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

"lt is net the Countess of Arrow
date,' he said; but it is Catherine
Hlyes, your mother"
Norah held the portrait tightly, and
look at him.
Are you-are you mad?" she
gasped.
lie smiled.
1T is not an unreasonable ques-
ton. can appreciate your astonish
ment, and ! sympathize with you; in
deed and indeed | do. l am speak
i. the sane and sober truth; that is
til port ait of year mother you hold
in al hand, Norah
did not notice his intentional
omis ion of the Lady" she was too
amazed, too overwhelmed. She sank
into the chair. still looking at him as f
she were waiting.
1T is terrible shock" he said, IL a
tone of gentle sympathy. for one vino
has always regarded herself as of no
BILE birth TO find that instead Of be-
ing the daughter of an earl she is
only the daughter of a commonplace
lady's maid, companion
Norah began to tremble.
1T is not true" she sud. almost in
audibly. why have you tod me
this falsehood?"
1t is quite true, ALAS" he sad;
and it is better that you should hear
ii from me, who love you and can SYM
| ,,o,, a.. 40 NTH, tyo,, than from, the lire
of strangers, VINO would simply en-
| JOY the romance of your disappoint-
ment."
Il do not believe it," she faltered
Il am not surprised at that" he re
torted. in the same slow voice, easy,
truth of what he asserts Il do not
ask you to believe it without proofs
have come prepared for your in
credu'ity though, If you ask yourself
what purpose | could hope TO effect by
telling you string OF falsehoods, you
vii find it difficult to find an answer.
In a word or two. the fdcts-the
lamentable facts,-are these; Just
before the countess left the court and
went into exile, Catherine Hayes COM
mitted the folly of marrying. She
married a mana gent'eman-namad
Woodfern. James Woodfern," he add
ed taking a paper from his pocket,
and glancing at 1t. Catherine mad
| asked and obtained holiday. and had
spent 1t in Plymouth. There she met
this gentleman, Woodfern. He was q
lieutenant in the navy, on a few days
.eave from his vessel"-he looked at a
paper again-"the Enchantress then
stationed at Plymouth It was
case of love at first sight Mr. Wood
fern wooed with the ardor of a sailor,
and Catherine Hayes, being presum-
| ably as much in love as himself, con-
sented to marry him after the short
period of counting which the exisen-
eies of--this Lieutenant Woodfern
and Catherine Hayes-at St Stephens.
Plymouth. Permit me to hand you
copy of the church register The orig
| inal | have seen within the last week
and can testify that this is a correct
copy"
He placed the slip of paper in No
rains band and waited
She looked down at it. and mechanic
ally read the formal document
What what has all this to do with
me, with my mother. the countess
she asked with catch in her voice.
He raised his eyebrows. as if aston
ished at her dullnes of perception.
You will see presently" he replied.
Lieutenant Wcodfern's leave was a
short one and the husband and wife
separat . H. went on board the En-
! chAntress; she who was Catherine
Hayes. but now Catherine Woodfern,
returned to the Court, and the service
of her mistress, the countess. They
had agreed to keep the marriage a Sc
cret Possibly the lieutenant wanted
to prepare his relatives for the sur
very good marriage for him. and he
thought that he would break 1t to
them gently, and present his wife
when he came back from the voya e
ON which the Enchantress started
few weeks after the wedding. 1t was
close secret Only one man was
admitted to his confidence, the first
mate of the vessel. man named Fur
long. You will find him duly set
down in the certificate as a witness
to the marriage. They parted. Cath
crime went back to her mistress, and
when the earl and countess separated
which they did soon afterward
Catherine accompanied the countess,
They went to London. Some months
afterward child was born a girl.
the daughter of Lieutenant woodfern
and Catherine. his wife: in fact, your
sef. dear Miss Norah," and he in
clinei his head gravely.
Norah caught the arm of the chair
/ and grew deathly white. In the space
of moment, even as he had been
speaking. the scene of GATHERINGS
death rose before her She under
stood now what those words of ai,-
guished parting meant. She realized
now the meaning of the dying
woman's oft-breathed question DO
you love me. Norah. Have | been
really like a mother to yOu?"
Her head fell upon her hands. and
bar hnsnY, baav-Nj with choking cnhS