Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-05-22
He-he tried

speak-"
Yes" he broke in, with barely con-
cealed eagernsss; "well?"
"He did say some words He knew
Lady Norah, ard spoke ner name and
he-he spoke yours. 1t seemed as If
he were trying to say something chat
was on his mind, but he could not.
And-and l think that killed him. he
not being able to make my dear
lady understand He-he seemed
frightened of something. as II he
wanted to warn her. Oh. I can't tel
what he meant"
| Guilford Berton drew a breath OF
relief It passed very well for sigh
of sympathy and sorrow.
IF had only stayed!" he murmur-
ed, and he turned away and wiped his
eyes
Then, moment afterward, he was
cool, self-possessed again.
''Will you tell Lady Norah that
lam here, Harman?" he said "And
tell her, please, that I will see to
everything that is necessary. II she
would like to see me"
Hartman stole upstairs and into the
silent room. Norah was kneeling be
side the bed, as she had been so often
for the last few weeks her face hid.
den in her hands, her body shaken by
her sobs. Hartman k. 1t beside her
and laid her hand tenderly upon her
larm.
"Don't-dont cry. dear mistress."
I"And yet-it's bestl"
III he had only told me what he
wanted to tell me-" dropped from
Norahs quivering lips "Oh, what
was it? What was it?' and she
raised er head and looked with an ag
Ionized entreaty at the now placid
face.
II sent for Mr. Guilford, my
lady whispered Hartman, "and he Is
downstairs. He viii do everything
and he says il you'd like TO see him
A shudder ran through Norah, and
she turned her white face to Hartman
with sudden vehemenc.
mol" she painted. mo, no." and
she dropped back into her former at
titude and hid her face as if she
could not endure even Harman's loy.
ling eyes.
Hartman went downstairs, and
found Guilford Berton pacing up and
down the library.
She will not see me?'' he said. be
fore she could speak. Yes, yes. !
can understand, viii you bring
me some sealing wax and a candle
please. And tell Marston to go =
the station with this telegram for Mr.
Petherick They will send it before
the postoffice people"
Still like a man in a dream he
sealed up the drawers in the bureau
land the lock on the deed box which
mad been brought from London aud
placed in its usual position in the Ii
brary He paused as he did so with
4 certain hesitation. Should he MAXI
a slight alteration in the viii? But
his hesitation only lasted moment
and he affixed the seal without even
Iopening the box with the duplicate
key he had made.
flushed footsteps sounded In
ghostly fashion over the vast place
land suddenly a sound smote his Ell
tibet made him start and recoil. II
was the big bell. which one of he
told servants, in accordance with a Gus
tom OF the house, had set tolling, to
Announce that the Superfine Earl he'd
passed away In all probability, OF
Iall the people who had known MIN
Iof all the great world in which he hal
fbeen so notable a figure. only two
persons shed tear; the daughter
whose love he had persistently re-
pulsed up to within the last few
weeks of his life. and the serving
woman, who wept more for Norah
than for him There was not a labor.
er on the estate. not a groom in the
stable, who would not have had more
lmourners than the Right Honorable
1.-THE Earl of Arr6wdale. Baron OF
ESkeirig. Viscount Normantor knight
of the two orders, and master OF
vast lands and gold
No work was done that day 10
Santleigh, and knots Of villagers
gathered in High street, talking over
the great man. who was wept less
than the least of all the living
Before noon two carriages arrived
at the Court-one contained Lads
Ferndale. who had fastened without
la moments delay to the side of hel
beloved Norah; the other brought
the old lawyer. Mr. Petherick; and ne
same telegram which had summoneC
, him had informed the newspapers o.
the death OF the mighty peer.
. Il had intended inserting an adver
| tisement for the yiscount-for tbs
Ear of Arrowdale as he is now" sait
] Mr. Petherick. who was a great dea
shaken by the news; but it will no
be necessary now: he will read III
! announcement of his uncle's death
r and his own accession in any of IN,
papers,
Guiiford Berton nodded. They wer
: in the library, and he had been Civ
ling Mr. Petherick an account of tn,
: de- th-omitting the details Harma'
/ had rela .e, and in their place as
r surfing he lawyer that the earl ha,