Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-01-15
Only a 6,rl's Love
By CHARLES CARVICE

that AuouiEht ACi AoSh We SNAN%-E''S
like his own.
YES, ] came alone, uncle" she said.
"Merciful Heaven!" he murmured
again, sinking into his chair. "Bdt
why-why?"
The question IS cot unkindly put,
full, rather, of troubled perplexity and
bewilderment
SteIla's eyes returned to hts face.
Il was unhappy, uncle" she said,
simply.
Unhappy" he echoed, gently-"un-
happy! My child, you are too young
to know what the word means. Tell
me''-and he put his long white hand
on her arm.
The touch was the one thing needed
to draw them together. With a sud
den, yet not abrupt movement, she slid
down at his side and leant her head
on his arm.
eyes, was very unhappy. uncle.
The were hard and unkind. They
meant well perhaps, but it was not TO
be borne. And then-then. after papa
died, it was so lonely, so lonely. There
was no one-no one to care for me-
to care whether one lived or died.
Uncle, bore 1t as long as could, and
then I-came."
/ The old mans eyes grew dim, and
his hand rose gently to her head, and
smoothed the rich, silky hair.
Poor child! poor child" he muir
INJURED, dreamily, looking not at her,
but at the cleaning outside.
"As long as I could, uncle, until
sfelt that I must run away, or go mad
or die. Then / remembered you, |
hae never seen you, but remembered
that you were papa's brother, and
that. being Of the same blood, you
must be good, and kind, and true; and
so 1 resolved to come to you."
His hand trembled on her head, but
he was silent for a moment; then he
lsaid. in a low voice:
why did you not writer
! A smile crossed the girls face.
Because they would not permit US
Ito write, excepting under their d.cta-
ton"
He started, and fiery light flashed
from the gentle, dreamy eyes.
mo letters were allowed to leave
the school unless the principals had
read them. We were never out alone
Tor l would have posted a letter IN
known to them. No, T could not write
or l would have done So and-and-
waited"
You would not have waited long
: my child" he murmured..
She threw back her head and kissed
his hand It was strange gesture
more foreign than English, full Of the
impulse gracefulness Of the passionate
South in which she had been borT
and bred; it moved the old mar
strangely, and he drew her still closer
to him as he whispered
Go on!-go on"
We'll, ms90 up my mind to run
away" she continued. 1T was Q
dreadful thing to do, because if hat
been caught and brought back, they
would have
stop. stopt" he bro=e in with pas
sionate dread. Why do I not know
Of this? How did Harold come tC
send you there Great Heaven {
young tender girl! Can Heaven per
nit it?"
Heaven permits strange thing;
uncle" said the girl, gravely. Papa
did not know, just as you did moi
know. It was an English school, and
all was fair and pleasant outside~-out
side! Well. the night just after I has
re"Aived the money you used to send
me each Quartet, / bribed one OF the
I servants to leave the door open and
ran away knew the road to the
coast and knew what day and time
the boat started. caught it and
reached London. There was Just
enough money to pay the fore dowr
here, and T-I-that is all, uncle"
"All?" he murmured. "A young
tender chjid,"
And are you not angry?" she asked
looking up into his face. You will
not send me back?'
Angry! Send you back! My child
do you think If I had known If could
have imagined that you were not well
treated. that you were not happy. that
I would have permitted you to remain
day. an hour longer than ! could
have helped? Your letters always spoke
of your contentment and happiness"
She smiled
Remember. they were written with
someone looking over my shoulder"
Something like an imprecation
surely the first that he had uttered for
many a long year, was smothered on
the gentle lips.
Il could not know that could not
know that, Stella, Your father
thought it best--I have his last letter
My child, do not cry
She raised her face
Il am not crying; l never cry when
think of papa, uncle. Why should /:
loved him too well to wish him back
from Heaven"
The old man looked down at her
with a touch of awe IN his eyes
Yes. yes" he murmured; 'it wa,
his wish that you should remain there
at school He knew what was. ar
aimless dreamer, man living out o
the world, and no fit guardian for {
II, ~