Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-01-16

Continued.


ward her, then stopped, his eyes, tNii
OF the passion that burned in ms
heart, fixed on her face; and SO they
stood speechless, so far as words go,
"You have comet" he said, in a low
voice.
She put hers into it, and It was
imprisoned in his eager grasp,
eyes, l have come" she said
"Are you angry with me for send
ing you the message?'
mo" she replied "Oh, no, no.
But" she stopped.
1T was wrong-I know" he said.
81 fell it when l had got home and
thought of it, but-ah! wanted TO
see you, soon, at once. and did not
know how
81 am glad you sent to me-" she
said, so SIMPLY, so sweetly, that he
could have gone on his knees to her.
"You are painting win you-will
you go on?" she faltered
He understood her. She could talk
with less restraint =. he worked. He
sat down before the easel, and took
up his brush and the palette, which
he managed to hold in the finger and
thumb Of his left hand, and painted
blindly for minute or two; then he
turned to her as she stood beside
him, her hands loosely clasped
MAY / speak now, Lady Norah?
I have been counting the hours since
left you last night l have so
longed to see you--to tell you-ah,
you know What can say but that
love you,"
Norah's hands clasped tightly and
her breath came and went ftfully.
ut broke from me last night, when
I should not have spoken he went
on, in a low voice. that trembled with
eagerness and rang earnestly with
the true ring of pure, whole-souled
love. Il ought not to have spoken
then, butt could not help 1t; and
row you know Il, what win you say
TO me?"
He rose, but with slight gesture
shl motioned MIN to his seat. and he
sat down again, oheying her, and benz
toward her, the sunlight falling on
his shapely head and handsome face.
''Were you angry with me last
night? Are you angry now? Have
you come to tell me that I was pre-
sumptuous-ah, don't speak yet" for
her lips moved. though no words had
come do you think that l have
not thought over it all during the
long hours have lain awake? Lady
Norah, you cannot feel more aeuiely
than I do how unworthy I am chat
you should cast a thought to me
Her lips formed a NO, but he
went on. his voice scarcely above a
whisper, his eyes sparkling with more
eloquent pleading even than his livs
You are the daughter of an earl
and L" he motioned to the easel
with his brush, II am a poor painter;
one the wcrld-the world to which
you belong regards as very much
beneath you And it is right. But
poor painter may have a heart,
and I have gwen mine to you 1
lay 1t at your feet, Lady Norah! 1t
is yours to do what you viii with-to
accept or refuse
He stopped to control his voice,
which his passon had rendered hur-
ried and broken.
Il can only say love you. love
you! | have loved you" He stop
ped and then went on, his voice low
and dreamy, as If he were speakiag
from his heart to hers. DO you
remember the evening you came to
the Court? AS your carriage drove
in through the gates I stood there
and saw you, and-ah, believe me
the moment | saw you my heart
leaped 1t seemed to cry ou', I
love you" I did not know who YOU
were, but You were the one woman
in all the world for me from that NO.
ment; you will be the one woman nm
til die"
There were tears in her eyes
though she tried to force them back
and she put up one hand and covered
her e.'cc for moment, but she stood
silen4 an otherwise motioness.
ut WIS 10 passing fancy he wen
on. "All that evening / could no
forget you; and at night / stole to the
great house, that l might be neal
you. And heard you!" he said, his
voice scarcely audible; almost as 4
in answer to my prayer. you came
out on the terrace and spoke, not L
me-ah, no. l know,--but you seemed
to speak to me All my life has
changed since that moment, for vol
have taken possession of 1t. I thinl
of you all day your face fits between
me and the canvas, | hear YOU
voice He paused Lady Norah
what will you say to me? VIII you ie
me so on loving yol-ah. you cannot
help that, l must love you,-but viii
you try and love ne a little in re
turn?"
Norahs face grew almost vhitt
with the struggle that was rendins
her heart, The struggle between the
desire to answer. 4 love You already.
and the desire to obey her father.
rs 1t SO impossi5le?"
Il cannot. The earl, my father
"The earl he said. your father
does Az. like me-
UEJe has forbidJor, ,,x,, g. g