Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-06-19
CHAPTER xxxVI.
"Where is your wife 2"

10 his SLUG.
e-is-my-what?" he ex-
claimed gazing in profound amaze
ment at the lovely face, whicn. though
flushed with indignation. still conveyed
a hidden and suppressed tenderness.
Your wife," Norah repeated, her
lips quivering; lie is Becca? On
aow can you" she meant. offer to
take me in your arms. but said. in.
stead, how ran you come to me-"
~Beeca. DO you 1lean Becca
South?" said Cyril, more and more
amazed. How on earth should /
know? What have l to do with Becc@
South, OF Becca any one else?'
Norah's breath came fast, and her
eyes dilated.
oh, how can you answer me so?'
she said piteously. Il know every
thing. 1t is useless to try and deceive
me II is wicked--cruel and wicked
Why have you come here?" and the
lovely eyes grew dangerously limpii.
Cyril put his hand 70 his head. No
doubt at that moment he fancied be
was dreaming. and that ii was only a
vision of Norah which stood before
him, asking the most extraordinary of
conundrums.
"Norah," he said, des perately, No
rah. don't know what you mean. l
I'm in a whirl What are you doing
here? Why do YOU ask me these
questions | know nothing OF Becca
South I've not seen her since the
night of that COMPOUNDED ball at Fern
.'ale-" He stopped suddenly. for
No, III had swayed slightly. and with
a low cry, sank into the chair.
He spraRg to her but she put her
hand out keep him of.
He called upon her name in a frenzy,
and as her eyes closed, he looked
round for the bell Not seeing it, he
did. perhaps. the wisest thing he could
do-fung up the window and seizag
a smell which "ornamented" the table,
flung it at the window opposite
Jacks head appeared promptly. win
every expression of wrath upon his
face.
Come over at onee!" shouted Cyril
and before Norah had succeeded in
fighting OF the fainting fit. Jack Yves
ley was in the room. looking amazedly
from one to the other.
Well ne said, what has happen
ed? Lady Norah. are you III? Cyril.
are you mad? What have you been
saying to herr"
It's what she has been saying 10
mel" retorted Cyril. half demented.
Jack Wesley pushed him aside, and
brought a glass Of water and gave il
to her. and she opened her eyes and
fixed them on him penitently. and then
on Cyril with an expression difficult;
TO describe. but fun of tenderness AMI
hope. and halI-fearful joy.
Are you better, Lady Norah. sail
jack Don't pay any attention 10
him, please Keep away. Cyril Now.
tell me what is the matter"
Then Norah opened her ihs ard
struggled for WORKS
ASK him to tell ne the--the truth y
she said, brokenly- I can bear any
thing but this uncertainty. Ask him
TO tell me if it is true that he is mar
ried TO Becca South.
There exclaimed Cyril, that IS
what she asked me before you came
In Tell her. Jack"
Hold your tongue. said Jack Wes-
ley, whose acute brain was beginning
tc xes TIE drift Of things Pre- -ou
married to the young person rlention
et?'
Am r. Oh. great goodness. / shall
20 mad, sad Cyril. Married to herl
You know, she must know that an
not; that | would rot marry any one
6ut-but one woman, If my life de-
pended on it,
If there had not been that awful
tragedy behind II, the situation would
have been almost farcical But it
was very serious to two of them,
and Norah MD her face In her hand
and began to cry.
oh, what shall do?" she moaned.
but with cadence If JOY and thanks
giving. "Oh, now--how wicked
have been!"
This brought Cyril on his knees he.
side her instantly. and he dragged her
hands tenderly from her face and looll-
ed up at her all his soul in MS eyes.
'Norah, my Norah, my darling"
he murmured, and a long string Of
passionate endearments. What doe
it all mean? Why have You treated
me $3.50 cruelty Way did you not
answer my letters? Why did you tell
Jack"-Jack had discreetiy gone To
examine a picture on the wait, ana
kept his back turned upon the pair
why did you tell Jack that You were
no friend OF mine, and--and let me
believe that you wished to see no NOR
of me? On, nay darling YOU have
nearly broken my heart"
Mine isis quite broken" whim-
pered Norah, her hands grasping his
arm "ith little spasmodic pressures.
On Cyril l thought I beiieved, tina;
you had deserted me: that you were
married "
Deserted youl married." he re-
peated. But w'hy-why-w Why
Because you went away with her
with Becca," said Norah, in a low
voice
81 went ofP with pArca--rocr 1;t.le