Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-11-20

N
mo, she said again; but he saw
her face flushed with pain. "Why do
you ask me so strange a question,
CLAUDE"
My mother thought that on two
two occasions Mr.. Fulton had an
noyed you by slipping noneensIcal
little notes in your hand" he re-
peated. rs it true, Hilda?"
He saw her pause before replying
to his question.
1T is true he gave me two little
notes" she said, in faltering voice,
''but they did not cause me any an
noyance, Claud."
MAY see them?" he asked.
They are destroyed" she ans.
wered. in the same low conrtrainei
voice.
viii you tell me their cohtentse"
he asked again
II cannot" she gasped
He knew not what to say; never
once had the eyes wherein truth and
love shown so brightly been raised to
his. The long dark lashes dropped
on the white cheek, and she spoke
as one under pcompulsion.
Perhaps" he said, at was nothing
that concerned you,- some little
affair of his own. Was it sou
She answered not word, and
Lord Bayneham continued.
Il am no jealous husband, Hilda,
interfering and prying into your con-
Germs. Since We have been married
l have never sought to know anything
of your letters. I have trusted you
implicitly in all things, as real and
loyal men do rust. I should not in.
terfere now, tut that ] have been
told that those not-s were almost
forced upon you,-that you received
them unwillingly; and it has caused
me to wonder much what they con-
tanned"
She raised her eyes to his face,
and their worn. wild expression
struck him painfully.
Il cannot tell you, Claud," she re-
piled, 81 would If it were possible
do you know, Hilda," he said,
gravely, that nothing can iustif
you in keeping secrets from me. We
should have but one mind and one
heart between us. You have no
right to withhold anything from mo,
My idea of married life is one of pei
| feet confidence, trust and unity. |
cannot imagine separate interests"
He saw look of intense pain steal
over her gentle face, but she made
no effort to answer him.
Il suppose it is useless for me to
repeat my wish" he added. 81 can
not force your confidence, IL you will
not give it to me. 1 must be content
to know there are depths in my
wife's heart hidden from me-"
Lady Hilda shudderer as she re-
membered what those depths were.
He noted her gesture and said, II am
not angry, Hilda; l am grieved,
wounded, more deeply than / can
tell you. What secret can by little
wife be keeping from me?"
She made some slight movement,
as though longing to throw herself
at his feet and tell him, On her lips
the words trembled, Il am an i'm
poster convict's daughter. / have
no right to be here-send me away,
Once she began them, but the sound
Of her own voice frightened her and
she stopped with a scared, wild
look on her pale face that grieved
and amazed her husband.
Lord Bayneham sat for some min
otes in silence, gazing wistfuTly at
the beautiful trembling girl by his
side. He was sadly grieved. His
Young wife had ever seemed to him
pure gentle, and truthful as a child.
Now, with a woman's sorrow on her
brow, with her averted eyes and
trembling words, she was like a
stranger to him: and it was with a
deep sigh at the unpleasant task
before him that he recommended
his inquiries.
To be contiued.