Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-07-03

Miss Norah wouldn't think so,
he retorted. My dear boy. don't re-
pine We must Ill bear our lot cheer
fully. whatever il may be. I sympa-
thize with you deeply. deeply; it must
be so trying to be an earl with ever SO
many thousands year; but you must
bear your heavy trouble like man.
you know. And here's the hanson
at last"
Cyril hurried to the door as if ne
were going to catch train and hadn {
a minute to lose. Then he stopped
short and thrust his hand into the
breast pocket of his beautfully-ftting
frock coat.
Whats the matter? Palpltation of
the heart?" demanded Jack.
NO said Cyril, gravely pulling
out a long blne envelope. 4 was
wondering whether had forgotten
this" and he tapped it significantly.
"oh, that's all right. What you'll
ccrget win be the ring"
NO, l shan't," retorted Cyril, AMI
he took it out gingerly from his waist
coat pocket. Come along, come
along!@
Certainly. but allow me to lock
the door. Are you afraid the church
will run away, Or that Miss Norah
may change her mind? ?"
The church was still standing in its
secluded corner, and Norah had not
changed her mind, for after Cyril had
been pacing up and down the small
vestry for ten minutes, while Jack had
been chatting with the clergyman-a
young curate. who really did seem to
enjoy the fun of this STANCE marie ee-
Lord and Lady Ferndale arrived with
the bride Cyril-and perhaps Jack,
toe-tt cugnt che had never looked
more lovely thar she did in her sim
pie dress of GaIet gray, aer glorious
eyes downcast, her lips inst partc .
by the quick breaths of mingled joy
and shyness.
For herself she still felt as if she
were moving in some strange. delicious
dream, and it was with start she
heard the young curate murnlur softly
| Are We ready?"
Then Cyril and Jack walked up e
the altar, and Lord Ferndale drew
her arm within his and followed.
There were no other witnesses than
/ these dear and tried friends. except
the inevitable pew-opener. Norah felt
as if the >robbing of her heart conld
be heard all over the little church
In his soft. suave voice the curate
performed the ceremony; she felt
| Cyril's dear hand clasp hers as he
slipped the plain ring of gold" upon
her finger, then. leaning upon his arm
they led the way back to the vestry
Ny wife, she heard Cyril murmul
in her ear and as she raised her eyes
to his shyly. he bent his head to kiss
her But Lord Ferndale put a hand
upon his arm quickly.
| Excuse me, he said, but think
you are trespassing upon my priv
| lege!' and Norah, blushing and smil
ing. presented her cheek to him.
That's my reward for giving h 81
away, said Lcrd Ferndale, kissing her
hand also. Cod bless you, my dear,
and make YOU and the man you have
chosen as happy as We all wish you. "
While this pretty little ceremony
had been enacting, the curate had been
getting out Of his surplice and filing
in the certificate.
! 4 have dispensed with my clerk 6
I services this morning, he said, MAX
ing a great fuss with the blotting pa
per. "Now-er-Mr. Burne, will you
sign, please?"
Cyril wrote his name.
'Wilfrid Avon Cyril, Earl of Arrow
dale, and the curate covered it
quickly with the blotting paper as he
turnei to Moran.
Here. If you please, my lady"
he said, then stammered and turned
red. But Norah did not notice his
confusion. or, if she had done so,
would have attributed it to his having
addressed her by the title she lad
borne, and, bending down, wrote her
own name
The curate folded the certificate two
or three times.
III you-er---" he said, address
ing Norah, but looking at Cyril.
Give it to me-" he said, quietly
but with downcast eyes. l have some
/ papers of Importance here; I'll put it
with them 1t will be sure not to be
lost then" and he took the envelope
from his pocket, inclosed the &c ti-
and fastened the envelope security.
AS he did so he drew a breath of re-
lief, and glanced at Jack who smiled
significantly and softly clapped his
hands
Then they went back to the carriage,
and We're ratified off to Grosvenor
Square, where what Lady Ferndale
called IAN apology" for a wedding
breakfast awaited them.
1t was certainly not a large party.
but what they lacked in numbers they
made up in happiness.
The newly-married pair were natur-
ally tc intent upon each other to need
much merriment, but though they did
not need it, Jack had got fair sup
ply on hand, and for the first time in
his life forgot to be cynical, and was