Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-09-18


ever knowing anything Of a secret so
well kept; so she tried to forget it.
Neither the doctor nor the lawyer
could enlighten her, for Lady Hutton
had not taken them into her conf
dence.
Make yourself quite happy" wrote
Mr.. Abelson; Lady Hutton was
just woman. Most probably you are
a distant relative of her own. Few
people will ever remember, you were
not her child, especially as she treated
you as such Respect the secret of
the dead as she respected the living"
After that Hilda was content 70
leave the mystery a secret still, and
as weeks passed on she recovered
from the great and sudden shock;
but while she lived, Hilda never
ceased to mourn the kind and stately
| lady who had loved bcr so we'll In
the quiet and silence Of Brynmar her
health and spirits returned. Some
thing of the old beautiful bloom was
on her face when, six weeks after
ward, Barbara came. saying, that in
spite of all remonstrance, Claud
would come too,-not to remain, but
only for few hours, just to see how
his newly-won treasure looked.
Hilda went with him to the shady
| green glade in the woods where he
first saw her; and there with tears
| shining in her eyes, she told him
Lady Huttons dying words, and how
impossible she had found it to dis
cover who her parents were. He
loved her too deeply to care; and he
kissed the tears from her face. and
told her never to think OF it again.
She was Hilda Hutton to all the
world, and would soon be Lady Hilda
Bayneham. He made her promise
that when the spring blossoms came
she would De his wife.
As the time drew near, Lady Bay
lneham made some faint remonstrance.
but it was soon withdrew, because
she saw the whole happiness of her
sons life was involved. Unless he
married Hid he would never marry
at all. Outwardly she was amiably
Indifferent, but in ner heart there
was something resembling dislike for
the beautiful young girl, who had I'M
consciously thwarted the one plan
and wish of her life and heart.
Spring came with its blossoms and
budding leaves. The wedding was to
take place in the pretty country
church at Brynmar, and a gay
party of guests assembled there.
BERTHE Carlyon had accepted his
Iold friends invitation to offciate
as best man for he was long
ing to see Barbara again. Difidenee
or delicacy-he hardly knew which
had prevented him from calling
since he knew she was free
The flowers HiIda loved were bloom
ing on her wedding day, when the
words were spoken that made her
Claud Bayneharc's wife, and no one
wished her joy more truly or more
kindly than Barbara Earle.
Lord Bayneham took his young
wife to Switzerland. He wanted to
show her every beautiful place in the
world all at once. Barbara told him,
laughingly. he must be content with
one. and Hilda had chosen Switzer-
land
Barbara's words were gayest when
the hour of parting came. Barbaras
face was the last that smiled as the
carriage, containing perhaps the two
happiest people in the world, drove
away
BERTHE Canyon stood by Barbara's
side, watching with loves keen eyes
every change in that noble face. He
saw no trace Of sorrow there. Bar
bara did not keep her woes for the
worlds amusement. She was calm,
kind, and serene, thoughtful for
IClaud, for Hilda, and for Lady Bayne-
ham. 1t would have required more
shrewdness than BERTHE possessed to
discover any sign of an aching heart
in those calm clear eyes and smiling
lips
To be continued.