Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-01-29
Only a 6,rl'e Love
b. CHARLES CARvICE

But youth is ever ready to accept
the surprises Of life, ana she fell
asleep-fell asleep to dream that she
was back in tie wretchet. school In
Italy, and chained to stone wall
from which e. her EFFORTS co free her
self were unavailing, but presently she
thought that a tall, stalwart figure
came riding down on a big chestnut
horse, and that with one sweep Of his
strong hand he broke her chains
asunder, and, lifting her into his sad
die, bore her away. Thou the scene
her rescuer who, with his handsome
face turned over his shoulder, drew
her on continually with strange fas-
cinating smile. All through her
dreams the smiling eyes haunted her,
and once she stretched out her hands
10 keep 1t from her, but even in the
action the gesture of repulse turned
in a strange, subtle msaner to one o.
entreaty and welcome, and she drew
the smile, as it were, to her bosom,
and folded her hands over it, A girl
ish fancy, perhaps. but such fancies
influence a life for good or i'll, for joy
or misery.
Lord LEICESTER Wyndward, Of
whose smile Stella was dreaming. had
ridden up the hills, the great chestnut
scarcely breaking his pace, but breath
ing hard and defantly from its wide,
red nostrils-had ridden up the hills
and through the woods, and reached
the open plateau lying round the Hall,
A noble park occupied the plateau
a park Of chestnuts and oaks. which
were the pride of the country.
Through me park wound the road,
gleamln, white in the moonlight, to
the front gates of Wyndward. The
lodge-beerer heard the beat of the
chestnuts feet. for which he had been
listening iutently, and threw open tie
gates. and Lord LEICESTER entered the
grounds. They were vast in extent
and exquisitely laid out, the road wind
ing between a noble avenue of trees
that arched overhead. The present
earls grandfather had gone in for
arboriculture and the way was lined
for fifty feet back with rare shrubs
and conifers,
SC Serpentine was the road that the
great gray mansion broke upon the
gaze suddenly, mentally startling him
who approached it for the first time
To.Lord LEICESTER it was familiar
sight, but familiar as it was he glanced
up at it with what was almost a nod
Of approval. Like most men Of his
nature, he possessed a passionate love
and appreciation for the beautiful, and
there was tonight a strange, inde1n
able fire in his hot blood which made
him more than usually susceptible to
the influence of the scene. A sweep
ing curve Of the road led to the terrace
which stretched along the whole front
Of the house, and by which the prin-
cipaI entrance was gained.
Lord LEICESTER struch off to the
right, and entered a modern court
yard, three sides of which were oc-
sup.ed by the admirable stables. A
couple of grooms had been listening
as intently as the lodgekeeper, and
as he entered the yard they hurried
forward silently and took the chest
nut Lord LEICESTER dropped to the
ground, patted the horse, which made
DISQUALIFICATION snap at his
arm. and, ascending a flight of steps,
entered the lower end of the long hall,
which stretched through the building.
The hall vas sortly but sufficiently
lighted by shaded lamps, supported
by huge figures in bronze, which diff
fused a charming glow upon the in
Vulnerable pictures upon the panels OF
dark oak. From the yaulted roof hung
tattered hags, most of them borne by
the earlier Wyndwards, some Of them
bestowed by the graceful hands OF
dead and gone princes; the somewhat
gloomy aspect of the place was light
ened by the cleaning arrpor of the
knightly efigies which stood at regl-
lar intervals upon the tesselated floor,
and by the deep crimson of the cur
tains which screened the he8E doors
and tall windows. The who'll scene,
the very atmosphere, as it seemed
was Characteristic of an al cient and
powerful race. Notwithstanding that
the house was full of guests, and that
a brilliant party was at tat moment
in the draw'ng-room. not ; sound pen
etrated the vast hall. The two or
three servants who were standing by
the doors or sitting On the benches,
talking in hushed voices, were silent
the moment he entered, and one came
forward to receive any commands.
Notwithstanding the 5rusqueness
which is the salient characteristic o.
our present life. the old world state
and formality still existed at Wynd-
ward. Re as exacting and caprcious
as you might, you had no fear Of meet
ing with inattention or disrespect
from the army of servants. whose one
aim and purpose in life seemed TO be
TO minister to the wants and moods
of their superiors.
1t was a prircely house, conducted
IN stately fashion, without regard to
cost or trouble, and the servants. from
the pages TO the countess's own maid,
were as proud of their position, in its
degree, as the Lord Of Wyndward OF