Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-07-10

of the bells with feelings OF profound
joy ana gratitude; Joy so perfect and
absorbing that it is little wonder she
forgot for the moment the existence
or the mystery attending the disap-
of the mystery attending the disap-
pearance of Becca South.
Indeed, not one of them, excepting
Jack gave a thought to the man
whose base scheming had so nearly
wrecked the life of the ',eautiful girl
whom they all loved. IL was ouly ms.
who remembered that G,1iiford Berton
had stin to be reckonei with.
CHAPTER XII.
That evening. All hour before the
romantic arrival of the Earl and
Countess OF Arroxdale. Guilford Be
ton had wandered up the avenue and
gazed up at the great house. He mad
accepted Lady Ferndales promise :,
and had waited as she hal advised
him. What could she have intended
to Imply, he asked himself, but that
Norah would come round to his terms,
and was only asking for {, few days
grace? What could she dc but accept
them? With all his passion for her,
he understood her as little as Tn y
swine wallowing in its sly understands
the mystery of the stars. To his base
mind it seemed just impossible tn
any woman should choose obscuritv
and poverty before rank and wealth
Yes, h told himself in his solitary
musings in the grim, desolate cottage,
she would come round in time. Amy
day. any hour, he might receive 4
message from her. She would colue
back and send for him, and accept
his terms. He should be the husband
of Lady Norah t.rrowdale, and, if not
lord Of Santleif,h. the owner. of the
vast wealth lett by the late earl.
And so he waited--waited with a res :
less, feyerish Impotence, intensified
into an agony far past description by
the hideous secret which haunted him.
All day he spent shut up in the
house in which his crime had been
committed, and which seemed a tott-
ure house and a tomb to him 1t was
only at night that he emerged from
the gloomy silence of the haunted cot
tage, and then he avoided his fellow
men, and prowled about the dark
lanes and -ounu the Court.
He heard of Mr. Petherick's ar
rival, and knew that he WIS staying at
the Court but he did not go near
him. He would wait, he told himself.
until Norah returned and sent for
him. Then-well he called up a
vision of victory and triumph which
almost made him gddy, and for the
moment dispelled the dark shadow
which lowered about him
This evening he had sauntered up
the avenue with his head resting upon
his breast and, suddenly raising his
eyes, saw that the windows of the
vast mansion were full of light.
He stood still and gazed. and his
heart beat expeotantly, and he drew
nearer and waited, his hands clasped
tightly and feverishly behind his back
Presently a servant came hurrying
down the drive. and he stopped him.
Beg your pardon, Mr.. Berton. You
gave me fright, sir"
'What-why is the pace lit up to-
night?" asked Guilford Berton, con-
trolling his voice, and speaking as
calmly and composedly as he could. |
The man touched his hat.
THE new earl's coming. sir"
GUlford Berton's hands grippeI
each other IT'LL more tightly. and re
bit his lip as he choked back the ex-
clamatiol which nearly burst from
him.
THE EARL" he said. wonderingly.
Yes, sir; quite sudden and unex-
pectfd like Mr. Petherck only |
head this morning. There's Lord I
and Lady Ferndale and another gen
tleman there to meet him. Begin
your pardon, sir, must be goin' on.
and he hurried off.
Gui'ford Derton drew back among
the trees. The news had startled aod !
pewildered him. He had been so alb |
sorbed with his one idea-waiting
for Norah's return and decision-that !
he had scarcely given a thought to
the young earl for whom he had been
looking SO long and fruitlessly.
He paced slowly down the avenue !
and met the servant hurrying back.
DO you know when the earl is |
coming?" he asked.
No the man said nobody knew for
certain; but it was supposed that he I
would arrive to dinner.
Guilfori Berton hesitated a mo-
ment, then said:
And is Lady Norah- it Is not
known when she retums9"
The man shook his head doubtless
wondering why Mr.. Berton did not
go up to the Court and ask the ques-
ton of Mr.. Petherick.
4 can't say. sir; 1 haven't heard
that she is expected, even"
Guilford Berton walked on and
reac4ed the cottage 1t was dark aud
gloomy and forbiddng as usual, and
he threw himself into the armchair
beside the neglected fire which was
snoldering sulleny in tn. small
pinched CRATE, and unused.
How long would it be before Norah
returned and they could be married