Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-01-22
Only a 6lrl's Love
By CHARLES CARVICE

all his forefathers did before him. It
is rather a good thing that Wyndward
Hall stands so firmly, or else Leyces-
ter would have melted it at ecarte and
baccarat long ago"
rs he so bad them murmured
Stella.
Her uncle smiled.
bad is a mild word, Stella; and yet
look at the face again. have seen
1t softened by smile such as might
have been worn by an innocent child;
have heard those lips laugh as-as
women are supposed to laugh before
this world has driven all laughter out
of them; and when those eyes smile
there is no resisting them for man or
woman"
He stopped suddenly and looked up.
81 am wandering on like an old
mill Put the picture away, Stella"
She took it from him and carried it
across the room, but stood for nom
ent silently regarding 1t by the lamp
light AS she did so. strange fancy
made her start and set the picture on
the table suddenly. 1t seemed to her
as if the dark eyes had suddenly
softened in their intense fixed gaze
and smiled at her.
1t was the trick Of warm, magma
tive temperament, and it took posses
sion of her so completely that with a
swift gesture she laid her hand over
the dark eyes and so hid them.
Then. with laugh at her own folly
she put the picture against the wal
and went back to the window and sat
beside the old man.
TELL me about your past life
Stella" he said, in a low voice.
ct seems to me as If you had al
ways been here. You have a quiel
way Of speaking and moving about
child"
Il learnt that while papa was i'll.
she said, simply. Sometimes hi
would sit for hours playing softly. and
did not wish to disturb him"
Il remember, remember" he muir
INJURED, Stella the world should
have known something of him; he was:
born musician"
"He used to say the same of you
uncle; you should have been a famous
artist"
The old man looked up with smile
/ MY child, there are many men
whom the world knows nothing Of
luckily for them. Your father and
were dreamers, both; the world likes
men of action. Can you play?"
She rose and stood for a moment
hesitating. In the corner of the room
there was q small chamber organ
one of those wonderful instruments
| which In a small space combine the
grand tones Of cathedral organ WITH
the melodious softness Of a flute. Ii
was one Of the few Injuries which the
artist had permitted himself, and ne
was in the habit of playing snatches
Of Verdi and Rossini, of Schubert and
Mozart, When the fading light com
PEELED him to lay the brush aside.
| Stella went up to it softly ard
seated herself and presently began Il
play. She attempted no difficult fugue
or brilliant march. but played simple
| Florentine yesper hymn. who h she
had heard floating from devout lips oi
the women kneeling before the alter
of the great church in Florence, and
presently began to sing it.
The old man startled as the first
clear bird-like notes roe softly upon
the evening air, and then covering his
face with his hands went straight to
dreamland.
The vesper hymn died softly. softly
out, and she rose, but with a gesture
of his hand he motioned her to re
main at the organ.
You have your fathers voice,
Stella; sing again"
She sang a pleasant tty this time,
with a touch of pathos in the refrain,
and hearing a slight noise as she fla
ished, looked round, and saw the old
man rise, ard with quivering lips turn
toward the door
the young girls sweet voice had
brought back the past and it's dead too
plainly, and he had gone out lest she
should see his emotion.
Stella rose and went to the window.
and stood looking into the night. The
moonlight was glinting the river IN the
distance, and falling in great masses
upon the lawn at her feet Half IN
consciously she opened the window
and stepping out, found herself in 4
small garden, beautifully kept and fra
! grant with violets; her love for
| flowers was a passion, and she step
ped on to the path in search OF
them. The path led in zigzag fashion
10 a little wooden gate, by which the
garden was entered from the lane
Stella found some violets, and looking
about in search Of further treasure
store, saw bunch of lilac blossoms
growing in the lane s de
To open the gate and run Tightly
up the sije &C the bank was the i'm
pulse Of the mcment and she obeyeJ
il; thee Wee still deeper masses OF
flowers a iitue further down, and she
was walking toward them when She
heard the sound Of a horse galloping
toward her
For A moment she was so startled