Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-07-10

1 will go up tonight-tonight!"
Then he crouched lower ovet the
fire, and warmed his hands at tie
feeble flame which he had succeeded
in rousing. and suddenly he was
startled by the crash of bells. He
rose, with that look on his face which
the man wears whose brain is begin
ming to soften from constant brooding,
and as he looked through the window
a tongue OF ire shot up and lit UP the
room.
For a moment he stared. wild-eyed
then he realized what had happeGed.
Curse the foo,si' he muttered with
a snarl They'll wish they ware
tolling for his death or had got him on
the top of fire. before many months
have gone" and he flung himself into
the chair again.
But presently, as if the voices shout
ing and cheering drew him in spite oil
himself, he rose. and, fiing'ng on his
coat took up a soft wide awake hat
and, carefully locking the gate. went
out
BY this time the light from the huge
bonfire was casting a mellow glow
over the village, and its reflection, red
and blithe, could be seen in those win.
dows of the Court in which there hap
pened to be no light.
AS he entered the village street he
found a crowd Of people tending to,
ward the Court. as a stream tends to
the sea. He Joined them hall me
chemically, and, in their midst. pres
emily found himself on the lawn just
beneath the terrace.
A stream of light poured from the
dining-room windows onto the broad
martW pavement of the terrace, and
fell on the upturned faces of the
crowd. and the red glow from the bon
fire poured from behind them and
seemed TO mingle with the light rom
the window.
The crowd was shouting all round
him, and in the oyerstrained condition
of his nerves ne could not distinguish
what they were saying.
What is it the fools are yelling
for?' he demanded of a maui who
stood beside him, and who was, with
the exception of himself, the only
silent person in the crowd.
The man started slightly as he
heard Guilford Berton's hard, sarcas.
tic voice, and emitted a low whistle
Of surprise.
"Hullo.' he said, close to his car,
for the noise was almost deafening
where they STOOD. you here! I should
have thought you would have made
yourself scarce by this time. now the
games up. Do you mean to say you
don't hear what they are shouting for?
They are calling for the earl aud mis-
wife, Take NV advice, and follow MY
example" and with grin he moved
away sideways and was lost in the
crowd, at the moment Guilford Berton
recognized him-Furlong.
AT another time the mans sudden
appearaLce-and disappearance-and
sinister warning would have had
some effect upon Guilford Berton; but
a strange mood possessed him that
night and it may almost be said that
he actually forgot the man the moment
he lost sight of him, But the words
the earl and his wife," haunted him.
rs the earl married." he asked Of
a woman who had taken Furons 5
place at his side
Don't you know that" she be-
gan, then broke off to exclaim, Why.
it's Mr. Guilford. bean't it, sir?"
He sti1ed an oath, and got away
from her and into the center Of the
crowd. pushing nearer and nearer the
terrace.
His lordships at dinner, and won't
come out. bless you.' said d man.
"Oh yes, he Will; at least she will
bless her heart" was the retort: and
Guilfcrd eBrton, wondering duly why
the new countess. who must be a
stranger. should seem so we'll known
and already popular, pulled his soft
hat further over his face, and waited
Presently roar rose from the
crowd; the dining-room windows hpG
been flung wide open by a couple of
footmen and stalwart man stepped
out onto the terrace. with lady on
his arm.
The light from the bonfire fell upon
his face and hers, and GuilforG stared
and gasped and then laughed hoarse?y
He must be going mad for certain. 70
imagine that these two must be Cyril
Burne and Norah. Yes, that was Il;
he was losing his reason
Then, as if in dream, he heard lie
gentleman speak. The words fell
upon Als ears as if they had been
spoken by some one ME off, and
yet he caught ever one distinctly.
What was. he saying, this man who
looked like that hound Cyril Burneo
Thank YOU, my friends, one and
al, for the kind welcome you have
given US. trust none of us will ever
forget this night and that henceforth
we are neighbors in every sense OF
the word Thank you again and
again, not only for myself, but for my
dear wife, whom all of you know, and
whose heart is full Of gratitude for
your kind wishes"
A mighty cheer rose. deafening.