Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-03-18

were provoked"
"Provoked?' said Stella.
Dared, l mean" he explained.
You know we used to have a game
at school called Dare him? I expect
all fellows have played it. One fell
low does the most extraordinary things
and dares the other fellows to do it.
Leycester used to play it best. He
was a regular good hand at it. The
worst of it was that we all used to
get thrashed; the masters didn't care
about half-a-dozen fellows finging
stones at the windows and clil bling
on TO the roof at the dead of night"
Poor masters" said Stella.
He laughed.
Eyes, they didn't have a particularly
fine time of it when LEICESTER was al
school"
AS he spoke, he glanced at the tall
figure of Lord LEICESTER in front OF
them with an admiring air such as a
schoolbOy might wear.
There isn't much that Leycester
woundn't dare" he said.
They entered the dining-room.
large room lined with oak and mag
nificently furnished, in which the Ions
table with its snowy cloth, and g IT
tering plate and glass, shone out con-
| spicuously.
Lord Guildford found no difficulty
in discovering their seats, each place
being distinguished by small tablet
bearing the name of the intended oc-
cupant. AS Stella took her seat, she
noticed beautiful bouquet beside her
| serviette, and saw that one was placed
| for every lady in the room.
A solemn, stately butler, who looked
like a bishop, stood beside the earrs
chair, and with a glance and slight
movement OF his hand directed the
noiseless footmen.
A Clergyman said grace, and the
dinner commenced Stella, looking
round saw that her uncle was seated
near Lady Wyndward, and that Lady
Lenore was opposite herself. She
looked round for Lord LEICESTER, and
was startled to hear his voice at her
left. He was speaking to Lady Lang
ford. AS she turned to look at him
she happened to catch Lady Wynd-
wards eye also fixed upon him with
a strange expression, and wondered
what it meaDt the next moment she
knew, for, bending his head and look
ing straight before him. he said
DO you like your floWers?"
Stelt took the bouquet; it was
composed almost entirely of white
blossoms, anG smelt divinely.
They are beautiful" she saj3.
"IIeliotrope and camellias- my iav-
orite flowers
1T must have been instinct, he
said.
What do you mean?" she asked.
II chose them" he said, in the
same tow voice.
Chose them?" she retorted.
Yes" and he smiled. THAT was
what made ne late, l came in here
first and had a grand I0Tiew of the
bouquets. / was curious 20 know if 1
could guess your favorite flowers
-you-changed them!r said
Stella, with a feeling of mild horror.
Lord Guildford asked me just now
what l considered the most audacious
act man would commit. 1 know
now"
He smiled.
Il changed something else" ne
said
Stella looked at him inQuiringly.
There was a bold smile in his dark
eyes.
He pointed to the little tablet bear
ing his name.
This. I found it over the way
there, next to that old lady in he en-
eralds. She is a dreadful old lady
beware of her. She is a politician,
and she always asks everybody who
comes near her what they think OF
the present Parliament I thought il
would be nicer to come over here"
The color crept slowly into Stela's
face, and her eyes dropped.
To be continued.