Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-04-12

nary current of affairs. Beside him
/ lies the post bag. to which he holds the
key: he unlocks it, throws a couple of
letters TO his mother, hands one to
Rose and pushes his own aside: this is
not exactly as usual. for generally he
takes his correspondence with his
first cup of coffee Lady Letchford
also pushes hers aside. with that look
! which procaims the fact that there are
matters more important even than the
morning letters.
, Silently, solemnly, she breaks The soil
| tary piece of toast which forms her
breakfast; silently and solemnly she
stirs the tea in which she never takes
| sugar, and gloomily keeps her eyes
fixed on her plate Luckily for the
| good goddess, Talk. there is one Of her
most devoted voraries present-Nane
| lushes to the rescue.
mo letter for me?" he says, with
that tone Of force galety which is more
| CHASTITY than many tears. "Never are
/ except bills. I'm half inclined to
i believe that if | disappeared-say to
the Arctic Regions should be clean
| forgotten ih week excepting by the
devoted and faithful talc. After all
! letters are a nuisance. I know a man
who never reads them There's a
story about him-Regy Parks-did You
know hlm, Helon?"
Hadn't that fortune
Good sort OF a fellow but hated
trouble of all kind used 10 90 70 bed
in his clothes sometimes TO save the
trouble Of dressing in the morning,
! Wen. he was engaged To be married.
got so far as 10 fix the day dressed
| and went down to the church to find
nat the bride ana party hadn't. and
didn't mean TO- put in an appearance.
shed been considerate enough to
write and tell him that she meant jilt-
ing him and running away with an
F.. other man. but as Regy never read his
letters. Of course. ne didn't know it,"
Awkward. wasn't it?" says Heron.
yes. says Vane. was rather: but
Regy bore it very well and told me af-
terward thai ne was rather glad. be
cause it would have been so much
more trouble to take two tickets in
stead of one wheneyr they travelled
That's a very good story, Vane Is
ii a kind of indirect warning to me?'
"Es?" says Vane. rather taken aback
by this taking of the bull by the horns.
Il didn't know" says Heron dryly.
AS rule. when man Intends mat
rimony. his friends consider it their
duty to say a word in season. But |
don't mind taking two tickets instead
of one Have some ham? From whom
are your letters, mother?" he goes on
cheeGfully.
Lady Letchford looks up, a world OF
reproaCh in her gray eyes.
Il have not looked, cannot care
for letters this morning. Heron
Let me open them for you?" says
Roses weetly. and Lady Letchford
pushes them tovarr her slowly,
Heron looks at her steadily, then he
puts down ms coffee cup and there
comes into mis- face the firm almost
sterrlv obstinate expression which
has been called the Letchford look"
Mother" ne says, II am afraid you
are making Yourself unhappy about my
engagement to Miss Dalton
DE you wish to discuss it now?" she
says
why not?" he replies quietly; but
don't think there can be any discus
sion in the way yOu mean. 1t is of little
use discussing a matter that is decided
as this most absolutely is. Why
should we not talk of it? 1t is Just
the subject TO interest Rose and Nane. -
smiling.
'.Of course it interests me"
Thank you. Rose. Well. mother,
let us have the trouble out and de
, molish it
at can only be removed in one way,
If Won refer TO my objection TO any en-
gagement between my son and the
daughter of the man who was here last
night" says the old lady bravely
Heron's temper is swift and hot.
but he keeps a tight rein on il.
Il don't propose to marry Mays
father. mother ne says. II can IN
b QGISfand " W entertaining '''J' WHINE
10 him. b,.t what have YOU to say
AGAINST Nave"
Nothing. as Miss Dalton" is the
naughty retort. but everything
everything as the future mistress OF
Latchford Wold."
Everything Let us hear one thing.
NO" she exclaims, rising. IF you
cannot see for yourself the improperly
Of such union if mad passion has
so blinded you to the sense OF disgrace
which uch a connection implies
stop" he says in a low voice, you
are right: we cannot discuss this mat
! Ter now. You speak of disgrace
mother think there does MOI exist
a man who would not bring hynor to
himself and to those who belong :"
him by marrying such a giri as May
! Dalton.
And 7 say" retorts Lady Letchford
white with passion, that such a mar
| riapa Is a dishonor to the name YOU
bear AMI the mother who bore YOU. I
| say
But Heron does not wait for any
further expression of opinion: with
stern frown that makes his hand
some face singularly like the other one
confronting him he takes up his letters
and leaves the loom.
| Vsne to whom all rows are ySXa-