Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-01-30

love OF a girl so far above me as Z
peers daughter would be, md hAi
having Won that love, induced her t
plight her troth to me, her father be
ing kept in ignorance?"
Cyriis face flushed, then turneC
pale.
She is, as you say, quite unsophistl
Gated, knows little or nothing of thu
world. Loves you? OF course SHE
does. can understand that; there
is nothing marvellous in it. 8u
that very love of hers should have
made you careful Of her. Do yoI
think her father, the earl, will no
say that you have taken advantage o.
her ignorance OF he world-hi:
world? Do you think he will no
point out to you-cast it into your
teeth-that she is what she is, anC
thai you are only a poor devil of Z
painter?''
Jack" he said, in low voice
your heart is pure gold. l miglt
have known what you would nave
thought, have guessed what you have
had the honesty and the candor to
say But'-he drew long breath
thank God. can say, Jack, YOU
nave wronged me- -
How have l wronged your he
said. Il am judging you by your own
confession don't say that you
cOnId ha1y, Iovipo The raort- dc,,,,l
ter; dare say not. l say that !
think it only natural she should have
given you her heart; but-why, lad,
and his face was full of grief, 'if any
one had told me that you-you-had
acted so, would have given him TIE
lie"
Cyril took two or three turns up ana
down the room. His face was
strangely troubled, but there was no
trace Of shame or remorse in it.
You are very hard on me, JACK. "
he said, in low voice.
Am 1? Put it down to my regard
for YOU responded Jack Wesley.
You are the only man in all the
world | care to call friend and that
being so, l am careful of your honor
as l am of my own Confound the
women, They blind even such as
you to a sense of right and wrong.
Can't you see it, can't you see it?"
he demanded, with outstretched
hands. Put yourself in the place OF
this old man; think what you would
say If YOU learned that a man had
been enjoying stolen interviews with
your daughter, and that he had in
dueed her to plight her troth to him.
and then-mark this well-when the
young man chose he came to you and
told you an earl!-that he was
only a poor devil of a painter?'
Well said Cyril, biting his lip
and looking, not at his friends noble,
earnest face, but at the opposite wall,
with strange look of doubt and in
decision.
Well" echoed Jack, what do you
think you wl.-d say? Why, just
what this lord will say. He will tell
you that you have no right to engage
yourself to his daughter, to a lady
who is, so far as social position is
concerned, infinitely above you.
Why. man, these people look upon us
as of different flesh and blood-or,
rather they are flesh and blood, d
we are-just mud"
Don't, Jack. It makes it all t e
harder for me-"
you should know what l say is
true. Not only the earl, but all the
world will say it. And she"
"she-the Lady Norah-win come
in time to think that she has thrown
herself away"
Cyril strobe across the room and
forced Jack into a chair and, standing
looking down at him with a pale face,
said:
Jack. | can't bear it any longer:
you are right! If had acted as yol
say l should have been a mean hound
As it is now, you make ne feel as If
should have gone to him at once
and told him all But, lucknow
don't be hard upon met is true
am only poor painter, but I am
what the idiotic world chooses to con
slider something better, confound II!
My name is not Cyril Burne--
Il am the earls nephew. Viscount
Santleigh!"
To be continued.