Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-08-15

use in conversation afterWard when
talking Of this part of their existence
IS, Years ago, you know, old chap,
when l was flying"
But McKergow was of stronger stuff
than the average young blood, al
thong that is going too i2r in front.
Ha. pressed for money at the end
of is bri # fight, he tried-some-
an ";dc.it and no more, which was
knc l by his mother and two men.
1t ailed and he went abroad. He
worked like the very duece. He re-
turned after weary years with money,
which was good. and knowledge of
better. Also he was strong man
the proper value of money, which was
who was still boy at heart and he
had cleared the past.
And he met Erica Marsden and
loved her as others did or had done.
1t was not Erica Marsden's fault
(and certainly not her desire) that
her name had been coupler at times
with different men, more especially
with Harker, once a man about town
with a strange heputalion) and now
a wanderer, whom McKergOw had
known.
On a night McKergow Went to her,
told her and asked her question.
MCKergow, who knew a lutte about
women by now, told himself that no
woman had right to hesitate to the
point of indecision because a man
went straightforward to her. Or ra-
Their, his thoughts went on, no man
had right 10 hesitate because
Erica" said he, Il love you. But
l am going away, because you are
not certain of yourself"
Where are you going?" she asked
aim.
Il shall be away six months. But
l will leave you an address and send
to you as | change it. If at thy time
you care to write expect me home the
the next day or The next Good-by,"
He said, and shook hands gravely.
He went first to Dieppe. Drawn by
Mont st. Michael rock whose memory
he loved, he came slowly down The
coast. Two months of the time had
gone when he came to Avranches;
three when he reached the Hotel de
L'Europe, in Patterson, and settled
there. an Englishman by himself but
far from lonely.
After a sturdy walk back along The
road from the rock McKergow swung
into the courtyard one evening as NJ.
Bouvard was pulling The hell rope for
dinner NJ. Bouvard was all smiles.
.,FT>1. 1. \
he,
Indeed" said McKergow.
M'sieu Bouvard had not brought in
the lamps The room was dim. Nc
Kergow said "Good-eyening" and sat
down, feeling awkward, Presently
Msieu Bouvard brought in The lamps
and placed them on the table. AS he
Kergow found lis eyes after the time
in the Black dark Harker he cried.
"Eullow!" said the other Why,
it's McKergow A funny meeting, If
you like"
In the week that followed McKer-
COWS dislike of his companion re-
manned at a fixed point. AT least it
irritated him. 1t may have been that
he did not care for any man or
shadow TO blur his thinking of her.
He had made up his mind for lone
Illness and Harker's coming had
spoiled it
One morning Harker happened to
come down before McKergow, which
was out of the usual run of things.
This made all the difference in the
world, for the letter lay beside Nc
Kergow's plate. If he had come first
he would have poeketed it at once or
read it at once, although he would
have known what was in it.
AS it was he came down to break
fast late, said "Good-morning" to Har-
ker and took up the letter carefully.
Harker looked at him queerly. Al
breakfast, Il seemed to know that
writing, McKergow," said Harker,
McKergow of the singing heart said
CURLY: Indeed"
Harker, no way put out, said; Eyes.
Do you mind telling me if l am
wrong? It was Erica Marsden's writ
ing?'
1T was. " McKergow was quite
calm against the overwhelming sense
that something was going TO happen.
Il am going home today to marry her
as soon as possible
DO YOU know" said Harker, Il
was going home for that?" His voice
was level. but McKergow could stand
Il no longer. He raped out an oath,
"Harker, she's mine. and they faced
each other squarely.
They finished breakfast without
anything further. 1t was a strange
meal,
Of course McKergow did not go
home that day or the next Instead,
oppressed by a great fear, he wrote
a letter to her.
81 know you will understand my
writing to you like this. Was there
anything between you and Roland
Harker years ago?"
There was nothing whatever; 10
want to see him again. And when
may l expect you here?"
Two lines from The letter in reply.
It came in the morning and McKer-
gov once more in peace finished his
breakfast and waited deliberately.
Harker tired OF waiting upstairs to