Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-05-24
For Your Protection

very tired says May. Can ! do
anything tor you? VIII YOU let me
come and write Tor you?'
"No-nc," he says. You're a good
girl May hut l don't think you can
help mech, Boxall?"
Let me send you a glass OF Wine.
papa she say putting o.r hand on
his arm plea3ingly
Nc, he avs. vagueH-"no, thank
YOU
THcn he looks up. and PATS her
shoulder
~You'ro a -oca SRI Mas Bozall"
turning to tine Iitue mar-"this is
my eldes. daughter, Miss May Dalton
the-ahcm and the old manner
comes back 80 him-1he faure Lady
Letchford"
Papa" murmurs May, distressed.
The future Lady Lerch.ord, Boxall
ch?" he says, and with anoiher PAT he
goes out
May stands. pale and white and
anxious Has her father been drink
ing Some city dinners. perhaps.
MI BoXall throws no light on it, not
even when he is seated in the dining
room. making q weak attempt to ap-
pear hungry
a am afraid papa is not WELL" says
May, at last.
Mr.. Boxall shakes his head.
Trying weather, Miss Da}ton--one
day hot, next day cold. No more,
thank you. Yes, this is a beautiful
place-must have cost an enormous
sum of money"
And he looks around gravely at the
handsome appointments of the vast
room.
Yes, suppose So" says May. an
sen1ly Were you ever here before
Mr. BoXall?"
Mono" he says. "But I've heard
Mr.. Dalton speak of it. A beautiful
place Freehold. of course?"
i don't know, says May I'm
a1raij," milling, that / don't under
stand ute. and yet do. Of course
4es. freehold"
And settled, 30 doubt, on one or
both Of You young LADIES'"
May laughs and shakes her head
That ! do not know" she says.
On" he says. sure to be
think viii go TO Mr. Dalton now, he
may want me.
Perhaps you would not mind TAX
ing a glass OF wine in if carry it to
The door" says May
With pleasure ne asserts, and they
cross the hall.
MAY gives him the wine and turns
back. but before She has reached the
drawing ~oom she hears a sharp cry OF
alarm With a bound she is al the
library door. but Mr. Boxan stands
against it and puts her back His pale
face is white now.
"No-no," he says for Gods sake,
don't 60 in
May stops for a momcnt-tben
looks al him.
My father she gasps
Your iather isis very i'll! For
beavers sake. he calm This his
is Dreadful Be calm. miss"
Il am quite calm says May. each
word dropping like stone from her
white lips quite calm Touch me
! do nol even tremble. Something has
happened ] must go 10 him. I viii:
you must not stop me. please"
Well" he "you-you
promise not 10 cry out? The ser
wants."
May makes gesture OF assent: he
~tauls aside and goes in with her.
closing the door behind them. and
locking it.
For moment Nay sees nothing.
then she sees a sim figure lying on
Tie hearth-rue, face downward.
hands clinchei. and throws herself
on her knees beside it, With n low,
stred cry
Hush -" easps NJ, Bpxal; lift /
tle head An. no its no use For
Heavens sake be calm. miss; he's
F,e's---''
MAY lifts her white face.
u know she says: hes diving /
The doctor
And she springs to her feet and I
rings the bell 7
In five minutes ali the house is
a7tir-astir in A subdued mysterious
way. for May May perceived by them .
70 be calm- not have The sleep
ing girl awakened. the doctor comes.
In door is shut shut even upon her.
ana silence fails.
A silence broken By the slow step
Of the doctor as he comes into The
room. am takes the girls cold. white
hand
Ny lear" he says-ha is an old
man with daughters # his own-"can
go: '5ear d 81 at sorrow?"
4 am bearing IT," she says. raising
her heavy ewes.
r. mods and leads her 10 seat
1T j. all over. my dear: your father
: dead
She utters no cry, but sits looking
al him.
Dead
Yes" he says Then he adds