Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-07-22

ne would be. at this moment. working
OFT his sentence. the Just sentence OF
the outraged law"
Steia was silent, regarding him
with eyes distended with horror.
And he-he knew II p she muir
INJURED. brokenly.
No. he said. He did not know
Il; he does not know it even now
Stella breathed a sigh, then stud
dered as she remembered how the
boy Frank had insulted and scorned
this silent, inhexible man, who mad
saved him from felon's fate.
He did not know it," she said.
Forgive hint
He smiled strange smue.
THE lad is nothing 70 me- he said.
Il have nothing to forgive. One does
not feel angered at the attack of a
gnat; one brushes the insect of, or
let's it remain as the case may be.
This lad is nothing to me. So far as
he is concerned l might have allowed
MIN to take his punishment ! sssed
MIN, NOT for his sake. but lor an.
others
| Stella leaned against the door She
was beginning to feel the meshes of
the net that was drawing closer and
closer around her.
For another" he continued. Il
saved him for your sake"
She moistened her parched lips and
raised her eyes.
FL am very grateful" she muir
INJURED
His face flushed slightly.
81 did not seek your gratitude; l
did not desire that you should even
know that had done this thing.
Neither he nor you would ever have
known it, but-but for this that has
| happened. 1t would have gone down
with me into my graye-a secret. 1t
would have done so, although you had
refused me your love, although you
should have given your heart TO an
other, if"-and he paused-'if that
other had been a man worthy of you "
Stella's face flushed and her eyes
flashed, but she remembered all that
he had done, and averted her gaze
from him. IF that other had been
one likely to have insured your hap
piness, would have gone my way and
remained silent; but it is not so.
This man, this Lord Leycester, is one
who will effect your ruin, one from
whom l must-I will-save you. 1t is
he who rendered this disclosure nee
essary."
He was silent, and Stella stood,
her eyes bent on the ground Even
yet she did not realize the power he
held over her-over those she loved.
81 am very grateful" she said at
last 81 am fully sensible of all that
you have done for US, and am sorry
that-that should have spoken as
did, though ''-and she raised her eyes
with sudden frank wistfulness-"I
was much provoked"
What was to do?" he asked. She
shook her head. Gould stand idle
AID see you drift to destruction?'
Il shall not go to destruction" she
said, with troubled look. you do
not know Lord Leycester-you do not
know-but we will not speak OF that"
she broke off, suddenly. Il will for.
give all that has passed."
He looked at her.
81 will forgive all-all," he empha-
sized. IF you will turn back; If you
will go back to your home, and prom
Use that this thing which he has
asked you to do shall not come to
pass
She turned upon him.
"You have no right" then she
stopped, smitten with sudden fear
by the expression of his face. ~ can
not do that" she said, in constrained
voice.
He closed his hands tightly to-
gether.
do not force me-" he said You
will not force me to compel you"
She looked at him tremblingly.
"Force?"
Eyes, force! You speak OF graft
tude; but | do net rely ON that. If
you were really grateful to me you
would go back; but you are not. l
cannot trust to gratitude" Then he
came closer to her. and his voice
dropped.
stella, cannot break my oath, Do
you not understand"
She shook her head,
"Nol I know that you cannot pre-
vent me"
81 can" he said You do not I'M
derstand. l saved the boy but can
destroy him."
She shrank back
with a word!" he said, almost
fercely, his lips trembling. One
word, and he is destroyed. You
doubt. See!" And he drew paper
from his pocket-book. The crime he
committed was forgery - forgery!
Here is the proof"
She shrank back still further, and
held up her hands as if to shut the
paper from her sight
DO not deceive yourself" he said,
in his intense voice; his safety lies
in my hands-I hold the sword 1t is
for you to say whether 1 shall let it
fail"
u.s. IT, - - .--,4LoS ..an&s,1