Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-08-21

who could ii be? With a woman IS
keen eyes she noted the details of the
dress. The original of the picture
was evidently a lady; who could she
be, and why had Claud locked up
what was certainly the best of his
productions? He was too busy just
then for her to mention it. He
thanked her gratefully for the trouble
she had taken, but Barbara Earle
was i'll at ease.
That evening when dinner was over
and Claud rejoined the ladies. Bar
bara went to re taD,e where he stood
looking over some beautiful engrav-
ings that had just arrived.
"Claud," she said gravely, when
opened the SIN II drawer of your
bureau this morn ng picture fell
out of 1t, one Of your own paintings,
believe. Whose face Is. it? never
saw one half so beautiful before"
She was watching him keenly, and
saw slight pallor on his face. 81
cannot tell you whose face it is" he
replied; sit is a picture saw on my
travels, and thought 1t so beautiful
that l could not refrain from trying to
reproduce it,"
You have succeeded WE'LL" said
Miss Earle.
He made some half Indifferent reply
and turned away. Barbara Earle's
eyes followed him with sad, wistful
look. What had changed him so?
Lord Bayneham went to his study.
He took the picture from the drawer,
and folding it in many papers, locked
it safely away.
He was kinder than usual to Bar
bara that evening. as though he would
make amends for some involuntary
wrong.
The Countess of Bayneham changed
her mind once more. She had de-
cided upon dissuading her son from
going to London for the season until
after he was married; but she looked
upon it in a different light now. His
engagement to Barbara Earle was
known publicly. Perhaps, after all,
it would be better to make a brilliant
appearance in London, and then, at
the end of the season, have brilliant
marriage She decided it was to be
so, and early in May the young earl
left Castle Bayneham for his town
house, which was an almost palatial
mansion in Grosvenor Square.
The season opened brilliantly. Miss
Earle, the niece of the Countess of
BaynehaE1, was mucn admired But
what puzzled both ladies was that
Claud took little or no interest in any
of the gaieties or pleasures that sur
rounded them.
Lord Bayneham was fortunate in
one thing,-he met in London his old
est and dearest college friend, BERTHE
Carlyon, the second son of Sir Hubert
Carlyon, of Durham Park, one of
the kindliest and noblest of men,
unfortunate as he himself declared,
in everything love and finance above
all other things; but so kind, SO
genial, so true, no one could help
loving him.
BERTHE had his secret, too; from the
first moment he saw Barbara Earle he
loved her. He seemed almost by
instinct to understand the woman's
grand, noble soul. He never men
toned his love; of what avail could
II houn hann NH tho ri xuho ha n
so unconsciously won his heart was
te aftianced wife of his best friend?
So BERTHE Carlyon, as many another
man before him had done, shut up his
love in the silence and secrecy of his
own heart. He avoided seeing Bar
bara as much as possible; but he was
great fayorite with the stately
countess. She admired him, and en-
couraged his visits to the house. So
it happened that not one day passed
without bringing BERTHE Carlyon to
Grosvenor Square.
Il hear wonders of a young lady
who is to be presented at the next
Drawing room," said BERTHE Carlyon
one day to the countess.
who is it?' asked Lady Bayneham.
Il can give your ladyship every
information, replied Mr.. Carlyon.
re younger sons are in a state of
fervent rejoicing. She is to be pre-
sented by Lady Hutton, the daughter
and heiress Of the late Sir Ralph
Ershine, of Brynmar The young lady
is very beautiful, and, if rumor speaks
truly. her adopted child. She is called
Lady buttons ward.
To be Continued