Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-07-01

LEICESTER Wyndward."
sOh, hush-hushl" breathed Stella,
CHANGING round as If she feared the
very shrubs and flowers might hear.
Frank threw himself beside her, acd
laying his hand on her arm. looked up
into her beautiful face with eager en-
treaty.
You will go. stel; you will do what
be asks!" and Stella looked down at
him with gentle wonder. LEICESTER
himself could not have pleaded his
own cause more earnestly.
Don't you see, Stel?" he said, an
swering her look, 'or she had not
spokep; Il would do anything for
him-anything He risked his life for
me, but Il is not only that; it IS
because he bes treated me $3.50
we'll can't eplain; but ! wcald do
| anything for him. stella I'll love
you. you know. but-but feel as IL
n 4hould hate you if you refused to do
what he asked!'
Stella's eyes glistened; 1t made her
heart throb to hear the boys cham
pionship of the man she loved.
Besides" he continued; why
should you hesitate? For it is for
your own happiness--for the happiness
of us all Thin'd you viii be the
future Countess % Woodward, the
mistress Of the Hall"
Stella looked at him reproachfully.
Frank"
Eyes. / know you don't care about
that, neither do much, but other peo-
pie will Ny father will be glad-he
could not help being so, and then you
win be safe"
Safe? What do you meang' asked
Stella
He hesitated. Then he looked up
at her with an angry resentful flash
in his blue eyes.
'Stel! / was thinking of that fellow
Adelstone don't like him! hate
him all the more because he has set
his mind upon having you"
Stella smiled and snook her head
"0h. of course you can't see any
harm in him. It's quite right you
shouldn't-you are girl, and done
know the world; but know something
of men, and I sayt hat Jasper Adelstone
is. rot a man to be trusted"
Il don't like him." said Stella. in
low tone. but / am quite safe. as
you call 1t, without marry-vithout do
ing what you and LEICESTER wish"
Il don't know" he muttered,
glooniy AT any rate, you would be
sale then. aud-aUd, Stella, you must
go Scc. now. LEICESTER has trusted
you to mG~-has placed this in my
hands 1t is as If he said, l saved
your life-you promised II help me.
Here is something to do-do it, And
l will. You will go. Think, Stel!-
A few hours and you win be Lady Ley
cester!"
She did think OF it and her heart
-rnt unanimously.
Yes, she would be safe not only frop, /
Jasper AdelstOne, but from Lady Lee
more. whom she feare1 more than she
did twenty Jasper Adelstones. Ley
cester yaaiaa be her own. her very
own. and though she did not care
much for the wyndward coronet she
did care for him.
She covered her face with her
hands, and sat quiet motionless for n
few minutes. the boy watching her
eagerly, impatiently; then she dropped
her hands. and looked down at him
with the quiet, grave. resolute smile
which he knew so well.
Yes. Frank, Will do IT," was all
she said
He kissed her hand gratefully.
Think It is Lord LEICESTER thank
ing you, Stel." he whispered And
now Tor the preparations. You must
pack q small bag, and / viii do the
same. and then | must take them
down the lane and hide them; it
wouldn't do to go out of the house in
the morning with the bags in our
hands-Mrs. Penfold would raise the
neighborhood, and we must stroll out
as II we were strolling down to the
river. But therel'--he broke of, for
he saw Stella's face, always % elo-
quent, beginning to show signs of ir-
resolution" leave 1t all to NELL
see TO IT! Lord LEICESTER knew he
could trust me-"
Stella sat for few minutes In sill
ence, thinking OF the old man who had
received her in her helplessness. who
had loved and treated her as a daugh-
ter, and whom she was about to de-
ceive
Her heart smote her keenly, but
sull Frank had spoken the truth-hus-
band was more than father. and Ley
cester would be her husband.
She stopped and kissed the boy.
Il must go in now, Frank" she said
Do not say any more. viii 80. but
cannot talk Of it,"
She went in; the dusk was falling,
and the old man stood beside his easel
ewing it wistfully,
she went and drew him away.
No more tonight, uncle" she said
in tones that quivered dangerously
Come and sit down; come and sit
and watch the river. as you sat the
day 7 came; do you remember?