Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-09-30

beekon him near. InstinctiYely Ley
cester kneIt beside him
You Hant 10 see me, Frank?'
The boy raised his eyelids heavily
and seemed 10 make great strug
gle for strength.
"Leyeester,s he said. IL have
something 10 give you. You-you vii
understand what It means. It wds
the charm thai bound her to him.
have broke it-broke it, 1t was for
my sake she did il, for mine! / dill
not know il iii tonight. Take it.
LEICESTER" and slowly he drew from
his breast the forged paper.
LEICESTER took ii, deeming the boy
delirious, and Frank seemed TO read
his thought.
You will understand" he painted.
I-I-forged it, and he knew it, and
held the knowledge and the paper
over her head. Tou saved my life,
LeycesteY. ] give Yo1 something bet
ter thar life. LEICESTER; give you
her-stella.7
His lips quiYered, and he seemed
sinking; but he made last effort.
II am dying, LEICESTER. am
glad, very, very glad. ! don't wish to
live. 1t is better that should die!"
Frank" broke from Stella's white
lips.
Don't cry, Stella While / lived
he would have held you bound. Now
am dying" Then his voice failed
and his eyes closed, but they saw his
lips move, and Stella, bending over
him, heard the words" Forgive, for
givei"
With loud cry she caught him in
her arms, but he had passed away
even beyond her love, and the neat
moment she fen fainting, still holding
him to her bosom, as a mother holds
her child.
An hour afterward Leycester was
pacing the beach, his arms folded
across his breast, his head bent, Il
storm Of conflicting emotions raging
within. The boy had spoken truly
The time had come when he under
stood fully the lads words. He had
CLEANED much from the forged bill,
which, all torn and stained, lay hidden
in his pocket; but the full meaning of
the mystery had been conveyed TO him
by the delirious words of Stella, who
lay in a high fever.
He had just left her, and was now
waiting for the doctor, waiting for his
verdict-life OF death. Life or death!
He had often heard, often used the
words, but never until this moment
knew their import.
Presently the doctor joined him,
and Leycester uttered the one word:
"Wen?"
"She will live he said.
Leycester raised his head and drew
long breath. The doctor continued:
Yes, l think may say she will pull
through. | shall know more to-mor-
row. You see, she has undergone A
severe strain; I do not allude to the
tragic incidents of the evening; those
in themselves are sufficient to try a
young girl; but she has been laboring
under extreme nervous pressure for
months past"
Leycester groaned
Come, my lord" said the doctor,
cheeffully. "You may depend upon
me. l should not hold out hope I'M
less / had good reason for so doing
We shall save her, l trust ana be
llieve."
Leycester inclined his head; he
could not speak The doctor looked
at him gravely.
If you will permit me. my lord"
he said, 81 would suggest that YOU
should now take some rest. You are
far from strong yourself"
Leycested smiled grimly.
Far from strong" repeated the doc
tor, emphacically. And there is a
great deal more endurance before you.
Be advised and take some rest, my
lord.
lie landlord has been speaking to
me- sir, about the unfortunate man
YOU found. II seems that there are
papers and valuables-jewelry, and
such like viii your lordship take
charge of them until the police arrive?
! understand that you knew him"
Yes, l knew him" replied Leycester.
He had, in truth, almost forgotten Jas
per Adelstone. Il will take charge of
he things, if you wish it."
Follow me. Then" said the doctor
They Wei 10 the inn, and up the
stairs, with that quiet, subdued step
with which men approach the pres
cnce of grim death. and stood beside
the bed upon which lay all that re-
NAMED OF the man who had so nearly
wrecked two lives.
LEICESTER looked down at The white
face, calm and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
down with a solemn feeling at his
heart. and the doctor drew some pa,