Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-07-04

course, 'he has gone for holiday,
suppose
"Yes-no-that is, we don't know,
said poor Mrs. Wetherell, who was
too truthful to equivocate.
Lord Beaumont stared at his plate,
then. as they did not answer, he add
er, cheerfully, but suppose not.
lCyril is not the man for letter writ
ing. and will be back in few hours,
| expect" Leola raised her eyes and
shot a glance of gratitude. AT least
l hope he will, because want to
speak to him about that sketch of the
mill | think 1t will make a capital
picture Tor the academy. l shan't be-
gin it until hear his opinion, because
l have such confidence in his artistic
Judgment, that"
He stopped suddenly ass the door
opened. and servant announced Mr..
Philip Dyce
ePhilip Dyce entered. Unlike Lord
beaumont, he was most carefully
dressed-his morning suit without a
speck or flaw, and fitting to a T.
| He paused a moment in the door
way as he saw Lord Beaumont, and
the faintest likeness to a frown cross
ed his smooth brow
But he might have INDUCED in the
frown with safety, for it was not at
his face. that the three occupants of
the room looked, but at that which he
carried in his hand 1t was the post
bag.
Mrs. We$herell drew a long breath;
L-eola turned pale, and looked at him
with an expecrant gaze; Lord Beau
mont set his lips and drew down his
brows, as he always did in the pres
ence Of Philip Dyce.
'GOod-morning, ladies-go0d-mor
ing, Lord Beaumont"
You are just in time for cup Of
coffee, Mr. Dyce, said Mrs Weth-
erell.
Thank You. Miss Dale, called at
the post office for my letters, and see
! ing yours upon the counter, ventured
to bring it with me. l am afraid it
would have been late if | had not, for
they seemed unusually busy at the
Office this morning"
Thank you" said Leola, simply.
She did not offer to open the bag.
How is Lady Vaux this morning."
Quite well, but a little anxious"
said Philip Dyce, slipping his coffee.
Perhaps there's a letter from
Cyril, said Beaumont.
So! he said, in an undertone,
t'you have heard, Beaumont"
Heard" echoed Lord Beaumont,
almost fiercely, and quite aloud
What do you mean? / have heard
something of this absurd runlor which
is going about the village"
My dear Lord Beaumont" muir
INJURED Philip Dyce, remember the
ladies"
Nonsense" said Lord Beaumont,
hotly throwing back his long yellow
hair and preparing to do battle.
Neither Miss Dale nor Mrs. Weth-
erell are children. l feel sure they
have heard something of this rumor,
and if they have not it is time they
should"
My dear Beaumont" murmured
Philip Dyce
Miss Dale, you are too true
woman to be shocked by a plain
statement when a friends character
is at stake. The truth is. that some
Of the gossips in the village" and
he shot a contemptuous glance at
Philip Dyce, who shrugged his shout
ders, will have it, because he has
gone for a holiday he has run away
with girl in the village-one Polly
Marsden. Now, you and /, who
know him so we'll, are quite convinced
that he is incapable of such a thing.
On, don't be alarmed Mr.. Dyce. /
shan't shock Miss Dale. And l came
over here this morning to hear if you
had any news from him"
AS you have spoken so plainly"
said Philip Dyce, Il will confess that
l. too, came over to hear if Kingsley
had explained his absence satisfac-
torily OF course, it's no business Of
mine, but as a friend of Miss Dale
Il came as a friend of Miss Dale
and Cyril Kingsley" put in Lord
beaumont holly. You, see, Mr..
Dyce, are prepared to believe the ut
most i'll Of my friend Mr.. Kingsley
Pardon me. interrupted Philip
Dyce, in his softest and most meas.
ured tones Il am prepared to believe
all possible good OF Mr.. Kingsley.
His life among US has been so cx-
emplary that one is qL te reluctant TO
believe any Ill OF him. But there have
been some ugly rumors, backed up by
something that looks like evidence
"PshaW, l have heard all that, -
said Lord Beaumont, land it goes for
nothing with me. Cyril Kingsley
may be at the death-bed of some rela.
ton or friend at this very moment
while you are asserting that he has
run away with"
Pardon me-" interrupted Dyee. Il
assert nothing, ] have defended Cyril
! Kings ley-you~ friend'-from the
first, ana have suggested all sor,
of reasons for his absence and that in
the face of the fact that he went to
London by the same train which car
ried Polly Marsden.'
All which is no doubt explained
by Cyril KiHesleys letter." said Lord
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