Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-03-27
CHAPTER XIV.

/ Norah drew Harman'S arm WITHIN
her own and led her back to the phae-
/ ton and Guilford Berton followed,
fairly dazed by this latest stroke of
I luck. Who the girl was that had gone
/ with Cyril he could not even conjec-
ture. AS he himself would never have
/ eondescended to procure a ticket Tor
a stranger, it did not occur to him at
/ Cyril might have done so. Anyway,
, this new link in the chain suited MS
I purpose to a marvellous degree, and by
h the time the ponies had started ne
, had collected himself and mastered
/ the situation.
This is very-sad!" he murmured
! to Norah.
Noraa inclined her head. she
could not speak.
The question is, What is TO be
done next?" he unused
! Il must go! must find her!"
sobbed poor Hartman.
"we must think it over, Mrs. har-
man. he said. gently. Il am afraid
there can be no doubt that your niece
has gone off with Cyril Burne, butt
am net sure that We ought to take the
worst view of the case"
/ Hartman looked at him
You see" he said, addressing her.
| but watching Norah's face, Cyril
Burne is a gentleman; of that AMI
we all are-quite certain, and. being a
gentleman. it follows that he cannot
act dishonorably, 1 am convinced of
that"
why did he entice her away?" %al-
tered Harman, not unreasonably
There may have been reasons of
which We know nothing" he answered.
I'VE know nothing of Cyril Burne or
| his affairs and cannot surmise his o.
iect in running off with her He
may have very good reasons To-. a
secret marriage. For instance he may
be afraid Of offending some relative
from whom he has expectations
Marrying her!" echoed Hartman.
Yes. he said. with quiet confidence.
My belief is that Mr.. Burne intends
making your niece his wife"
Hartman drew a long breath AID
looked agitatedly at Norah; but N0rah
avoided her eyes, and stared STRAIGHT
before her, yacantly as before.
Il have no doubt we shall ind
that they were married this morning.
! A shudder ran through Norah's
frame and the hand that held tae
reins shook.
Yes, he resumed. musingly. tie
more l consider it, the stronger I am
convinced that my theory is the right
one Why did Mr. Burne go off to
London so suddenly. and why did be
come back so secretly, so to speak.
He must have gone up to make ar
engagements fo,' their fight ana mar
riage and no doubt he came uown
using the fete as a blind. to carry her
of Depend upon it ley are mar
ried by this time"
"Oh.if I could only think so, sir!
muir lur6d Hartman.
4 am sure of it," he said. 4 can
scarcely explain why feel so con
WINGED that I am right. but I am con
WINGED. However, we can soon find
out the truth.
Hartman looked at him anxiously and
expectantly.
If you will allow me to help you
Mrs. Hartman, will undertake to trace
them and discover what has really
happened"
Hartman could only look at him with
unspeakabIe gratitude.
Yes" he said refectingly. +,
know person in London--a de,ec-
tive--who will haze no difficulty in
working out the whole matter and
will telegraph to him at once"
Il don't know how to thank you
sir,'l filtered hartman
Don't you think that will be the
best plan Lady Norah?' he asked
speaking to her for the first time
Norah forced herself to reply. You
are very good"
Not at al" he said, with self-3e-
probation. 1--WE must all help each
other when and how we can, ana
am only too glad to be of some slight
service. Don't be anxious, -.4rs, Hac-
man; all will come right
The scandal sir We have always
been SO respectable.
"As to that" &c said, thoughtfully
Il think we might prevent any gossip
if we took proper steps"
Hartman waited breathlessly o.
Sir if we could"
1T is easy enough, he said quietly
we have only got TO say that we have
heard satisfactory news at the stati IN
I or t'sewhere---" He saw Norahs
lface suddenly flush. and he went on
more cautiously: You need say moth
! ing Mrs. Hartman; in fact, the less
You say the better Leave 1t TO me
| am afraid | must tell white lie or
two, but it is pardonable to suppress
the truth sometimes. | shall say that
Bccca has gone to a situation in Lon
don. which she had procured without
the knowledge of her friends Sue
was such restless girl that the story
will be readily believed
| Yes, sir, she was always restlt IS,
poor girl!"
Il will go on with you to the Wiz
,lage." he said, End put this explana-
tio,, info nircnla ~, Aand thau raturr,