Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-01-10

his hands in his pockets and his eyes
fixed abstractedly upon the house.
Leola in moment recognized the
figure as that which she had seen I'm
The moonlight. There was no mistak
lag either it or the clear-cut, hand
some face.
She stood motionless a moment,
wondering who it could be, and was
still loking at him when, by hat
strange mesmeric attraction by which
a person watched is made conscious of
the others presence, he looked around.
Again their eyes met. and both
stood speeches. and motionless, re-
garding each other.
Then, with a sudden movement he
stood upright and raised his hat
Leola inclined her head, and was
about to proceed on her way, when he
came forward. and STOPPING, picked
up a flower which she had unconsci-
ously dropped.
Leola thanked him as he rendered it
with respectful gravity, and again was
about to turn away, when ne said:
Il beg your pardon, can you tell me
if the Abbey is closed?'
The voice matched the face and
figure perfectly the face was open,
and frank. and taned; the voice was
deep AMI musical, and tinged with
frank, unconventional air, as if its
owrer were unused TO the languid
torres prescribed by the latest fashion.
"Closed?" said Leola, not under
standing him.
Yes, | meant to ask II anyone was
, living there; if one would be permit
ted 10 see it, TO look It over"
Some one is living there" said
Leola, suppressing a smile; but
think anyone would be welcome to see
| it,"
He looked at her a moment, half in
doubt, then ne smiled
/ Pray excuse me, but I should very
much like 70 see it. l have come some
distance, and 1t is the most beautiful
place l have seen in England
Leola looked at hir, and her lips
I parted with pleased smile.
1T is beautiful, she said.
! Yes. he said Il have been all
around it; l am afraid l have been
! trespassing.
He waited a moment, but Leola did
not answer
! but I imagine" he went on,
that the owner would forgive me, if
! he knew if. Is Sir Godfrey there
now o. he asked.
Leola looked up.
Sir Godfrey Lorme is dead, she
/ replied
He was looking at the house. AMI
turned almost sharply as she said this
, 1t was a moment before he sTgks
again. then he said, grayeIy. and look,
/ ing on the ground:
Sir Godfrey Lorme-he is dead ,"
Leola inclined her head.
Il aid not know" ne said. taking of
/ his hat mechanically, and passing his
brown hand across his forehead.
Dead, is he? I am a stranger here"
he repeated. with slight emphasis.
/ and only reached the village last
night 1t never occurred to me to
ask the question at the inn" ne went
. IN. as If communing with himself,
Strange that no one volunteered the
! Information.
Perhaps, said Leola, they thought
that you already knew it.
Perhaps So" he said
There was a moments silence.
And you think" he said, raisiAg
his head, that might get permits
sion to 90 over it,"
4 think 50. said Leola
Perhaps its a great thing to ask;
[ ought not to put such a question. you
rhink?"
He smiled. but very wistfuIl.' and
Leola blushed family, as she wonder
ed whether it would be considered
improper If she frankly asked him to
accompany her back TO the house, and
herself show him the Abbey-her
Abbey; she had an indefinite feeling
that she would like to do so.
Misinterpreting her Hence as sus-
picion, he said, with smile that lent
a pleasant .lvacity to his face:
'aighough I am a stranger I am, I
hope, quite respectable. My name"
he paused a moment, "is Cyril Kings
ley. I only arrived from Australia
the day before yesterday; I was never
in England before. though I hope /
may consider myself English. l must
therefore, beg you to pardon me if
am SHINING against the conventional
ties IN addressing YOU
This apology was put forward with
so much manly honesty that Leola felt
ashamed of her hesitation.
only two days ago." she said. with
interest, and with frankness which
matched his own, and was born of
the same cause-utter ignorance of
1t never occurred to Leola that it
conventionality.
was indiscreet for a young lady to
stand talking to young man, a per
feet stranger, with whom the extent of
her acquaintance consisted of a known
edge CT his name and the date of his
arrival in England she w;ss perfect
ly self-possessed and at her ease, and
so was he.
only two days ago" he assented,
with a smile.