Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-02-20

Had she forgotten htmg ne asked
himself She had not looked his way
yet. Surely she must know that he
was in the room, and could have
given him one look of recognition, OF
welcome.
There can be no love where there
is e jealousy, or vice versa, and Cyril
was scarcely himself that night, un
fortunately. At another time he would
have thrust aside the thoughts that
were torturing him, but he had had a
fortnight of suspense and Impotence;
he had rushed down from London with
1 out his dinner, and was tired and over
strained, and the merry demons who
delight in tormenting mankind had
got firm hold of him, and were enjoy
ing themselves amazingly.
And still he danced without a mis-
take. steering Becca through toe
crowd as he would have steered a
duchess, and thinking as little Of her
as If she were lay figure
They attracted some attention
Becca was slim and pretty, and the de-
licious exercise. combined with her
pride In being the partner of the
handsomest man in the room, had SGT
her eyes dancing and given a warm
flush to her dark face; md the spoc.
tators were looking on admiringly
and curiously.
who is that gentleman dancing
with that pretty girl with the black
hair?" asked a dowager sitting just be-
hind Norah
"Oh, he" replied the gentleman she
addressed. who had got Cyril's name
from Lady Ferndale but new n
more, and yet was anxious to appear
wen informed and crafty the dowag-
er's curiosity, "oh, that is Mr. Cyril
Burne. a rising artist; quite a clel er
young fellow And he is dancing with
the girl he is engaged to. Quite a
love affair Of the old romantic kind,
assure your ladyship."
Indeed" responded the dowager
well, they are well matched, I'm
sure What nice hair the girl has!
And he is-yes, really he is, very
handsome"
Norah heard this, ana her face flush.
ed for a second and hear ached
How could he whirl round with that
vain and giddy girl while she sat
there waiting for him? Had she not
waited for whole fortnight? Why
did he not come to her and, making
any excuse he liked, take her away
from that hateful man who 7ersiste1
in following her like a shadow. and
murmuring in her ear?
Oh. that game of purposes!
The music ceased at last, and Cyril
driven desperate. took Becca to a seat
and. it is to be feared, left her rather
cayalierly.
ferryeeynelst vavenghniyn? esdydtrq
You must give me another dance
Becca." he said, not meaning it in the
slightest. scarcely, indeed, knowing
what he said; and, resolved to GO
straight to Norah, he began to thread
his way through the now confused and
entangling throng
But he had not got half-a dozen
yards before Lady FerndaIe met him
She was on the arm of a gentleman
who bought pictures and hattered
himself that he was critic. and good
natured Lady Ferndale who was al
ways on the lookout to do some one a
good turn. had hethought her OF in
Producing the patron of art to Mr.
| Cyril Burne
"Oh, Mr.. Burne,' she said. let n,e
introduce you to Mr. Romley. You
and he will be able to talk pictures
and with kindly smile. away she
went and left poor Cyril in the art
patron and critics clutches
Mr.. RomIey proceeded to talk pic.
lures at once and poor Cyril, though
he tried his hardest to ge. away, ana
cast wistful despairing glances toward
Norah-still seated next Mr.. Guilford
Berton-found himself. like the wed
ding guest, firmly button-holed by this
ancient mariner, who was delighted
at getting some one upon whom he
could pour out his artistic twaddle.
Cyril listened-or. rather. did not
listen-answering In distracted mono
syllables to the stream Of insanity and
pompous ignorance and edginr flu.
Their and further away from his tor
mentor; and he had just succeeded II
/ escaping when the band struck up
again, and he had the modification of
seeing Norah going off on the arm of a
tall guardsman.
If he could have seen thu look Norah
cast in his direction, he would hay
been somewhat comforted and encolr.
aged; If he could have guessed with
4 what impatient pain she was asking
herself why he avoided her, WHY he
preferred to dance with Becca. and
talk to any old fogy, rather than come
to her. he would have broken away
from the bore who buttonholed him
and flown to hes' side: but he did not
guess what was passing in her mind
and 1t seemed to him that she was
avoiding him, as it appeared to her
that he was keeping away from her.
To those two longing. wretched
hearts the music made horrible dis
cord, the room seemed sitting. the
light bewildetring
Cyril would not dance again, but
wandered round the euge of the waltz.