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

it and insist upon nay painting 1t,
replied Mr.. Etheridge.
Lord LEICESTER sprang to his feet.
THAT is the last straw We will
not remain to be abused, Miss Ethe-
ridge" he said.
Stella remained immovable. h
came and stood over her, looking down
at her with wistful eagerness in sill
ence.
what lovely woods" she said
You were right; they are carpeted
with primroses. We have none in Gus
meadow"
would you like to go and gel
some?" he asked.
Stella turned her face up to him.
Eyes, but sdon't care to swim
acros."
lie smiled. and went down to the
bank, unfastened a boat, and leapme
into it, called to her,
stella sprang to her feet with the
impulsiye delight of girl at the sigh
of boat, when she had expected
nothing better than rushes.
1T is a boat-really?" she ex
claimed.
Come and see, ne said.
She went down to the waters edg'
and looked at it.
How did it come there?" she asked
4 pay fairy to drop boat iron
the skies whenever want it"
Il see" said stella, grayeiy
He laughed.
How did you think came across
Did you think | swan? and ne al
ranged d cushion.
She laughed
Il forgot that; how stupid of me-"
viii you step in?" he said.
Stella looked back at her uncle. an
hesitated moment.
He will assure you that l sha
not drown you" he said.
4 am not afraid-do you think
am afrald?" she said, scornfulIy.
Yes, 1 think that at this momen
you are trembling with nervousness
and dread"
She put her foot-he could not hel
seeing how small and shapely it wa
on the gunwale, and he held out hi
hand and took hers; it was well h
did so, for the boat was only SINAI
lightly built gig, and her sudden move
ment had made 1t rock.
rs it was. she staggered slightly
and he had to take her by the arm
So, with one hand grasping her han
and the other her arm, he held her for
moment-fof longer than a momen
Then he placed her on the cushion
and seating himself, took up the soul
and pushed off.
Stella leant back, and OF cours
dropped one hand in the water. NJ
one woman out of twenty who eve
sat in a boat can resist that impuls
to have closer communion with th
water; and he pulled slowly across th
stream.
The sun shone full upon tham, maI
ing their way a path OF ripping goIt
and turning Stella's hair into a ric
brown.
Little wonder that, as IL SAT oppl
site her, hiseyes should rest Gu he
face, and less that. thus resting it
exquisite beauty and freshness an
purity should sink into the soul of air
to whom beauty was the one t1iu
worth living for.
Unconscious of his rapt gaze. steli
cant back, her eyes fixed on tn
water, her whole attention abaorha
by its ripple as it ran through Ter Ill
gers.
IL silence he pulled the scull:
slowly and noiselessly; he would nc
have spoken and broken the spell TO
worlds. Before him, as he .ooke
| upon her, rose the picture of which b
had spoken to his sister last night.
But more beautiful" he mused-
more beautiful! How lost she is
She has forgotten me-forgotte
everything. On, Heaven! if one wer
to waken her into love!"
For an instant, at the thought, tn
color came into his face and the fir
to his eyes; then a half guilty. hal
lrepentful feeling struck through hin
4 No, it would be crue1-cruel: an
yet to see the azure light shining i
those eyes-to see those lips half
parted with the breath of great pas
sion, would be worth-what?
would make amends for all that
man Nigh suffer, though he died tn
next moment, if those eyes smiled.
those lips we're upturned, for love q
him!"
| So lost were they that the touchin
of the boat and the bank made Their
start
so soon!" murmured Stells
How beautiful 1t is! think wa
dreaming
And / know that / was" he saiC
with a subtle. significance rs he ros
and held out his hand. But Steil
sprang lightly on shore without accept
ing it. He tied up the boat and 70
lowed her; she was already on he
knee. picking the yellow primroses.
Without d word. he followed her eS
ample Sometimes they were SO nea
together that she could feel his breat
/ stirring her hair--so near that thei
/ hands almost met.