Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-04-03

mination, she rose and bathed lnr
face.
Cyril Burne had ~ ssed from het
life, never 10 re-enter it, and from
that moment it behooyed her, If she
possessed a spark Of womanly pr:de
and self-respect, to cast him out from
her heart and even from her mind
She would force herself to forget him
or. if she thought of him at ALL to re
gard him as beneath her contempt
With trembling hands she did up
her hair, and put on her prettiest
dress. and then went downstairs, de
rermined so to play her part that NJ
one should suspect that her heart was
very nearly broken.
The drawing room door was open,
and she went in and sat down TO the
piano, aud began to play mechanically.
| Insdnctively she wandered into a
mournful sonata of Schubert's in har-
mony with her feelings, and her eyes
began to fill with tears. With an inn
patient gesture she dashed them away,
and changed the sonata to brilliant
] fugue, which flied the room with a
magnificent storm of sound. in the
midst Of which the earl entered.
He paused at the door, looking at her,
/ and listening. and his face softened.
or. rather, grew more proud and salts
fed. She was very beautiful, re
thought. and she plas cd like must
clan. Yes, this daughter of lis vas a
credit to him.
Norah did not know he was in the
room until he came and stood by the
piano; then she stopped playing, and
with a start, looked UP at him, and he
saw how pale and worn she looked.
Please do not stop he said, with a
wave of his hand; and she went &C
playing, but more softly.
He did not guess how keenly her
heart ached with the desire to tel lin
all and to receive one word Of sym
pathy aud consolation from him.
She came to the end Of the piece.
ard the earl nodded approval
You play with taste and expression,
Norah." he said; then, as If Lan
ashamed Of having unbent even so
slightly. he added, in the same breath.
almost as if he were afraid she would
make some affectlonate response.
BY the way what is this story that
have heard about one of your maids
the girl named Rebecca south?"
No ,ah WINGED but she raised 4er
eyes to his steadily This was a part
Of tie ordeal she would have to under
go, and she would bear it withour
making sign.
The story, papa?'
Yes, l have heard, from my valet.
some rumor that the girl has run
away. It is not true, SUPPOSE"
Yes, it. is rue" she said.
run away from the Court, Why
has sic done so. With whom has ,hc
run away, pray?'
She is Mrs. Harmanfs niece, said
Norah, slowly, and still playing softly.
and Mrs Hartman is trying to keep it |
secret. She ran away with Mr.
Cyril Burre.
indeed! 1t would be scarcely cor
rect to say that it is no more than I
expected. as my acquaintance with the
was so slight; but, from
what I have heard of him, | am not
trust that it will be a |
warning 20 you not to credit every
stranger you may happen to meet with
all Il e virtues"
The truth is not known, papa, it is
Harman's secret
"She need have no fear of my c, IN |
it. The girl has left my |
roof of her own free will, and there is
an Ell d of it-and her!"
Norfh drew breath OF relief and
he moved toward the door with his
slow and stately step; but he came
back and stood looking down a. her
Are yea unwell?" he asked,
81 am little tired this morning, |
papa" she replied
you look pale Would you ike to
see a doctor?"
Norah shook her head again, and a !
faint smile that was more sad than
tears crossed her face. No doctor |
could give her back the Cyril she had
loved and lost!
you have not looked well for some
time past" he said. Perhaps you.
need a change of air"
Il don't know" said Norh, fistlcssly.
Il am going up to town in n few
days. had thought Of staying at a
hotel. but If you would like to accom-
pauy me. will write and tell them to
have the small house in Park Lane
ready There are not many people in
town Just now, but the change may
benefit you. Do you care to go?"
Thank you, papa she replied.
Yes. l would like to GO"
Very we'll" he said. Il will make
the necessary arrangements. You viii
take Hartman with you and the house
keeper can send some of the seryents
up at once" and ne left the room.
The day passed slowly, draggngly.
Norah tried to read. to work. but the
book dropped in her lap, and she found
herself dwelling upon her trouble, and
going over all its details one by one
with vivid distinctness. She dressed
herself for dinner. Hartman being too
i'll to wait upon her, and went down
with a listless step, to find Guuforf