Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-08-07

ing of little feet than the hushed calm
of house where no child lives; bet
ter the musical prattle of strangers
voice than the mbroken silence; bet
ter the clasp of those tender little
arms. the kisses of the sweet childish
lips, than the haunting memories that
were never still.
So for three weeks Magdalen Hurst
lived alone in her little cottage, and
then consented to part with her child.
lThe conditions Lady Hutton made
were hard ones, but she would not al.
ter them. Hilda was to be- as her
own daughter; never again was Mag.
dalen Hurst to claim her. or can
Hilda her child; never, let what
would happen.
Lady Hutton was liberal in her own
way. She did not spare gold. and
Magdalen Hurst left England amply
provided for. and never saw the face
of her foster-sister again.
CHAPTER ~.
Ten years passed agay, and brought
with them great changes TO Bryn-
mar. Sir Ralph aHd Lady Erskine
slept with their ancestors in the fam
lily vault. Lady Hutton was sole mis-
tress of the Hall, and of the large for
tune left by her father. She heard
once from Magdalen Hurst; and then
silence, deep and unbroken as the
silence of death, hid the mother of
Lady Hutton's ward from all who had
ever known her. The letter was a
brief one, stating that she had found
her husband, and in accordance with
her promise, never told him to whom
sic had coG1ded her child Hilda
had beer adopted, she said, by lady
who did not wish her name to be
known. He seemed quite Indifferent
about it, and asked no questions.
Lady Hutton read correctly enough
that a broken heart was revealed in
every sad word of that letter. Mag
dalen Hurst sent no address; she
asked no questions, and Lady Hutton
never lrd from her again.
Day by day Lady Hutton grew
fonder of her adopted daughter. Hilda
was taught to call her mamma, and
in every way she was treated as her
own child. No expense or trouble
was spared in her education, the most
Expensive governesses were pro-
vided for her. The child spoke
French and German fiuently; she was
a good musician and a skillful artist
but she excelled most in singing
Once in way Nature is thus kind;
she will give a face such us one
imagines an argel to wear, and with
it she gives a voice that matches the
face. She had been thus prodigal to
Hilda Hutton
Brynmar was situated in one of the
most picturesque and beautiful parts
of the Scotch highlands. Hill and
mountain, river and lake, woods and
dells, glens and valleys, were there
in their highest perfection. Broad
woods were covered with the purple
heather and golden broom; but the
fairest portion of Brynmar was its
bonnie greenwoods. The Hall was
built near them, and one or two cot.
tages were scattered around, and but
for them the large rambling gray
house would have been isolated No
other habitation was near; for long
miles the woods extended; and when
| they ended, the chain of lakes began.
No home in Scotland YVES more pictur-
esque or more lonely than Brynmar
Its quiet and solitude suited the
widowed Lady Hutton; she was not
one who could parade her grief. 1t
was very rarely that the name of her
dead husband or child passed her lips,
but her heart lay buried with them
She was still young when Lord Hut
ton died, but from that time she babe
adieu to the world Her only source
of happiness was her warm and deep
affection for her beautiful young
ward
No ore knew the girls history; and
even among the servants, only a small,
number knew that she was Lady Hut
toms adopted daughter. Most people
believed her to be the lady's oyu.
child. She was called Miss Hutton,
of Brynmar; and It was generally
known that she would inherit Lady
Hutton's fortune.
Few visitors ever came to Brynmar.
So the beautiful, graceful girl grew up
| like a rare flower in deep shade She
loved her adopted mother. She was
happy with her books and birds and
flowers. Of the great world outside
Brynmar she knew little, and cared
less. She was in many respects I'M
like other girls. For one thing. she
had never associated with those of
her own age. one had never talked
pretty girlish tales about love and
lovers. Dimly and vaguely she knew
that there was great and mighty
gift given to most, and it was called
love" She never wondered if it
would come to her. She wove bright
fancies and fair visions; but the heart
of the sleeping child was not more
innocent than hers. If she ever
thought about the future, it was but
to see bright continuation Of the
present. What could be more fair
than her home at Brynmar7 Who