Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-27
CHAPTER XVIII.

with Cyril Kingsley.
To write ALI is perhaps too sweep
ing: there We're exceptions of igno
rance-Lord Beaumont, for instance
had not heard of it.
The event created considerable sur
prise and not a little disappointment
amongst the better classes, for the.
had always regarded Cyril as some
thing better than the usual run o
farmers, and it was well known tina
Lord Beaumont treated him as al
equal and friend.
There were a few persons who still
refused to believe the rumor. Blu
what could those friends do to stem
the tide Of popular rumor. backed a.
1t was by the suspicious facts that Cy
ri had been seen to leave the station
by the midnight train-by the same
train if not in the company of Polly
Marsden-and that he had left no ex
PLANTATION OF his sudden disappearance
It was certainly very black. and con
spicuous indeed.
It was black, black, black That is
what Leola kept repeating to herself
as she wandered about the magnificent
house Of which she had up to this mo-
ment been so proud, but which now
seemed to aggrayate her misery by its
grandeur and the responsibilities it
imposed upon her
She longed to be alone, to hide her
self away, and wait his coming and
his explanation. for though an looked
so black she would not believe him so
hideously treacherous and deceitful.
But she was Mistress Of Lormet
She could not go to her room as if she
were a laborer's daughter, and hide
herself If this engagement had. been
made known it would have been differ
ent. then she could have sought soil
tude consistently; hut at his request
it had been concealed
Why did he make that request?
Her cheeks paled and burned alter
uately as the thought suggested ITSELF
that though he would not give up his
guilty love and treachery he was anx.
ious to spare her publ shame.
But she spurned the thought from
her
Her love was 50 fun so passionate,
50 deep. that it kept doubt at bay for
the present.
Il so happened that afternoon that
there was quite a run Of visitors.
some had no doubt heard Of the sudden
disappearance of the manager Of the
Home Farm, and came to gather a lit.
tie information but neither Mrs. Weth-
erell nor Leola opened their lips on
the subject, and the visitors went
away dissatisfied
They remarked that Leula looked
pale-but then she was never one 10
show much Of the rose-and that she
was very quiet, but then she vas al
ways quiet.
Then came Lady Howrh. She was
by far too well bred to mention the
subject, but she was very gentle and
kind She did mention Cyril's name
accidentally.
Gerald was to have come with me.
she said but he and Cicely have
gone TO make a sketch Of an old tree
st MontSford which Mr.. Kingsley had
discovered.
At Cyril's name Leola WINGED
slightly, but her countenance was uu.
Ger control. and she said words proper
10 the occasion quite calmly.
The day wore away. She was
still watching, listening for his foot
step for the sound of his voice but she
waited in vain.
Mary noticed and remembered long
afterward, how tired her young mis-
tress looked. and how the 1.-THE grace
ful form dropped in the chair Ike a
shaken lily Mary would have liked 10
haze said something Z. out the all alb
sor0ing topic but she knew that She
dared not, Leola would not suffer Cos
sip.
Leoia went down to dinner pale as
a lily indeed, but holding her head as
proudly
While her heart fourished at the
hope-fhe conyiction-that in the post.
bag there would be a letter from the
man she loved and still trusted She
forced herself TO eat. to chat win Mrs
Wetherell who for her part did not
seem over gay, and looked very grave
and uneasy That kind-hearted old
lady had grown proud of Cyril Kings.
ley-as who had not who knew him
and She was taking to heart his baa
conduct and disloyalty.
When the butler had brought in the
claret (which he always took away
untouched and drank himself i'm the
pantry afterwardl the old lady loofaa
up and sighed
Il am very unhappy tonight my
dear she said
Yes, said Leola. about"
she could not mention his name.
About Cyril Kingsley, said Mrs
wetnerell (she did not think of Polly
But women are too ready TO griey5
over the man and forget the woman
y cant believe this dreadful rumor
and yeti looks so suspicious
Leola drew long breath, her hear
beat fast
what looks suspicious II ha.
gone TO town on business. most proba
bly,
Mrs. wetherell looked mp eagerly.