabil-
ity? May l ask you a direct ques.
tion?"
TO what purpose?' May says.
Il will ask it. Miss Dalton, in the
whole course of my life have never
spoken as you have spoken today.
Your frankness prompts me to go to
the bottom of this matter Will you let
me ask you if there is not a stronger
reason for refusing my acquaintance?
DO you dislike me?"
This is not a proper"
do not descend from the lofty
pedestal upon which, like Truth per-
sonified, you have been furnishing me-
| have not said word in my defense
i have borne all with the meekest
humility. Humbly l crave an an
swer Am I personally repugnant to
your"
No she says, "but--'
Stop. Do you think I am about
to take advantage of your answer?
You wrong me- If you had said yes, ;
I should have respectfully endeayored
to ascertain the cause of your dislike.
and tried to remove it. As it is--as I
am not, in myself, repugnant to you.
| viii say no more. will certainly not
| af Fra,,
More, l beg your pardon. You are
tight have entrapped you this
morning to crafty selfish desire to
build into friendship an acquaintance
which has brought me"
4 May arises with pale face.
stop" he says, q will not offend
you | will say no more. | do not
wish TO lose the slight good viii you
bear me-"
Then he turns to Carrie, who is too
absorbed TO pay any attention to the
few words here and there which the
weir allows her to hear, and putting
his hand on her shoulder, says gently:
"No fl IN YETI"
! NO; I thought I had one. but it
must have been only a weed"
Never mind. am sorry to say I
cannot persuade your sister to remain
longer, perhaps another time-now
land, eh?"
I Really do you mean it? Do you
really mean it? Oh, l hope you do
May. Sir Heron says that we may
come in the punt some other day, and
-'' Then she looks from one to
the other, and her face falls. and as
she stoops to put her rod aside. she
lays her hand on his arm and wills
pers, confidently: What have you
said to her? Have you been quar-
reling?'
Never mind, 3" he whispers, and then
springing TO his feet. draw up the
weight, runs the pole into the water.
and sends the punt flying down the
}, stream.
ooh, you promised to let me try
oh, beg your pardon"
Come along, says Sir Heron.
! Take care" and Re shows her how to
= hold the pole
Those who have endeayored to punt
for the first time do not require to be
told what happened May makes
desr rate lunges with the long, awk-
ward pole. pushes and pants. and finds
; the punt spinning around from east to
west from north TO south, in any di-
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