Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-09-18

The man who had opened the door
never dreamed Of offering any resis-
lance.
Miss Hutton has been taken to the
library, my lord" he said.
When they entered the darkened
room HiIda raised herself from the
couch
let me go back to her." she was
saying to DR.. Wells. cannot be-
lieye it. 1t is impossible she can be
dead"
Then the tired, frightened eyes
fell upon the face of Lord Bayneham.
She moved toward him with a wistful
cry. He clasped her in his arms,
and laid her head upon his breast.
''Hilda, my darling" he whispered,
my wife that is to be, l am come to
share your sorrow-it is mine also"
Lady Bayneham looked on, her
eyes full OF tears. The delicate.
lonely child. 50 lovely in the abandon
Iment OF her grief. touched that world
worn heart. She silently withdrew
with the doctor, and left together
those whose love death had sanctfed.
CHAPTER XIV.
Lady Bayneham forgot all her own
cherished notions of etiquette, and
warmly pressed the lovely young girl
to return with her to Grosvennor
Square; but nothing would induce
Hilda to leave the house. She was
too young, too inexperienced, TO know
that time would soften her grief.
Mr.. Abelson, assisted by Lord Bay
neham, undertook all arrangements
for the funeral Lady Hutton was
laid to rest near the bonnie woods of
Brynmar, where the greater part OF
her life had been spent. Lord Bayne-
ham was chief mourned, and two
distant cousins of Lady Hutton S
looking out for a legacy. were there
also.
You viii attend in the library for
the reading of the will Miss Hutton, %
said the family lawyer, after their
return to London.
Hilda bowed assent. She was very
silent in these last few days of her
/ bereavement, and she seemed half
shy, balffrightened, when with Lady
Bayneham. The poor wounded child
found her greatest comfort with Bar
bara, noble, unselfsh Barbara. who
forgot when she caressed the fail
head and parted the golden hair from
the sad, sweet face. IL. = she was il
the presence of her rival, the on,
who had stolen from her her loyt
She saw a grieying, sorrowful. lionel,
girl in place of the brilliant youn,
beauty who had won Glands heart
and Hilda chung to her as she woult
have done to sister Of her own.
Miss Earle spent the tine that in
teryened between Lady Hutton:
Heath and funeral with Hilda Sh,
I did not leave her night or day; ant
Claud, who after that one interview
did not like to ask for another. found
his only comfort in Fearing from
Barbara the loving little messages
sent by his fairhaired wife that was
to be.
The will was but short one. The
two cousins were not forgotten; a
handsome legacy repaid them for all
their affectionate solicitude over the
poor laly's health. Every old servant
was remembered, and the beautiful
estate of Brynmar, the house in
London, money IN the funds, carriages,
horses, jewels, and pate. were all
oequeathed by Lady Hutton to her
adopted daughter, Hilda, who thereby
became one of the richest heiresses
in England. 1t was all her own, to
do what she would with, without any
stipulations or conditions, but Lady
Hutton hoped she would never part
with Brynmar. There was no men
ton Of her adoption or of her paren-
tage, not word that gave any clue
to it whatever.
4 must congratulate you. Miss Hut
ton" said the lawyer, when the Will
was read.
wish, though" interrupted Hnda,
with tears in her eyes, that there
had been one word of my mc.,4er.
Two guardians were appointed to
take charge Of the young heiress.
They were Mr.. AbeIson and DR.. Greyl
ing, who had been Lady Huttons con
ddential friends for many years. IN
/ til she was twenty-one a certain in
come was to be allowed her, and
! Brynmar was to be her home, unless
she arrted before then in which
| case she would Immediately corae IN
TO full possession of her property.
For several days the ,onely young
heiress remained in the large solitary
house, seeing no one but Barbara, and
occasionally Lady Bayneham. She
would not see Claud yet; she knew
his presence would bring with it such
rush of happiness, it seemed almost
sacriIege to think of 1t. She resolved
to return to Brynmar. By Mr. Abel
sons advice and assistance "a elderly
lady was found. who, in consideration
OF handsome yearly income, con-
sented to live as duenna and chaper-
one with Miss Hutton; the two
guardians having decided that she
was far too young and too pretty to
live alone.
Il fancy our responsibility will soon
ON a gai1 nr Hro,-,;vo ,,-;4t q, ,s.sa4