Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-11-27

ana singular circumstances DeICTe 4
dared to think even the slightest
wrong OF one so pure and gentle as
your wife,"
But it seems strange" said Lord
Bayneham. ''The thing that puzzles
me most Is, that she seemed so
frighteGed-she trembled at the very
mention of the word.
as she frightened" asked Barbara
earnestly. Then my idea is a correct
one. Rely upon il, Claud there is
some little mystery. and Hilda is
shielding some one else from blame.
She ought to at least confde in
me-" said Lord Bayneham.
Perhaps sic fears your anger for
the real culprit," said aiss Earle.
81 do not think So" replied her cou-
sin; "she talks So" tragically TO me.
poor child, that / am afraid there is
some hing not quite Straightforward.
She tells me she cannot explain
Then" replied Barbara, with gem
erous spirit, "if she says so, Claud,
never seek to know the rest When a
pure, guileless woman, like Hilda.
wishes to keep a secret be noble, and
allow her to do so. Rely upon it. her
motive justifes her"
"You love my wife, Barbara" said
Lard Bayneham.
THAT / do" replied Barbara, truly
and Warmly. I have implicit faith in
her. Why, Claud, remember that
sweetface. What could it hide?-no
sin, r. error, no wrong. am sure.
Depend upon it, this little affair of
the bracelet, SO perversely magnftied.
is nothing after all. Most probably
Pauline has been careless, and Hilda
shields her from blame"
Lord Bayneham kissed his & usin's
hand. loving her better in that NOM
ent than he had ever done before.
She smiled as she quilted the library.
leaving the sunshine of her brave gem
erous words behind her.
No one loved or believed in Lady
Hilda more strongly than her husband.
that faith. For himself Barbara's
words almost satisfied him. If he
could but convince Lady Bayneham!
He resolved to see the maid herself.
and question her; he did so,---and she
looked very pretty and smiling as she
stood before him.
81 am thinking of ordering jewel
case for Lady Bayneham." he said
Il wish to surprise her with 1t. Give
me the size of the one she uses.
With smiling coquettish grace the
maid complied; there was nothing like
even a shadow of fear on her face.
IT am afraid the case In use is not
a secure one" continued Lord Bay
neham; "and have some reason for
believing that her ladyship's jewels
are not well kept"
Pauline venture respectfully to
desy the assertion, asking as was
natural, what the reason was.
81 found a bracelet in the park
this morning" said Lord Bayneham
which had evidently been dropped
yesterday"
IF a braceiet was found there .
said Pauline. who did not seem dis
mayed, my lady muF| have dropped
it. believe she walked cut for a
few minu es last night; she has done
so once or twice before"
Lord Bayneham made no comment.
and Pauline, proud of the young earls
attention to her word, chartered on
gaily.
Il believe my lady walked in the
garden a few minutes she cortin-
ued "she sent me away early, and i
saw her afterward going down the
north staircase. Perhaps she drop
ped it here"
Perhaps So" said Lord Bayneham
with we'll acted Indifference; "but do
not mention it as intend the jewell
case for surprise"
Pauline promised obedience and
tripped away, thinking what ahand-
some. devoted husband Lord Bayne-
ham was, and how happy her lady
must be.
CHAPTER xxx.
# his w.fe chose to walk out at any
hour or at any place, she was per
fec Iy free TO do so; but he could i'm
agine no reason why she should en-.
deavor to keep so trivial cIrcum-
stance secret from him. He even re-
memhered that once before, some long
time since, when they were speaking
OF the effects of late hours, he himself
had said, that after brilliant even
ing passed in the excitement of con-
versation or other mental efforts,
nothing was so good as a few minutes
spent in the fresh air Most probably
on that evening his wife after leaving
the drawing-room, had gone out tes he
bad once advised her 10 do) and had
dropped her bracelet unperceived; but
why make any mystery of so trifing
a secret, unless-&nd here he grew
anxious again unless something
happened then and there which she
did not wish him to know.
Think as ne would, Lord Bayneham
was no nearer solving the mystery;
so he went out into the park, wonder
ing if the frseh air would give him
any inspiration. AS he strolled list
lessly along. Simpson, the head game
keeper, saw him, and drew near. as
though DESTROYS of speaking to him.