Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-11-13
Continued.

his trouble; he must see Lady Hilda,
tell her all, and rely upon her fears
for observing the secrecy necessary
for him. He wrote a note. as fol
lows
Il pray xs1 70 keep silence over the
little incident that occurred this after
noon until see you. can explain it.
The honor Of 4 famlly-my life almost
depends upon your silence. VIII
you grant ME an interview? / knew
your parents, and have much to say to
you. VIII you meet me in the library
after dinner this evening? / will not
detain you long"
He wrote the note, T eyer thinking
that there would be any difficulty in
giving it 70 her. but he found it pos
sibIe In the drawing-room she was
surrounded by visitors. Sir Henry
Atleigh, Of Comble Abbey. took her
down to dinner After dinner she
held a little court, and there seemed
to be no room for him in the group
He never realized before the difficulty
Of doing anything underhand.
at last his opportunity came. Sir
Henry AtIeigh spoke of photograph
he had seen lately from one Of Art
Scheffers finest pictures.
I'VE have one like it, believe, said
Lady HlIda, rising and moving toward
the large table or which books and
rare engravings lay scattered
LET me assist you in looking for
it." said Mr. Fulton, who had long
been waiting for this chance. He fol-
lowed her to the table, and in giving
her the photograph she sought, laid
his note upon It He read the hesita-
zion In her face as she half threw it
from her. For your own sake, he
whispered. "for your husbands sake, :"
and her hand closed over it.
It was adroitly managed. but 1t hap
pened unfortunately that the Countess
Of Bayneham, witnessed the little tran
saction, unseen by them. She was
seated in her own favorite chair, at
some distance from the large table;
but she was watching as he rose, and
saw him plainly offer the folded note
to her sons wife Her first impulse
was to rise and demand to see It. her
second was to laugh at her own folly
Il might be memorandum, or a thou.
sand other things; why should she sus-
pect anything wrong? She smiled,
and blamed herself for her unjust sus
picion and folly.
IF the countess could have seen the
burning indignation on Lady HiIda's
face as she read those few lines she
would have judged her more charitably
hereafter No. certainly-a thousand
times over, she would refuse to meet
the stranger, who a month ago, was
unknown to her. Why should she?
Il he knew anything of her parents.
let him tell it to her husband. At
least her suspense would be ended
then, and she had lived lately with a
sword suspended over her head She
tore up the note contemptuously. and
dung it TO the winds
That night ar Fulton sat until late
IN the library, but Lady Hilda did not
come near, and he grew desperate.
I must see her" he said to himself;
"she viii betray ne; how madly have
acted! She must see me, and know
Who / am"
This was more easily said than done
Lady Hilda carefully avoided him the
next day She had not decided what
course to pursue; she longed to tell
her husband all, but dared not. Then
Paul Fulton wrote again.
I must see you he said. reasons,
both sacred and important, compel me
70 speak to you ask you for your
dead mothers sake, to meet me to-
night not in the house. where I can.
not perhaps speak to you alone. Go
after dinner to the Lady's Walk.
pray you and let me see you there"
With this note. carefully folded. he
haunted the drawing rooms, but no
Lady Hilda appeared. Fortune. how
ever, favored him again. Going up
the grand staircase he met the coun-
tess with her daughter-in-law. He
passed them with a deep salutation
and some jesting words placing the
note on Lady Hilda's hand as he did
80, unobserved. ne believed. but seen
again by the watchful eye of Lady
Baynehain. She made no remark. re-
solving to know soon what this myster-
ious correspondence meant.
When Lady Hilda read the second
note she was almost in despair What
could he know Of her parents. this
strange man whom she dreaded? Why
should he summon her Tor her dead
mothers sake? She must go: there
was no help for II.
They dined alone that evening, and
only LAZY Bayneham watchful eyes
saw how worn and anxious was the
expression Of that young face. on
which new shadow had fallen.
Lord Bayneham left the ladies' early.
be had been riding all the morning
and was tired. He fingered for a few
minutes by his wife's side, watching
be- white slender fingers. busily en-.
gagged with a pretty piece of netting
10 seemed liS fate that he should no.
tie her bracelet; it was both elegant
and costly. one that he had presented
Her with soon after their marriage
delicate pearls set in pare pale goTd.
That is the prettiest bracelet YOU