Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-08-09

| weakness. "Oh, shame-shame upon
me that a thought SHOULD trouble me
now!"
with a gesture of self-reproach, she
wrings her hands and sets her lips
tightly.
Then she starts, for there are sounds
Of footsteps outside.
With blush, she springs to hide
the dress away in it's box but before
she can do so, the door opens-a tall
figure strides in and seizes her In it's
arms.
With a feeling of surprise-for
Graham is gentleness itself-she turns
her head, and meets Herons passion
ate eyes beaming into her soul.
Like thing of stone she stands
passive and unresisting. her lips
apart, her eyes fixed on his. self-bound.
May, my darling!" he cries,
hoarsely, and his lips cling to hers.
The spell breaks. q deep crimson
floods her face for moment her eyes
close, and then she droops, Elylike,
upon his breast, her hands clinging to
him as drowning mans cling. al the
| last gasp, to the saving rock
Not yet--not yet does she realize it!
But it is as il heaven of happiness
had opened for her, and The joy was
almost lost in the lelirium of surprise
As for him, conyulsive shudders of
emotion pass like wave over his pale,
haggard face, that still. through all
the rack and harassment OF the last
maddening weeks, retains its grand.
subtle beauty
My iarling-oh, my darling" ne
murmurs. hoarsely, have I killed you?
Forgive me. l have been watching
you through the window until l could
not keep from you a moment longer.
Oh, my May is it really you. my own
darling? Heaven forgive me for
frightening you! Speak to me, May
let me hear your sweet lips say that
you have not forgotten mel"
Forgotten him. Alas-alas. when
every sense within her responds to his
touch-when her heart leaps to mis-
voice as a dog leaps TO own its master.
Forgotten him! All, Heaven: if she
could but forget,
Not a word? Not one word?" he
pleads, his voice low, and trembling
with passionate entreaty. win you
not look at me? It is Heron
come back; I, who ought never to
have gone-fool that | was, May, my
darling. | am noe fit to touch you-I
have wronged yol, wronged you cruel
| ~! Forgive me, my darling, my own
swee May"
.tnu he lifts her to his lips; but be
fore they meet in the passionate kiss.
Iihe spirit within her frees itself from
the spell, and with low cry of as cuy
and pain, she puts her hand ag.dnsr
his heart and forces her head oack
from him. her eyes fixed on his with a
Wild despair, her lips pale and trelnb-
ling.
/ Mono" she pants.
Mo-" he echoes. hoarsely. May, for
| Heavens sake, do not drive me mad!
Lock, how at your feet beg your
forgiveness" And he drops on one
knee, his arm still wound round her
" list and imprisoning the little figure
that wrlthes in his grasp. May, loci:
at ME: | have frightened you. Fl
ought to have written; hut would
not dash my JOY with one drop of cold
caution. Look at me, May, here az
your feet! You-you have not for.
gotten me! You still love me! You
%ill-you must forgive me! | can
explain everything! No, | will not
insult you with explanations am
here at your feet-see, at your feet,
my darling! You will forgive mel"
! Hoarsely, brokenly, he pours out
the passionate entreaty. Wildly she
trembles and looks at him; his words
surge like the roll of the sea in her
ears2 his face seems in a mist before
her eyes; but his hands-ah, mis- hands
hot and eager. as they cling to her
imoloringly-ar tangible enough. and
she thrills beneath them.
May" he says with pause, during
which bis ey . have wan cred over
her face with greedy, hungry longing
| anu HIS N1tCC Is CaituGI. DHA
still trembles and quivers with the
storm of passion thai reigrs within
him, II have come back to implore you
to forgive me. aud to make you my
wife. 1t is all summed up in that.
viii make the rest clear as the sun at
MONDAY; rresently-presentl now
now I want to hear you say: Heron,
| forgive YOU. win be your wife
take met"
AT last her voice finds sound. and
Too late-too late!" breaks from her
pals lips.
| For a moment the sense of her
words fall 10 reach him, then a spasm
convulses his face, and he staggers to
his feet
TOO late-too late." he echoes,
hoarsely "What-what do you mean?
All" and with cry of dread he seizes
her arm. Are you married?"
She shakes her head slowly and
shrinks back. for. with cry of relief
he is ready to seize her again.
TOO late!" she says, and over her
face comes shanied look Of SORROW,
and into her eyes look of pitiful
anguish.
"why-why?" he demands, passion
ately.
! rban Gem boI5;,r bar he t,,r,,,