Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-03-06
CHAPTER Xxx.

startled ard reused him from his
painful revere. All the way along
he mad been going over the incidents
OF the miserable eyening-the even
ing winch he mad looked forward 10
with such keen anJiclpatlons! anu
as he thought over 1t all he could
scarcely realize what had happened.
He had been in the company OF Moran
a whole evening, and they had only
exchanged a few words, and those, on
her part, of the coolest! WHAT was
the meaning OF it? What had he
done that she should treat him so?
Had her father, the earl, been pun
ting pressure upon her, and per
suaded her to give him up? Was sne
so tickle that few days absence
had 0een sufficient TO bring her lur-
getfulness?
When he got to The CheQuers he
was not surprised to find the ntCe
inn wrapped in slumber ana darkness
He had not expected Mrs. Brown or
the maid to sit up for him. Two
o'clock a. N. was 90 the good folks OF
SantIeigh an unearthly hour. He
knocked at the door, gently at FIRST
then, as no response came, more
loudly. He stood there for some min
utes, five or ten perhaps, but if The
Chequers had been tomb instead OF
an inn it could not have been more
silent.
The time was going on. and the
station was some distance. As he
stood there in the quiet street the
temptation to give up his journey TO
Brittany, give up everything, and re-
main to clear up the trouble with
Norah, assailed him strongly but he
resisted 1t with all his mental I1rce.
To turn back now that he had got als
hand to the plow and the first FUR
row cut, would be almost unmanly.
Norah herself would be the first 10
regret it, if she did not even reproach
him; and as for JACK Wesley-well,
Cyril could almost hear his cynical
voice girding at him for throwing
away the - st chance Of winning fame
and fortune,
He knocked again presently, then,
as the clock chimed out the half hour.
he resolved to leave his things in
Mrs. Browns care. He would write
to her from London. After all, he
could procure his artistic tools and
some clothes when he got to town. 1t
would be rather awkward travelling
in dress clothes. but he had an over
coat. and he could keep it buttoned
over his coat and cleaning shirt front.
There was only just time for him to
catch the train, and even if he sue,
eeeded in waking Mrs. Brown some
time must elapse before she could get
dressed. Yes, it would be much bette.
to leave his things and catch his
train Delay was always dangerous
in his state OF mind, exceedingly So
He buttoned up his coat and. with
a last glance at the windows of Tho
Chequers, went quickly down he
street
Events were shaping their course
as they have habit OF doing, and IN
leaving SantIeigh without seeing Mrs
AtAOHA Ia u any REtG0n " III AAhA0 tGE9
tify to his presence there that morn,
ing, Cyril was but blindiy following
the dictates of Fate.
The station was to the left Of SAINT
leigh Park, and Cyril left lac road and
struck into a byp3th. As he did 81
he heard the voices of the village
folk coming toward Santleigh. but be
did net stop. and went on his way a
quickly as possible
The night was gloomy the gloon
that pre3edes the dawn-aud Cyril:
mood fully harnonized with it, e
cry yard he put between him are
Santleigh Court seemed to length
itself ominousiy, aud his spirits feI
lower and lower as he neared the sta
ton.
There were no voices to be heart
now, and the stillnes of the we. {
hour was only broken by the shril
screech of a corncrake. He seemet
so utterly alone and solitary IN Cht
stiffness that it was with start and al
exclamation Of surprise that he saw
man halflying, half-sitting agains
a stile.
Cyril had almost stumbled over him
and started back, cycling him aim
anSrily. 1t is unpleasant to b,
startled
The man seemed to be asleep bV
wake him or not, he decided the quea
ton by slowly rising, and shakjn,
himself very much as a Newfound
land dog shakes himself when arouse,
from short nap
Why. my good fellow, / nearl,
tumbled over you!"
Did you?' said the man quietly
81 reckon that would have been a
bad for me as for YOU"
Cyril started He had heard tn,
voice before somewhere. but he cou
not recollect for the moment where.
DO | know you. my frienq {" Gt
asked, peering at him.
1t isn't likely, sir" he said. mditfer
emily I'm stranger in these parts
Have you got such thing as liz,
about your
Cyril took out his matchbox an,
struck light, and as it burned up h,
uttered an exclamation of surprise
why, it's Furlong isn't it?' =,
said