Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-10-31
CHAPTER III.

Gra0fQlnary ana tTylnS SlIudllOu. w
posite her sat the father she had
never seen before; the guests were
all strangers to her. The magnificent
noon, with its air of mingled grandeur
and refinement, would have been
alone sufficient to overawe a young
girl accustomed hitherto to the small
and simple rooms of country cot
tage.
But Norah possessed a spirit not
easily cowed. Somehow or other she
OWNED that the stately, patrician old
man facing her at the bottom of the
table expected her to display some
confusion and shyness, and she re-
solved that he should be-well, disap-
pointed.
So, though the room seemed to spin
round and she saw the faces or the
guests and the footmen through a
kind of haze, she made no sign Of the
emotions that swept across her young
heart
The gentlemen, with true delicacy,
carefully avoided looking at her for
some minutes, and talked together
with the kind of vivacity which is so
palpably forced; and it was evident
that though they talked of the coming
hay harvest and of current politics,
they were one and all thinking of the
girl who had been introduced thus
suddenly and strangely to her father
and her home.
The footman brought her some soup,
the butler filled her glass with wine,
with countenances as expressionless
as If they had been in the habit OF
waiting on her for the last twenty
yeas, and Norah got through her soup
and slipped the costly wine in silence.
She knew that they were all think.
ing of her and she felt the keen gray
eyes at the end of the table glance to-
ward her now and again; but though
her heart beat unanimously and her
faae was pale, her hands did not trem-
ole nor her lips culver. An Indian at
the stake could not have behaved bet
ter.
Presently Lord Ferndale, who sat
next to her, turned to her:
Il hope yea had a pleasant journey,
Lady Norsn.'
Yes, thank you. 1t seemed rather
long. but it was pleasant"
Let me see," he said, as he
thought "a lovely young creature,
with q sweet yoice!"-"you came
from
Norton, in Devonshire." said
Norm.
".Ah. yes; very pretty place. |
bcpe you will like Santleigh. sup
pose ought not to say that it is as
pretty, but of course think so. MY
wife will be so pleased to show you
all our lions"
Thank you" said Norah simply.
81 am one of your fathers Oldest
friends" he went on, and am sure
you and Lady Ferndale win get On
together"
Only one person had not spoken to
her-Guilford Berton, and she CHANGED
TO glance at him. The dark, pene-
trating eyes happened to be fixed on
her and their gaze met. In that mo-
ment a strange feeling took possession
of Norah, feeling difficult TO de-
scribe. 1t was not exactly repulsion,
but a singular sensation, IS If she felt
that he was trying to read all that was
passing in her mind, and she must at
all costs thwart him
She ought, by all ordinary rules, to
have been attracted by the young
mans handsome face, but there was
something in it which Jared upon
her. though she could not have told
what it was.
For a space in which one could have
counted twenty they looked into each
others eyes; then Guilford Berton
withdrew his gaze and returned to his
plate without uttering a word.
The dinner proceeded. To Norah
the courses seemed endless. She had
gone to one or two small dinners at
the clergyman's at Norton, but the
magnihcence Of this, her first meal in
her fathers house, as far surpassed
them as a corporation feast surpasses
two and sixpenny ordinary. But
through it all she made no mistake.
II the earl had expected to see her
eat with her knife or commit some
vulgarity he was disappointed-or re-
Eeved.
II she had presided at the lordly Ia
ole for years, instead of for the first
time, her manner could not have been
more perfect,
Every now and then Lord Ferndale
or the rector spoke to her and her
sweet, low voice made instant reply.
The costly dessert appeared and
LORD Ferndale helped her 10 some hot
house Strawberries, and. after she
had eaten them she knew that she
could make her escape.
The butler entered. carrying cob
webby bottle in a wicker cradle and
Norah rose. Instantly all the gentle
men rose also and Guilford Berton
went and opened the door for her.
He raised his eyes for a second and
fixed them her as she passed, then
dropped item to the ground again,
still without word.
A foOtman stanDrd nOisflnssIv no.