Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-06-05
CHAPTER xxxlN.

She looked at him with the same
calm surprise and displeasure. 10
her the question sounded like an out
burst from sf"enzied man. nothing
more, and sne / to remain patient
and restrain her anger
Il don't understand you" she said,
quietly enough Perhaps you do not
understand yourself.
"You wi1 soon understand" he said,
with a sinister smile; then he seemed
TO make an effort to control his tem-
per, and said, more softly: will yon
not sit down, Lady Norah? Ii
spoke more warmly, precipitately,
than intended, but
Norah declined the chair with a ges-
ture, and stood schooling herself into
patience. She would listen to what
must be told, just little curious. She
glanced at the bell again; it was
within her reach, and she could dis
miss him in moment If she chose.
But she intended to listen to all he
had to say.
Guilford Berton laid his hand upon
the mantelshelf. and looked down
thoughtfully for amoment; then lie
commenced:
/ fear / shall cause you some pain.
Lady Norah. Heaven knows | would
aave avoided this revelation but you
have forced It upon me- II you had
consented to be my wife. the story
To +on Won xun1t1d hnnr.
locked within my bosom, and l should
have remained silent till death
Norah did not speak, and he went
on, slowly and impressively
"You remember your mother. Lady
Norah?"
Norah inclined her head slightly
"Y0u are aware that she and the
earl separated soon after their mar
riage?'
Norah's face burned and her eyes
bega,. to fash
II lease do not misunderstand me
he said. Il am not going to speak
disparagingly Of either the earl or the
countess. The separation was caus' /
by no graver reason than the impossi
bility of their living happily together,
/ do not wish to speak i'll of the dead
but l do not think any woman could
have lived with the Earl of Arrow.
dale That is all | intend to say on
that point AS YOU are aware, the
countess was accompanied in her ex-
lie by a faithful servant, Catherine
Hayes She was devoted TO the count
ess; 1t was one of the instances Of
affectionate fidelity which are as rare
as they are touching You were born
after the separation, and saw nothing
OF the earl until the death of your
shall say adopted mother, Catherine
Hayes. | fear am taxing your
patience rather sorely; you are won
dering why / should repeat all this,
which you know already. Bear with
me little longer. please Lady Norah
/ am right, am | not. in stating that
a very strong affection existed beween
you and Catherine Hayes: in fact
that after the countess death, she
took the place OF a mother to you
Norah assented by a gesture. His
words recalled the quiet, peaceful life
in the cottage =. Norton. and all the
dead woman devoted care of her
and the tears We're very near he :
aeyes. but she specially desired to re
press any emotion in Guilford Ber-
tons presence and forced the tears
back
Can you tell me where you We're
born Lady Norah?' he asked
Norah Started slightly.
No she said, answering her own
thoughts rather than his question.
He suppressed a smile
Nor when-the day. the mcnth?"
NO" said Norah. faint surprise
rising.
did it never occur to you that there
was something strange unusual, in
your ignorance OF these faots?'
She shook Der head.
why do YOU ask me these-these
questions ?" she slid coitly.
"My reason will be obvious direct
ly," he responded. Did YOU know
that Catherine Hayes was a married
woman"
10 uuL huoN, ISpttSu ANoIdh
He unbuttoned his coat and. taking
the photograph from his pocket held
it out to her
will you take that I'm your hand
and look at it carefully"
Norah took it otter a moments hest
tation, and looked at it.
Where did you get this?' she de
manded, with a start
Il found it he replied quickly.
Norah's eyes flashed unbelief
at is mine." she said.
Il am very glad TO be able to re-
store it to you" he said, suavely
'ewm you tell ne whose portrait It
is?"
"You know whose It u.s." she said.
ut is Catherine's-Catherin Hayes
do not believe that you found IT.
TIT has been stolen"
Every likely" he assented, coolly;
at is Of little consequence-you have
it again. Doubtless you will treas e
it far more previously and carefully
than you have hitherto done, now that
you know that it is the portrait Of
your mother"
For a moment the words did not