Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-09-19

he took it of and shook it, finding in
side what was evidently the head Of
a hat pima little jewel with a tiny
coat of arms.
"Strange!" he muttered, and after
breakfast when he saw her at the en-
trance to the garden he spoke to her
about it.
"Is this yours?" he said.
She took the jewel and examined II
attentively and then blushed to the
roots Of her hair.
YES" she said, yes; it is mine.
Annette, the maid, must have dropped
it."
Floyd eyed her suspiciously.
YES" he said, Annette or an
other"
She turned quickly away.
''You are fooling me, young woman
he said 10 himself as he gazed after
her retreating figure, "but John
Floyd is not going to be fooled much
more'-and his mind went back to
the scene of the night, the silvery
rays Of the queen Of the night falling
through the radiance of the stained
glass window with its figured saints
onto another queen sitting there at
the old-time spinet like some sylph
from the dim bygone, bringing charm
to the days which were passing now.
"See here, Miss Charters" he said
on the following night, 81 want to
buy that place"
What placer" she asked quickly.
why Hurst abbey"
But it is not for sale"
"Oh, any place is for sale If enough
is offered"
But" she began.
Don't worry about it." he inter
rupted her. Il have written to the
lawyers. BY the way, you don't
know who owns it?"
'I-seem to have heard" she said,
c1ce; but" she went on, as If trying
to remember, II am afraid l can't
tell you the name. But why do you
want to buy it?"
Make it useful" he said shortly.
But how"
Pull it down.
Obi"
Turn it into sugar refinery
You dare mott" she cried indig-
nantly.
81 dare" he retorted.
He did not wait for the post on the
following morning, but erept down
early into the silent, sunbeam-hab-
tied house, where the air seemed to
lie in luminous strata.
Ought to be somewhere here" he
said quietly, and he walked noise
lessly into the kitchen, where the cat
rose, yawned, and looked at him, then
at the boots he held in his hand.
"Ah, here we are!' he exclaimed at
last, as he descended a step into a
little brick-hoored room. The bump
his head made in the white-washed
ceiling is there to this day. Brushes
-blacking. Clean my own boots :?
Of course! wen'-brush. rub. brush
Il wouldn't at the Carlton. but 1
don't Ike TO have jeweled knobs IN
my boots. Confound it, 1t hurts.
Hullo, puss!" he went on, as he saw
the cat sitting on the threshold gaz-
ing at him
Bang. down went one boot and he
picked up the other
"often have cleaned my boots,
and"
"Mr. Floyd"
Madam" and he bowed to her pro-
foundly, boot in hand.
What are you doing?''
DIRTY work makes clean boots"
But l won't have it."
ooh, yes, you will, Miss Charters,
till Annette
There isn't an Annette" she said.
excitee'v, and she took a step forward.
Thought as much" he said, grirnly
but" she began, and then she
turned away sharply, for there came
a rat-tat at the outer door.
"Postman," he said. "Shall I go?"
mo, OF course mott" And she
darted off. to return in a minute, bear
ing letter in her hand.
You don't trust me-" he said as he
took it.
why should n" she exclaimed.
"Oh-just because you should"
He read that letter and then read
again. 1t began: Dear Sir: In
answer to yours" and evidently it was
not quite satisfactory, since soon
after breakfast he started off for the
country town whence it came, to re-
turn only at nightfall.
They ten me" he said.
who tell your"
He looked at her quite calmly.
"The lawyers who have charge OF
the abbey. They say that it is not to
be sold'
mo more it is"
But" he continued. There,
please sit down, because 1 have a lot
| want to say"
And she obeyed his wish, subsfding
into the lounge chair in the corner OF
the veranda.
What do you wish to say?"
II want" he cried. Il want to
buy that place"
ITO make it a sugar refinery" she
asked and there was a suspicion of
smile at the corners of her mouth.
No. no; | want to hear Won play