Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-11
Lady button's Ward
BY swTnA -. 0Ag.


lher and keep her name from the idle
comments of busy men. was seeking
her.
| The journey to London seemed
never ending. but Euston Square was
Preached at last, and then his task
seemed hopeless.
| The train from oulston had reached
there about six O'Clock; two other
trains came in at the same time, ana
the station for some minutes was one
grand scene Of confusion; no one re-
membered a lady in a waterproof
cloak,-there were several ladies. first
class passengers, but no porter re.
menbered to have procured either cab
or carriage for any tall lady il a
waterproof cloak.
The ticket collector was found and
closely examined by Lord Bayneham
He had taken ticket from lady in
a first-class carriage. ticket marked
from Oulston to London; he had not
noticed her dress; he remembered
that her hand was very white and she
wore several costly rings.
Lord Baynehan1's heart beat quickly,
without doubt that was Hilda, but
where had she gone? No one HAD
seen her leave the carriage or quit the
station. In spite of the collectors
Testimony he was as much lost as be-
fore.
He spent some long hours at Euston
Square, but discovered no more. He
had traced his wife to London, but
there she vanished completely, and he
knew not what to do.
Then he went to Scotland Yard, for
he had heard wonders of the sagacity Of
an officer, who was said to be the
cleverest private detective in England.
and he told him the whole facts of the
case, and offered him a large reward
for any information he could procure.
There was no more to be done. The
detective told him to leave the matter
in his hands, and promised to do his
best.
Tired and depressed, Lord Bayne-
ham went to his house in Grosvenor
Square. Although taken by surprise
At il4D eAppGftA SaAGGs Tie uOuoG-
keeper soon sent up recherche little
supper, which she was much disap-
pointed at finding the next morning.
> untouched upon the table.
During the day following he had one
long interview with the detective, and
the rest of his time was spent In writ
ing. On the Thursday morning the
chief papers contained an advertise
ment wherein -iue Bell"--the p
name he had given her in Brynmar
woods-was entreated to send her
address, as there had been some ter
rible mistake; but no reply came to
them-no news came to Lord Bayne-
ham of his fair young wife.
All at once an idea struck him. OF
course. she was gone to Brynmar:
where else should she seek refugel
1t was past ten O'Clock on Thursday
night when the thought came to him,
and he never rested again untfl he
saw once more the bonnie woods OF
Brynmar. He had hoped strongly, he
had believed his search ended, but the
Hall looked lonely and deserted: he
knew by old Elsie's face, when she adj
mitted him, that his lost wife was not
there. No. nothing had been seen or
heard of the young Lady of Bayne-
ham. She had not been there.
il The earl did not wait either for
sleep or refreshu.ent. but ..11'rried back
again, sick at heart. and more disap-
, pointed than he cared to own.
At London he found strange letters
awaiting him from DR.. Greyson, the
trustee and guardian of his wife. He
had received a letter from Lady linda,
saying that she renowned all further
claim upon the Brynmar estates, or
any of the money bequeathed her by
Lady Hutton, and should never re-
ceive more, nor apply to him again.
Lord Bayneham she said, would I'M
J derstaGd why, and he was to dec de
what should be done with the fortune
she thus renowned.
More bewildered than ever, Lord
Bayneham could only agree with his
mother that Hilda must be insane.
He understood nothing whatever Oh
the motives which actuated her. He
telegraphed for DR.. Greyson to join
him, but when they took counsel to-
gether neither one nor the oLner could
suggest any solution of the mystery.
He then took BERTHE Car1yon into
his confidence. The young member
had found himself famous, and his
peeches were eagerly listened to and
eagerly read. He was cons dered, and
justly, too as one of the most gifted
and eloquent speakers of the day, and
his career was now one of great and
incessant labor rewarded by we'll
earneds success. But BERTHE, his old
friend and confdant, could render him
no assistance. He could throw no
/ light upon the subject.
i The postmark upon Lady Hldas
letter was London; but from that, all
! agreed it was foolish to believe that
she was in the great city.
The constant anxiety of such began
to tell heavily upon Lord Bayneham.
He had been for several nights with
out sleep and fol- several days with
but little food. One morning, as. with
BERTHE Carlyon, he was coming from
Scotland Yard. the two friends met