Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-07-03
APP Err xxxvlll.

seemed to be living in dres m; ara
even now, as she stood holdi.-S her
friends hand as they waited for the
carriage to take them to the quiet
church Of st. Cuthbert's, which lies
hidden away in the serenest and most
placid of corners in Tyburnia, she
could scarcely realize that within an
hour she would be Cyrils wife.
Up to now the secret had been well
kept, the. greatest danger to it being
Lord Ferndale's difficulty in refrain
ing from addressing Cyril as Arrow
dale" and Lady Ferndale declared that
she had never been on such tenter-
hooks in her life as she was when
ever the two men met IN the presence
OF Norah. She had, too, a wholesome
dread of Mr.. Petherick.
He will be sure to find it out, sh@
assured Cyril. He will want to see
the license or catch your real name
during the service, and then there will
be a scenei"
But Jack, who appeared to find d
singular delight in managing the whole
affair, hit upon plan for disposing of
the old lawyer, and two days before
that fixed for the wedding had PEI
suaded him to go down to Santleigh.
ut seems to me, sir, he said, grave
", that the place ought not to be
left entirely to the care Of servants.
Surprising the young earl were to Turn
up there suddenly. Some ore ought
to be there TO receive him; besides
you can't tell what may be going on
there. or what mischief that very nice
young man, Mr.. Guilford Berton,
may be up to-"
Good gracious me, yesi" said Mr..
Petherick; ''but-but I wanted to be
at Miss Norah's wedding, Mr. Yves
ley; in fact, IL think she would wish
me to be present"
Yes, no doubt, but Miss Norah has
such lofty idea Of duty, don't you
know, that fancy she would rather
miss you at the wedding than have
you neglect the young earl's interests -
And after little more persuasion
the old gentleman came and explained
matters to Norah, presented her with
remarkably handsome bracelet
and started for Santleigh.
We mustn't disappcint him, Cyril
said Jack, with a smile, as they watch.
ed the train of. Suppose you write
him line as from the earl. you know
requesting him to kindly remain at
santleigh until you ret-rn.'
Cyril caught at the idea at once
and nothing could describe Mr.. Pether
icks astonishluent when, on the
morning after his arrival. he recei red
the following
The Earl of Arrowdale viii be ex
tremely obliged if Mr. Petherick ell
oblge the earl by considering this re
quest as strictly confidential.
Having got rid of tie too acute Mr.
Petherick Jack felt much easier in
mis- mind, and able to regard tho com
ing event with ''caImness and forti-
tude.' as ne put it,
AS for Cyril, he scarcely knew
whether he was on his head or his
heels. and spent the time which was
h. passed in the company Of his
brideelect waking round and round
Regent street and Bond street buying
presents for her and Lady Ferndale.
Il don't like to make the really too
dreadful remark Happy is the bride
the sun shines on, Cyril" said Jack.
as they stood at the window tuggln
on their lavender gloves, and waiting
for the hanson which was to convex
them to St Cuthebrt's, "but l must
say I'm very glad the sun does shine.
A wedding Is only one degree less
mournful than a funeral at the best
OF times and weather, and if it had
rained today should have been re-
duced to tears. AS it is, the spectacle
of your nervous disquietude has pl "
ed havoc with my own nervous sys
tenn and, much as | love you both. /
shall not be at all sorry when you
drive off this afternoon. Is that the
second or third pair of gloves you have
utterly ruined? ?"
Cyril laughed nervously as he flung
the torn gloves away and started on a
fresh pair
Il suppose most men are nervous
when they are about to be married .
he said. is that TIE hanson; I'm
sure l heard wheels?-but don't
fancy many men are married under
such circumstances. All last night
lay awake torturing myself under
the fear that Norah would discover
the trick We are playing this morning
and decline to go to the church Ey m
now shan't know moments easiness
until the ceremony is over"
That's generally when mans IN
easiness begins" said Jack, dryly
Don't be alarmed. Besides myself
and Lord and Lady Ferndale, only the
clergyman knows that you are an
awful swell instead of a poor devil of
al artist. and the clergyman quite eli
tiers into the fun of the thing, 1 assure.
you!'
"The fun!" groaned Cyril.
Jack laughed
We'll it's fun to us, if it's death to
you. seriously, my dear fellow, J
should like to see Miss Norah's face
when YOU reveal yourself. What viii
you do? Strike an attitude and ex-
claim, Behold! I am the toughest