Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-10-10

the next morning, but on the way to
Nashville her overtaXed brain ana
body gave way, and she was carried
from the train TO an ambulance, and
hurried to a hospital, where for weeks
she lowered between life and death
with brain fever.
She recovered eventually, and, al
though weak and sick, she began to
| recover her former beauty. Neither
she nor the family or friends spoke
of Edmonson. 1t was as if he had
been forgotten. But he had not.
For over two years there was no
sign. Miss DINER had recovered Ell
tirely and was even more beautiful
than ever. One afternoon she was
walking with her mother when, sud
| denly she stopped as if transfxed,
and stood staring through the tnrong
on the street. Her mother turned &c
see why the girl stopped, and saw her
staring, and then bowling to man
who was passing
The man bore a striking resent-
blance to the missing Edmonson, ex-
cept that hi chin was firmer, and that
he wore no mustache.
He half stopped when the girl
bowed, then, raising his hat, stood as
if puzzled, hesitated for an instant,
and then, hat in hand, stepped for
ward and asked
rs there anything | can do miss?
20, Ray, how could you, how could
you?" sobbed the girl.
Il am afraid you are mistaken"
the man hesitated, and then, as the
girl reeled as if fainting, he caught
| her.
The mother stepped forward quick
ly. The crowd began to gather, and
The man, thinking quickly, lifted the
unconscious girl and carried her into
the nearest store. Then he sum
moned carriage, and, lifting the
historical girl, carried her to it, and
got in with her and her mother.
Miss DINER was still sobbing VIC
lently, and in uncomfortable fashion.
Il do not understand said the man
to Mrs. DINER.
"She thinks you are some one else.
Hush! said the mother striving to
quiet the girl.
At the DINER home the man car
ried the girl into the parlor, and then,
when she was quieter, he started to
| leave. The girl chung to him, beg
/ ging him not to desert her so. Still
puzzled, he remained until the doctor
arrived and gave her sleeping po-
| ton.
After that Mrs. DINER explained and
the man introduced himself as Charles
Clayton Cravens.
The following day Cravens received
an urgent request to come to the OIL
mer house. The girl again was hys.
terical and begging for Ray, and the
| doctor said serious consequences,
perhaps another attack of brain fever,
might result unless she was satis-
fed So Cravens hurried to the
house, and for hours he sat holding
the girls hands and whispering words
of endearment.
That was the beginning of the odd
courtship. On every other subject the
girl was normal, and her health re-
turned rapidly under the influence Of
perfect happiness.
| She told Cravens that she always
! knew he would return and marry her
and that her love never had wavered.
| After two weeks Cravens. consult
ing with the father and mother of the
girl, decided to tell her the truth
She only smiled and said:
Il know, Ray, I know. You have
taken another name We will pre-
tend to the others that you are Cray
ems, but | know"
In vain he explained again and
again. Miss DINER simply smiled
| gladly, and kissed him.
Once he remained away from the
house for two weeks, and, at the end
OF that time, was summoned by the
mother because the girl was begin
ming to pine away again. Their re-
| lationship vas that of an engaged
couple, and in vain Cravens attempt
| ~ " W AAAOAS AOAA1ieA liz lOAu luS
girls mother that, as an honorable
man, he was being placed in an aw-
! full position, and it was agreed that
| he should go and not return. The
mother admitted that it might kill the
girl, but that, in justice to Cravens,
it must be Gone.
Cravens remained away just a
month. Before he had been away
| from her a day he found that he was
wildly in love with her.
Then he returned, and in a manly
| way, told Mr. and Mrs. DINER that he
loved the girl and would marry her
Miss DINER was in declining health
then, pining away because he had
/ failed to call.
The parents told him that he was
assuming a heavy responsibility, as
the girl undoubtedly was insane on
the one subject He replied that he
had studied the whole situation and
! stood ready to marry her.
So they were married quietly, and
went to live in a pretty little home o.
their own. She never spoke of the
past, or upbraided him for deserving
her. They lived in their happiness.
in the present.