Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-02-26


was en- the alert to save her. Quite
simply and naturally he put his arms
round her and lifted her down.
Only for a moment he held her In
his embrace, her painting form close
to his. her face almost resting on his
shoulders. but that moment reused the
blood in mis- fiery heart. and her face
went pale.
Are you hurt?" he murmured.
No, not" she said. and she slipped
out of his arms and stood a little away
from him, the color coming and going
In her face; it was the first time that
any mans arms. save her fathers. had
ever encircled her.
Are you quite sure?' he repeated.
Quite, she said, then she laughed.
What would have happened if l hat
sIipped?"
You would have sprained your an
kle," he said.
"Sprained my ankle. really?" she
repeated, with open eyes.
Yes, and should have had to carry
you down to the boat" he said, slowly.
She looked away from him.
Il am glad | did not Slip"
And t. he said, 'am-gIad also"
She stopped and picked up the prim-
roses and ran down the slope, her
cheeks afiane, a feeling that was
something ike shame. and yet too full
{ OF strange, indeflnable Joy to be sui
len shame, took possession of her
| With light feet, her hat swinging In
her hand, she threaded her way be-
tween the trees and sprang on to the
grassy road beside the river bank
| He did not follow so quickly but
stood for moment looking at her, his
face pale, his eyes full of strange.
wistful restlessness.
Then Stella heard his step, rrE and
masterfuI, behind her
A sudden impulse tempted her
sorely to jump into the boat and push
off-she could pull pair of sculls-
and her hand was on the edge of the
+, boat, when she heard the sound Of
bells, and paused with establishment.
Looking up she saw tiny phaeton
drawn by pair of cream-white ponies
coming along the road; it was the
bells on their harness that she had
heard
! They came along at fair pace, and
Stella saw that the phaeton was being
driven by coachmanl In dark-brown
livery, but the next moment all her
attention was absorbed by the young
girl who sat beside him
| She was so fair, so lovely, so ether
cal looking, that Stella was spell
bound
A book was in her hand-ungloved
and small and white as a child's-but
she was not reading. She held it so
loosely that as the phaeton came along
the top of the bank which hid Stella
the book dropped from the lax grasp
Of the white fingers.
The girl uttered an exclamation, ard
Stella, obeying one of her sudden i'm.
pulses, sprang lightly up the bank, and
picking up the book. held it toward
her
Her appearance was so sudden that
Obi" said Lady Lillian. Il did not
moment the pale face was dyed with
a faint color; even after the moment
had passed she sat speeches., and
the surprise in her eyes gave place to
a frank generous admiration
"Oh, thank you-rsthank you!" she
said. How kind of you. 1t was SC
stupid of me to drop it. But where
did you come from-the clouds?" And
there as delicious hint of flattery
in the look that accompanied the
words.
quite the reverse" said Stella, with
her open smile. Il was standing be
low there by the boat"
And she pointed
Lady Lillian was startled and for 8
see you"
You were looking the other way
said Stella, drawing back to allow the
carriage to proceed; but Lady Lillian
seemed reluctant to go, and made nc
sign to the coachman, who sat aoldine
the reins Ike an image of stone, ap
parently deaf and dumb.
To be continued.