Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-03-15
CHAPT x.

Through the fish. the entrees, the
game, the sweets, Sir Heron eats his
way in something approaching abso-
lutte e.ence. Once only he smiles,
and iar is when he extracts particu-
larly tempting and indigestibe bonbon
from the dainty Sevres dish, and gives
it across the table to Carrie.
Sweets to the sweet" he says, and
his face softens for the moment.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Dalton talks as only
a seif-made man can talk, and Lady
Letchford sits watching him from I'M
der her dropping eyelids, and mentally
bewaiIing the hard fate which compels
ner to listen to him.
At last she looks at Rose Vayasour
arises, and the ladies' file out. Even
then it is Yane not Sir Heron, who
opens the door for them.
The butler causes fresh glasses to
be brought disappears for a moment
or two, and then returns. carrying a
bottle in his arms as carefully and ten
derby as if it were a newborn child.
Bring your chair nearer the fire,
Mr. Dalton" says Sir Heron musing
will you take port OF claret? The
claret is at your end"
"Port-por Sir heron" replies Mr..
Dalton. nodding his head. I'm too
old-fashioned to turn to claret I've
crank port al my life, and have
acquired too confirmed taste TO de.
sert it."
Considering that until his great
good fortune, ais acquaintance with
the noble wine had been limited to
"old and fruity at 36s, per do, this is.
indeed, a noble resolution.
TRY iris. Simpson can give us
something drier if you prefer
Mr. Dalton holds up his glass, takes
a sip, and shakes his head in the ap-
proved fashion.
Couldn't improve on this, Sir
Heron. l call it perfect"
Then Simpson, having waited for
his decision, glides silently from the
room, and the three gentlemen are left
TO amuse themselvs until the coffee
comes
Sir Heron turns TO the fire and
stretches out his legs, and Vane. as
sured by the expression on his cousins
face that he, Vane. win have to do the
talking, sets to work bravely. For ten
minutes Sir Heron sits and listens to
Mr.. Dalton's opinions on politics, agri-
culture, commerce; and when the
latter subject comes uppermost, Mr..
ThoI+IV hog "a cyraaf 11ot -
I'm a man Of commerce. myself
Mr. Vayasour. he says; Il owe a great
deal to commerce. sir, and I'm not
ashamed to admit IT, But I'm no rad
ical and reyolutionist; I know what Is
hue to the aristocracy of the country.
and I'm ready TO pay it. respect
birth and blood Mr.. Vavasour. and
bewieve I'm stating fact when
state that the name Of Dalton is not
one Of yesterday"
Fine old name" murmurs Vane.
sitting a yawn.
Like som. other names. it's been
down in the dust for a time" says the
owner Of the name, but it's 10 have
turn now. hope; Of course, can't ex-
pect to do much for it myself. but / al
ways impress il upon my children-my /
daughters-that they won't forget /
they came Of a good old stock. though /
their father was in trade"
Quite right" says Vane, glancing
sideways at 81: Heron, who moves his /
legs instantly. Quite right, Mr.. Dali 4
ton; and if may be permitted to say
so. your charming daughters are not (
likely to do so"
''No-no, they're good girls-good 4
girls. both - em-May is a little fond 4
Of her own way. and what you might
call uppish. but she's young: and. as