Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-11-04
Knight Grant
By EDNA LYALL

I
tifuI girl, about a year younger than
Carlo-so named after an Italian
friend of the family-and Sibyl, a
fairy-like little child of two years old.
Miss Claremont, Francesca's govern
ess. or. as every one called her,
Glare had the management OF the
house. and it was largely owing to
her that very close intimacy soon
sprung up between the two neigh
boring families.
Carlo and Francesca we're at first
not of an age for falling in love
They became fast friends. and Carlo
in his rather lonely life vas en-
chanted to find that the English girl
was allowed almost unlimited free
dom. She was wholly unlike his
convent-bred sister, who, since her
mother was an invalid was allowed to
come home now and then for day
! or two. Mia was beautiful, and sang
like an angel. and was a degout little
Catholic, and did her best to teach
him the error OF his ways. But to
save her life, Nita could not have
been a companion in his games. Now
Francesca, though no holden, was, in
the matter OF game s, as good as
| boy. she was not above climbing
trees or running races; she excelled
at FOUNDERS; she even Initiated him
| into the mysteries Of cricket, enlist
ing the services of Clare and the
gardeners.
Then nothing would do but be must
teach her to row. and many were the
happy hours they spent on the sea to-
gether, sometimes with Clare in the
stern, sometimes with little sibyl and
her nurse. sometimes with old FloTe-
stano. the fisherman, who would tell
them quaint legends OF saints or mer-
maids. or ghosts. in all OF which he
believed equally Sometimes they
would 20 oyster-catching in Lake Flu
saro. or. with Glare as a delightful
third. would scramble about in the
Acropolis at Cumae seeking to
play hide.andse in the Grotto della
Pace. or act thrilling brigand stories,
or dig and search in field or vine
yard, and perhaps stumble across the
remains of an cid Roman villa or the
ruins of a temple. hidden away by
the struggling green growth
Tho" were happy days for all of
them Carlo before long formed for
Miss CIaremont that sort of reveren-
tial. half-worshiplng friendship and
admiration which Is not uncommon
between boys OF his age and middle
aged women And Glare was a friend
worth having She Influenced people
by loving them; you never felt with
her that she was trying to doctor
you, or to improve your moral or
spiritual health She discussed many
things with Carlo, listened to his
crude. half-hedged ideas with the ut
most patience, and would no more
have smiled at them or treated them
contemptuously than woman would
smile with contempt as she watches
the staggering steps of baby begin
ming to WALL alone.
Clare sympathized much with the
difficulties of his position ;she saw
that his deeply religious italian ma
ture would never rest content in its
present isolation.
DO you never feel the need OF wor.
shiping?' she asked him one day.
yes" he replied. but one need
not be within the walls of a church to
do that, a boat at sea. or an olive
grove, Is more to my taste"
Just az that time he was the least
bit proud of having shaken himself
free from the bondage OF Romanlsm--
fact which was quite patent to
Clare, and proved TO her how perilous
was his ttate.
And yet" she urged. Il should
have thought that you--a follower of
Mazzini-would have had strong
faith In Association
The words struck home. unpleas-
antly convincing Carlo that he had
been rapturously hugging thing
which he called Freedom. and that 1t
was but an Illusion more worthy to
he called isolation.
Il don't know where TO turn to-"
he exclaimed chafed by remark
which had disturbed his peace, aud
proved 1t 10 be false.
Are you trying to find ont the best
place. she asked, quietly.
He was silent, and Clare, who had
he rare tact TO know when she had
said enough. changed the subject
But the very next Sunday he as.
tonished her by asking leave to Join
their party and drive in to the Eng
lish church at Naples with them.
His total absence Of false shame, and
the ingenious humility which could
thus taGltly own itself in the " rong.
promptly aud publicly following the
suggestion OF woman. we're thor.
oughly Italian Glare reflected that
an Englishmaa would have allowed a
week or two 10 PASS by. in order to
prove that he came OF his own free
Will aud not at the iHstigation OF an
other; or would perhaps, have toiled
over ON foot In the cary morning.
Sinking in At the back OF the church.
In terror lest people should comment
on the amendment OF his ways
After time he formally joined the
Es,,.t,.h fNt,sA az - -