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


sense OF evil and trouble.
With a shudder she relOcked the
door and went up TO her own room.
Mary was sitting by the fire mend
ing some lace, and started at the
sight of her mistress's face.
Won't you come to the fire, Miss?
she said, with the freedom Of an az
fectionate faithful servant. You
look quite cold and chill"
{ think ! must be cold, Mary, -
said Leola. gently; and she knelt be-
fore tie FIRE stretching out her white
hands.
! Mary brought an Indian shawl and
arranged il owe. her Inistress's shout
ders. and stirred the fire.
( vIu you let me get you a glass OF
wine. Miss-some OF the Madeira?'
she asked anxiously.
Leola smiled.
"No. thank you, Mary; / am quite
warm now"
And IT was true, for her face burn
ed as if with fever
Mary looked grave and troubled as
she unfastened the food of soft black
hair
Why. Miss. your neck is quite hot, -
she said. oh, Miss, you've caught
a cold"
Perhaps have" said Leola.
Let me bring my bed into your
room, Miss" pleaded Mary. 4 don't
like to leave you"
Leola laughed II was a very I'M
mirthful laugh
q am quite well, my good child
MARY was no younger than LeOla)
why should l make you uncom
fortable?"
Then you'll call me, Miss, if you
can't sleep, or if you walker" said
Mary, imploringly. You will, won't
you, Miss ,"
Il will call you if | want you, be
sure, Mary" said Leola, dismissing
her with a kindly nod.
Then she was alone at last. She
knelt before the fire and stared at
the glowing embers, in which she saw
only his face. Wherever she looked
she saw his handsome face all glow
ing with the passionate love which
had shone in it when he held her in
his arms and looked down at her last
might. md murmured as he pressed
her to ais bosom: Il love you, Leola, "
The room rang softly with his voice
and those words Her lips quiyered
under bis kisses; she could feel his
arms around her-his strong arms
that almost hurt her in his passion
ate embrace-and Ien. still kneeling,
she clasped her hands, all glittering
with priceless gems, and cried out in
her anguish:
Oh, my love, my love come back
10 me, Do not leave me for any
CHER! Come back TO me and all
shall be forgiven will never say
one word OF reproach | will forgive
all if you will come back to me, Cyril,
my love, my only love- it is NE, me
you love, and no other, Come back
to me. and l will give you all my
heart. whatever may have been, Oh,
my love. / cannot live without you,
Come back to me, Come back" and
mumWing brokenly this one prayer,
she let her face fall on her hands
and sobbed
OF course you blame her 1t was
weak, unworthy, unwomanly. She
should have shown more self-respest
and pride She ought to have risen,
in her ruby velvet and creamy lace,
and cast him from her; should have
torn him from ont her heart, even if
that heart broke. and cast him from
her with scorn-he, so much beneath
her-a peasant, a son Of Sc soil-and
a traitor This is what she should
have done no doubt; but, you see,
she could not, This was he FIRST
Iove--a love so passionate and deep
that it absorbed her body and soul
and it overrode pride and selfrespect,
and JEALOUSY itself
Come back 10 me, come back to
me, Oh, my love-" that was all its
cry
A model young lady would not have
given way TO her love like this.
Granted But Leola was no model
young lady. She had never loved
before. and now that she loved she
had given her whole heart every inch
OF it, and, Mistress of Lorme as she
was. powerful, wealthy. beautiful. all
her cry now that She was alone was
Come back 10 income back"