Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-01-16

they walked slowly away, side by
side. their eyes meeting, their hands
touching. Once, as they were near
ly out of sight, he saw Cyril bend his
head and kiss her, and at this, the
last straw as it seemed. Guildford
Berton flung himself on the ground
face downward, as if to shut out this
remembrance.
Five minutes passed, and then, as
If with an effort, he got up and began
to pace up and down.
Let me Think" he muttered. Let
me Think" and he pressed his hand
TO his forehead as if with an effort to
gain composure. After a time calm
ness seemed to come back to him.
and, with something of his usual i'm
passive manner, he sat down at the
foot of the tree. and, with his hands
tightly clasped, sank into deep
thought.
Lord Ferndale had said to Norah
that he did not understand Guildford
Berton. Few people did. He was
oNCAJ W odNG h4LAoCAAb anu NAoe
young man, generally accounted
clever. should give up his profession
in which he had shown promise OF
distinguishing himself-and bury
himself in country village seemed
to all who thought of it the widest
I folly.
| But Guildford Berton was no fool.
Even at this moment he was wise
enough to crush down the mad pas
sion which WAS always ready to rise,
like an evil genius, and master him.
and to review his position.
Am l going to loser he muttered
t"After all! was winning, slowly,
but surely, Slowly, inch by inch,
was getting that proud old fool under
my thumb. Sooner or later his vagtl-
bond nephew, the viscount, would
have sold his birthright, and the earl
would have made me his heir! Then
this girl turned up But l had reck-
oned on that She is a woman, and
to be won, and | would have won
her! Yes, | feel it! Slowly and
ouiNAJ WOAAu AitLfC eoetAhCa tAiC 20
cendancy over her, as l have gained
it over her father. Everything was in
my favor. She would have been
thrown into my society every day. /
would have won her. l, the steward s
son, would have been the husband OF
an earls daughter l should have
ranked as an equal in the place where
my father was servant! But now"
he looked at the spot where Cyril
had sat, and gnawed at his lip
now, this wandering Tagabond, this
scamp, steps in between me and
Iher!" His hand opened aud shut con
yulsively. He will marry her in
spite of her father, and all that should
have been mine will be his! All!
Even Norah!" The word dropped
from his lips with an intensity which
Iseemed to startle even himself. YES
I am a fool, he muttered II love
Iher! That is my mistakei 1t is that
which has made me weak and sci
my brain ON fire! I love her! But
for that | could be cool and play the
game care fully, but-but my love
confuses me-drives all the thoughts
out of my head!' He sprang up and
paced up and down. And she. she
hates me, or is near to hating me!
And l feel II whenever l am in hel
presence; l read it in her face, il
her voice when she speaks to me-
And she will marry this artist fellow
who comes from no one knows where
and The ground out an OATH
suppose must give it all up, go bach
to London, and begin the old hateful
life, made all the more hateful by tht
thought of all I had hoped to gain
all I have lost. mo. by Heaven!
he exclaimed, raising his hand as i
he were actually registering a vow
81 will not There is time yet.
set my brain against yours, Mr. Cyri
Burne, and I will fight to the last
the lastl'
To be cotinued