Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-03-14
CHAPTER XIV,

II was the night of the dinner-pal h
LeOla's first return for the welcome
which the country nae extended to
her
Seven o'clock had been fixed as the
dinner-hour but long before that time
the great banqueting han had be Ell
illuminated by its apparently IL
Vulnerable wax candles, footmen were
busying to and fro, and he stately
butler was lowering, like a general OF
the forces, everywhere.
Leola stood before her glass, re-
ceiving the finishing touches to a
toilet which had for It's browning
point production of the great Worth,
that had just arrived from Paris, and
which Mrs. Wetherell had pronounced
a masterpiece.
Good-natured Mary touched it with
awe and trembling, and could scarcely
restrain herself from uttering aloud
her admiration for her beautiful
young mistress.
And certainly, if the truth must be
told. Leola looked supremacy lovely.
The face, which was once so pale, and
wan, and troubled, had fulfilled its
her first lesson, and insignificant as ii
serene and yet sweetest beauty in
the great mirror. Her hair which
Mary had brushed until it shone like
silk, and was so soft, was brushed in
heavy but close coils, one red ros
nesting in it, and lending additional
color to the diamonds that glittered
like stars through summer trees.
That morning Leola had received
promise and now was reflected, in
would naturally have appeared, it
seemed to her now as something of
an event in her life. Now, as she was
looking in the glass and apparently
listening to Mary's breathless eXclam-
tions of delight and anxiety, she was
going over the little incidents of that
ride from the moment she heard the
clatter of the horses hoofs on the
even gravel path, and came down the
terrace to find Cyril Kingsley waiting
for her. Even as she ran down the
steps she noticed the well-bred air, full
of respect, with which he raised his
hat and babe her gOod-mOrning.
But for the fact that he was her
servant, he might have been mistaken
for a gentleman, her equal, come to
accompany her for morning gallop,
and this, Notwithstanding that he wore
his farmers CATERS, and that his
dress was scrupulously unobtrusive,
even to roughness. 1t gave her an in
definite kind of pleasure to see what
respect the groom, mounted as usual
on a far better horse than hers OF
Cyril Kingsley's, addressed the young
farmer, as if he, the groom, also in
stinctively, recognized the Unborn no
blity of the manager of the Home
Farm
How punctual you are she said,
for the sake of saying something, for
in Cyril Kingsley's presence, Leola
like most people, experienced an I'M
conscious kind of shyness that was
not unpleasant
Il should not have dreamed of keep
ing YOU waiting" he returned in his
grave voice.
Then with the same reverential re-
spect he held his hand for her small
foot-it seemed to Leola, unaccus
toned to the ceremony of mounting
that it was an insult to soil that
strong. well-shaped hand-then, with
a touch of responsibility. almost a
command in his voice, he showed her
how to hold the reins, anN explained
that a good horses mouth IS as sen
sitive as the rudder lines of racing
boat and that if properly and gently
treated a horse enjoyed a Sallop as
much as its rider did. He explained
to her that a woman Possessed many
and great advantages over a man in
the matter of riding and driving, and
glancing at her arm in its sheath-like
babit-sIeeve, told her that she could
combine strength with delicacy.
You will guide a horse with steel
sheathed in velvet, he said, and
Leola, foolishly, as she bought, felt
pleased at the compliment.
Then they had started. Her horse
which he had chosen from the Abbey
stables, and which he had tried for
hours the day before, was as Quiet and
obedient as a slave, and that which
Leola had looked forward, to with
some trepidation, namely, her first
lesson, promised to be delightfully."-
easy and harmless.
For some time they walked down
the lane until Leola had become ac
customed to the novel sensation OF
being elevated on a movable object
and high above the ground; then Cyril
had suggested that they should try a
canter across the meadows.
How closely he watched and
guarded her. Leola blushed now be
fore her glass, as she remembered the
keen regard of his dark eyes, and the
ready hand with which he encouraged
her when the horse, exhilalated by
the fresh air and spring turf, broke
into a gallop.
you are not nervous?" he asked
her once.
NO. not when YOU are here, she
reoIied. artessly, and she did no,
notice the sudden light which flashed
into his eyes at her simple words
They passed from the meadow into
the mark. The groom following at re
snecrful distance, and then. as the5