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

est, here is the beginning. | cared
very little about it before today, but
now l welcome It, It is an earnest
of the success your love viii bring
me"
Norah read the short note. and he
told her something of the man who
had written It.
'eThe best friend man ever had,
he said, warmly; "and he will rejoice
in my JOY"
Your friend" she nurmured 'He
shall be mine, too, if he will. l shall
love him for your sake, Cyril.
He heard the name from her lips
for the first time, though she had
called him by it in her thoughts often
enough
Dear old Jack" he said yes,
he will be glad. And, Norah, you
have no regrets; you will not mind
when your great friends tell you that
you have thrown yourself away? That
you, peers daughter, have acted I'M
wisely in loving an artist"
He looked into her eyes with a
strange earnestness, and with the
same shadow of smile upon his
handsome face.
Norah touched his hand with her
lips as she thought how great, how
noble, how altogether perfect he was
to her.
NO one win say that who knows
you" she said. simply And those
who do not-ah, why do you ask me?
You know, you know"
Eyes, l know he echoed, with a
long breath Of delight and joy: 'and
the knowledge makes my happiness I'll
the greater. l have won you without
the aid of a title, or wealth. or
fame Norah, you cannot guess. not
even you, how sweet the knowledge
| is to me-" and he threw back his
head as If he found some mysterious
satisfaction in the thought. Some
day, when you and | are together in
the world, and you are surro mded by
men of title, your equals in rank.
shall say to myself She might have
chosen from among these. but she
chose lie. untitled, poor, unknown
I have never thought of these
things" she said. Il care nothing for
rank Why it is only a short time
ago that | knew l was the daughter
of an earl, and'-she smiled-"the
knowledge has not made ne any the
happier. It would have made no
difference to me if you had been
noble-I mean titled, Tiff | had not
loved you" She breathed the last
words almost inaudibly.
Then you would leave the Court
land be my wife. and live with me in
some little cottage and be content?
he asked, fervently, holding her face
in his hands with a tender caress.
Content! she echoed softly rs
that the word?"
81 may try you some day. dearest;
and yet" He paused, and she
regarded him. waiting for him tc
finish. But he did not; instead, he
seemed to thrust the thought from
him, whatever it was NO" he said
"let ne enjoy the delight of feeling
that you love me for myself alone
that your love is strong enough tC
make a sacrifice for me-"
What sacrifice can l make fol
your" she said, slowly, as if she
would have liked to have it in hel
power to do so
"Norah
She turned her eyes upon him witt
THAT rapt devotion which is lovet
sign.
VIII you think it strange II / ash
you to keep our engagement a secre
for the present, ?"
She did not remove her eyes from
his face.
Il win do everything you wish
Whatever you wish will be good +,
me, Cyril! Why should we tell any
one?"
See, dearest" he said. q ough
to go 70 the earl this evening and tel
him all, but | know what would fol
low He would refuse to give you t,
tme-and little wonderland h
would forbid me to see you"
His face went pale, and her hanC
closed upon his as If to protes
against the mere suggestion of sucl
: a terrible calamity.
He would say that | had takel
advantage Of your ignorance of tn
world, and won your heart before yo1
had a chance of seeing other mel
; more worthy than I am And wha
, could say? Dearest, it is so true
, Now. let me tell you all that is II
my mind
Tell me everything" she said, II
low voice
you have read what my goo
4 friend says, dearest: the little pictur
= is success. But there are other
Iready, and those-well, l am hopin
great things for them. should Xix
to go to the earl and say L an a
unworthy of your daughter; / clair
To be more than an artist, but / hay
d made good that claim. and"
} Yes. We will wait. How clearl
4 you see things. Cyril My father wi
e consent then"
well, dearest" he said, If h
G should not?"
d Nothing shall separate u.s. sh
murmured