Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-06-17
.hat moonltght night IN lac lane.

special Ilcense," and bordering deeply
he reached the house.
The party at the hall vas very
small indeed now, but Lady Lenore
and Lord Charles stiH remained. Le-
more had once CT twice declared that
she must go. but Lady Wyndward had
enueated her to stay.
DO not go, Lenore." she had said,
with gentle significance. You know
You must know that We count upon
you"
She did not say for what purpose
she counted upon her, but Lenore had
understood, and had smiled with that
faint, sweet smile which constituted
one o. her charms.
Lord Charles stayed because Leyces-
ter was still there.
"Of course I ought to go, Lady
lWyndward." ne said, you must be
heartily tired Of me. but who is to
play billiards with LEICESTER If l go,
or who IS 10 keep him in order, dou't
you seer" and so he had stayed, with
one or two others who were only too
glad 10 remain at the Hall out Of the
London dust and turmoil
BY all It was quite understood that
Lord LEICESTER should be considered
as quite a free agent, free TO come
and go as he chose, and never TO be
counted on; they were as surprised as
they were gratifed If he Joined them
| in a drive or a walk. and were never
astonished when he disappeared with
out furnishing any cIew 10 his iuten-
tons.
Lady Wyndward bore il all very
patiently: she knew t,lat what Lady
Longford had said vas quite true, that
! 1t was useless to attempt to drive
him. Bat she did say a word to the
Old countess.
There is something amiss,' she
said. with sigh and the Old coun-
tess had smiled and shown her teeth
of course there is, my dear Ethel
she retorted; there always is where
he is concerned He IS about some
mischief. am % convinced as you
are Bot it does no. matter, it will
come oil right in time
But viii it?" asked Lady Wynd-
ward with a sigh.
Yes, | think SO, said the old count
es5, and Lenore agrees with me, or
she would not stay
1T is very good Of her to stay"
said Lady Wyndward, with a sigh,
Very" assented the old lady, with
smile 1t is encouraging am
sure she would not stay If she did not
see excuse. Yes, Ethel. 1t will all
come right; he viii marry Lenore, or
rather. she will marry him, and thay
will settle down, and don't know
whether you have asked me to stand
god-mother to the first child"
Lady Wyndward tried to feel en-
couraged and confident, but she felt
uneasy She was surprised that Lee
more still remained, She knew moth.
ing Of that meeting between the proud
beauty and Jasper Adelstone,
And Lenore! A great change had
come over her. She herself could
scarcely understand it.
At night AS she sat before her
glass while her maid brushed out the
long tresses that fell over the white
shoulders like a stream of liquid gold
she asked herself what it meant?
Was it really true that she was III
love with Lord LEICESTER? She had
not been in love with him when she
first came to the Hall--she would have
smiled away the suggestion If anyone
had made it; but now-how was it
with her now? And as she asked her
self the question, crimson flush
would stain the beautiful face. ana
the violet eyes would CLEAN with
mingled shame and self-scorn, SO that
the maid would eye her wonderingsy
under respectfully lowered lids
Yes, she was forced to admit that
she did love him--love him with a
passion which was a torture rather
than JOY. She had not known the
full extent Of that passion until the
hour when she had stood concealed
between the trees at the river, and
heard Leycester's voice mi muring
words of love to another
And that other! An unknown, mis-
cradle, painters daughter Often, at
night, when the great Hall was hushed
and still. she lay tossing to and fro
with miserable longing and intolerable
shame, as she recalled that hour when
she had been discovered by Jasper
Adelstone and forced to become his
confederate.
She, the great Deauty-before whom
princes had bert in homage--to be
love-smitten By a man whose heart
was given to another-she to be the
confederate and accomplice Of Il
scheming, under.bred lawyer.
Il was intolerable, unbearable. but It
was true-it was true. and in the very
keenest paroXysm of her shame she
would confess that she would do all
| that she had done, would conspire
with even a haser one than Jasper
Adelstone 10 gain her end.
She,' she would murmur III the
still watches OF the uight-"she TO
marry the man to whom | have given
my loye' 1t Is inpossible--it shalt
not be. Though / have to move
heaven and earth. # shall not be"
An