Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-11-07

| race, Il, thinking you nad Sons
down, uttered some nonsense. No, II
was not nonsense; but, Jack, | was
not alonel Some one was there!
Who was it?"
! Who's to tell A woman's voice
you say? Are you sure?"
Quite sure now"
"a housemaid probably"
We'll, my dear Cyril, It's the only
suggestion can make. Why should
MT housemaid quote Shakespeare?
tell you she is as likely nova avs to
know him as her mistress is
"Bahl it was the voice of lady"
Thanks; you sad Just now you
thought it was mine.
Il said retorted Cyril; then
with a stifled sigh he allowed his com
panion to draw him away.
Keeping In the shadow Of the shrub.
berry they made their way through The
ornamental grounds, crossed the park
and reached the village, and stopped
at The Cheques, as the inn was called.
Inn is rather a dignified name for the
little place, which was rambling cot
tage owned by widow OF a former
Court servant, who let two or three
of the rooms as lodgings, and 5cld
beer, candles. tobacco and reg-tops.
and other articles too numerous to
mention, in one end OF the tiny place,
The two young men entered the sit
ting room and Jack turned up the par
ATTN lamp, while Cyril dropped into q
chair and stared thoughtfully into va
cancy.
Jack got a pipe from the mantel
shelf and lit it; then, adjusting his
spectacles, gazed reflectively at his
musing companion.
Now that they were in the light
one could see the contrast between
the two men, The one, Cyril Burue.
was tall and straight, strong-limbed,
with the peculiar bearing of a man
who had gone in for athletics, and
with a face that was not only hand
some but possessed of that winsomn
ease and grace which one is accus-
toned to associate with good birth
and high training. His hands were
small yet strengthening; his clothes
sat upon him after the fashion which
bringeth delight to the heart OF the
tailor, and there was an air of com.
mand about the dark eyes and clean
cut mouth, noticeable even when, as
now, he was in repose.
The other. Jack Wesley. was of q
more commonplace type. He was
rather awkward in appearance, with
bent shoulders, and there was that
look about him which belongs to the
brain-worke- 1t was a good-natured
shrewd face, though the eyes behind
the spectacles had acquired sonle.
thing of cynical expression.
These two young men were fast
friends. Jack thought Cyril the per
! lection of manhood, and admired him
for all the qualities which he (Jack)
lacked: and Cyril regarded his friend
as a genius unrecognized as yet by
! the world, but as one whose light
would shine out brightly some day
And yet as Jack regarded his 81
! lent companion there was a certain
curious questioning expression in hi:
/ eyes.
AZ am reluctant to disturb your
meditations. on which no doubt The
fate of nation depends" 10 said ia
his slow. good-naturedly cynicd tone
but my more materifI nfture Is
F craving for a whisky and soda and
the cu9bo-7d is Immediately behind
you"
/ Cyril Burne started slightly and
wheeled his chair aside. then got up
and began pacing the room with
quick. restless steps.
( Jack Wesley mixed a couple OF
drinks with deliberate precision.
/ Walk up, walk up!" he murmured
the lion is now about to be eed--oI
rather drinked I wonder how much
Mrs. English. the landlady, vii
charge for the carpet; perhaps il
you'd take a lap round the Other
side of the table"
zThus adjured, Cyril stopped short
and taking up his glass. seated him
self on the table.
That's better" remarked Jacf
Wesley, dropping into the chair;
now we can talk-that is, If yor
can tear your mind away from the re
/ mantle episode of the mysterious
voice on the terrace; and should
like just to ask you, my dear Cyril
| wha. you intend to do?"
/ Exactly, said Jack, putting at his
| pipe and nursing his knee, a favorite
/ trick of his When a week ago you
came into-burst into would be the
more exact expression-my chambers
With the proposal that I should &c
company YOU on a trip 10 Santleigh
| County Berks, you asserted. in re
! Spouse TO my question Why? that
you wanted me startle the artistic
world, and blazen your name on he
roll OF Fame You also remarked thai
It would be a capital chance for my
| getting a few rusty ideas for a poem
novel, or a play Is not that so?"
/ Cyril nodded with a half smile.
I'm a weak moment, a very weak