Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-05-29

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restlessly in Lady Ferndale's.
What am l to do with all thi:
money!" she sighed.
Mr. Petherick smiled.
- IS easier to do with money. how
lever large the sum, than without it
my dear" he said. gently. yes, al
excellent WILL he added, thought
fully And yet er-wish-the EN-
had permitted me to draw 1t. 1t is
strange thing that whenever a non
legal man, a man who is not lawyer
draws up a will he makes some mis-
take"
Lady Ferndale looked up quickly
There is no Misunderstanding to in.
validate the will?" she said.
mo, no. he responded. Nothing
Just simple blank. which does not
affec. it, fortunately"
Lady Ferndale inclined her heal
with look of relief. The old mans
words had frightened her.
There is one thing that surprises
me- she said, land that is the small
ness of the bequest to Mr.. Guilford
Befton"
IN. yes, yes, said Mr.. Petherick.
Just a souvenir. so to speak. Yes
Very much to his credit"
Norah raised her eyes, and, m
swering the look, he went on:
4 must say that was surprised
Mr.. Berton was so great a friend, and
has been of so much use to the earl.
that should not have been aston
ished If he had been left sum Of
money. It is much to his credit that
it is not 50. mean, ne went on,
stumbling and coughing, that it is
evident Mr. Berton is I'M honest and
disinterested man. He might have
used his influence with the earl to get
himself named for a certain sum of
money Very much to his credit, es-
pecially as he is, believe, a-er-
poor man"
Yes, he has behaved very well, =
said Lady Ferndale, but with a slight
wrinkle on her forehead; very we'll.
Don't you think so, dear?'
Norah nlurmured an assent. The
insignificance of the earrs bequest to
Gullford Berton had surprised her
she did not even yet understand it,
Mr. Petherick went on talking about
the property that had been left to
Norah. and she gathered, listening
listlessly with downcast eyes, that
though the Court must go to the pres
emit earl, the missing man. there Were
other houses, as large If not as his
toric, which had fallen to her.
Il am afraid you are dreadfully rich,
my dear" said Lady Ferndale, with
a fond smile; and Norah sighed.
There flashed across her memory the
story of the man dying of thirst in
the desert who. in the course of mis-
last feeble crawl in search of a spring
came across, not water but a bag OF
precious stones and how he flung
them from him with a curse. He
would have bartered them all for one
draught Of the lifegiving water, and
she would have bartered all the i'm
mense wealth that the earl had left
her for one draught of Cyril Burne's
love
All" she thought. as she sat in
her own room and unused over it all,
'if he had but been true, If he had
but remained constant. that might
have gone to him and laid 1t all at
his feet! OF what use ure lands and
money to me. who would have been
so happy sharing a cottage with
him, and cannot but be miserable now
that have lost him."
She lay awake all that night, the
same refrain surging in her ears. and
recalling with an agony too deep for
tears those to short happy hours she
had spent I'm the woods by his side
Lady FerndIlo remained at The
Court for three days, and would nave
stayed still longer but Norah would
not permit her to do So Nor W
she yield to Lady Ferndale's oft-re-
peated prayer that Norah would go
,ck with her to Ferndhie
Il do not know how it is sue saiu,
but have a feeling that I ought to
stay here until the earl arrives"
That's nonsense" said Lady Fern
dale, stoutly; he may never arrive.
Besides Why should you sacrifice
Yourself by remaining in this vast
place for the sake OF welcoming /
stranger who will probably"
Wish me gone as soon as he ar
rives," finished Norsah, with smile.
Il don't know but put myself IN
his place that is all I should not like
TO come back and find the place de
serted"
Come back? The young man has
never been here" persisted Lady Fern
dale
Then he will feel all the more a
stIunger," said Moran You go home
dear. and make peace with Lord Fern
dale for keeping you so long, and
promise that Immediately Lord Arrow
dale comes home | will pack up NV
things and invade you
Lady FerLd lie had TO be satisfied
with tins. and went of reluctantly, and
Norah was left alone, for even Mr.
Petherick had found it necessary e
return to London
Il must find this carl he said; 4
must find him. II YOU want anything
my dear ycung lady telegraph n
once. and If you cannot wait even sc