Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-02-13


man was anxious to carry her away,
and show her the part of the fete for
which he was responsible; one wanted
her to go with him and see the Punch
and Judy which was performing to a
delighted audience in a corner Of the
lawn; another insisted that she ought
to go and see the flowers in the show
tent, and third declared that he had
been waiting for Lady Norah to open
the lawn tennis tournament. But
Lady Ferndale held her tightly BY the
arm, and absolutely refused to rein
quish her.
mo, no." she said, Il am going to
have ner all to myself for half an hour
at least" and Norah laughingly was
led away.
Everybody seems to be here" she
said, as she kept bowling and smiling
to the groups o. village people, who
took off their hats or courtsied to her.
Yes, I hope so" said Lady Fern
dale I'VE wanted everybody to know
sure" remarked Norah. How nappy
that it was an open day"
"All Santleigh village is here, an:
they all scent"
Yes" said Lady Ferndale, triumph
antly. 81 natter myself this is rather
better than the usual garden party at
which people stroll around bored to
death and trying to look as If they
were amused. It's dreadful thing to
say. my dear, but it is perfectly true,
that the poor people are the only class
which knows how to amuse itself; the
rich have lost the art of being happy.
Hear how they laugh and shout!
Now, Norah, you are not to get com
pletely knocked up before the evening.
You mustn't let them tire you out, as
| they will do if YOU permit them.
want you to save yourself up for the
dancing tonight. You can't imagine
how well most of the people dance
Some of our village girls can waltz as
gracefully as If they had gone through
course of lessons under a celebrated
professor-it comes instinetlvely, you
know. And, Norah, you won't mind
dancing with some of the young men.
the tenant farmers and such like, will
your"
"T'H dance with anybody-eve2y-
body" said Norah. promptly; but even
as she spoke. her heart ached. Why
was not Cyril here that she might
dance with him?
She made the round of the tents
with Lady Ferndale, and of course a
train of admirers, some of whom im-
plored her to promise them a dance
but Norah smilingly refused. She
would not engage herself to any one
she said, until the ball had commenced.
Then she went and distributed he
prizes to the winners in a foot rare,
and of her own accord made up ten
mis- set with five young farmers and
the sweetheart of one of them, who
played quite as well as the "swells,"
and, indeed, NOrah thought rather
better.
They were in the middle of the set
when she heard a voice close behind
her and gentleman got her ball and
handed it to her.
| 1t was Guilford Berton. He was
carefully dressed, and cool and self-pos.
| sessed as usual, quite cool, though
other people were hot and perspiring
under the warm sun. He remained
just outside tle court behind Ncrah,
and never failed to field for her anil
kept her supplied. with balls, but he
scarcely spoke, and, though Norah
would have infinitely preferred going
after the ball herself, he did his minis
| tering in so quiet and unobtrusive
fashion that sh. could not very well
| decline it.
And yet from the moment lie ap-
peared, her pleasure in the game
seemed somehow to decrease. While
he was near, she found it impossible
to concentrate her attention on tie
game, and his.cool impassive presence
seemed to diffuse a chill, and she
turned to him almost coldIy when,
the game being over. he asked her to
let him take her to the refreshmen.
tent
She could not very well refuse, o :.
she walked beside him almost silently.
one noticed that generally so silent
himself, he talked quite f1uently, md
got her some lemonade and waited
upon her with the quiet. unobtrusive
manner with which he had ATTENDED
her at tennis.
All the morning he seemed to be
near her. and to her secret annoyance,
he occupied the place next her at
lunch, notwithstanding half a dozen
men had scnemed and plotted to OBJ
| tain the coveted position. How had
he managed it?
The day wore on most successfully,
and in the latter part of the afternoon.
when the fun had waxed decorously
furious, Norah missed her father
The earl has gone home my dear"
said Lady Ferndale, with laugh Il
/ think he has behaved nobly, and
didn't expect him to remain half as
long He declared that he had en-.
joyed himself extremely. poor man.
And you are to stay the night with u.s.
| No journey home alone and upsetting
the carriage that young man may
rescue you! BY the way, | haven't
seen the hero. Where is he? He ac-