Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-04-08
CHAPTER XIn.


laughed. Ny little. fearsome, tremb-
ling darIingl" he murmured, fear
nothing or rather. tell me what you
fear, and whom"
She glanced toward the windows.
Il fear them an" she said, quietly
and simply.
MY father?"
She inclined her head and let her
head fall upon his shoulder.
1.-THE countess, all of them. Lord
LeyeestcE-"
He put his hand upon her lips softly.
what was that heard he said.
with tender reprOach.
She looked up.
"Leyces ter" she whispered.
He nc ;ded.
Would to Heaven the name stood
Alone he said, almost bitterly.
"The barrier you fancy stands be
tween us would vanish and fade away
then. Never, even in sport, call me
by my title again, my darling, or /
shall hate it,"
She smiled.
al shall never forget it," she said.
They will not let me. am not
Lady Lenore."
He startled slightly. then looked
down at her.
Thank Heaven, MOI" he said, with
a smile.
Cfaila uunflad olunnef aadIv
she might forge; she is noble too.
How beautiful she is"
rs she?" he said, smiling down al
her 10 me there Is only one beauti-
full face in the world, and-it is here,
and he touched it with his finger
"here-.my very own. But what is
Lenore TO us tonight, my darling?
Why do you speak OF her.?
Because tell your
He nodded. looking down at her.
Because they said-Lady Lillian
said, that" she Stopped.
"Well?'
THAT they wished you to marry
her" whispered
she might say the same Of several
young ladies" he said, my mother Is
very anxious on the point Yes. but
wishes are not horses, or one could
probably be persuaded to mount and
ride as their parents wish them--don't
that sound wise and profound? l
shall no. ride to Lady Lenore; l have
ridden oyOur feet, my darling?"
And you will never ride away
again." she murmured.
Never" he said. Here, by your
aide, / shall remain while life lasts!"
"whlle life 1asts!" she repeated. as
If the words were music. Il shall
have you near me always. All, 1t
sounds too beautiful, too beautiful"
But It will be true" he said.
The clock chimed the hour. Stella
started
80 late!" she said. with a little
sigh. 81 must got" and she glanced
at the windows with a little shudder.
IF cou,d 5iit Steal away without
seeing ehem-without being seen!
ieel-"she paused. and the crimson
covered her face and neck-"as il
they had but o glance at me TO know
to know what has happened" and
she trembled
Are YOU So afraid?" he said.
Really so afraid? Well, why should
they know"
She looked up eagerly
"Oh. no. do not let them know!
Why shcdld they know, indeed! Let
Is keep the world outside, for while
at least You and alone in our love,
my darling
With his arm round her they went
back 10 the fernery and here she
drew away from him. but no. until he
had taken another kiss.
at is our real good night you
know" he said. the good night we
shan say presently win mean nothing.
This is our good night Happy
dreams my angel my start"
Stella chung to him for a moment
with little reluctant sigh. then she
looked up at him with smile,
Il am afraid l am awfully tumbled
and tangled" she said. putting her
hand to her hair.
He smoorhed the silken threads
with his hand and as he did So drew
the rose from her hair.
This /. mine" he murmured. and
he put 1t In his coat
oh. no." she exclaimed. And
this is how you keep our secret! Do
you not think every eye would n Ice
that great rose, and know whence II
came?"
Yes. yes. / see.' he said. After
ALL. woman is the one Tor secret
the man is not In the field; but then
ii will be safe here. and he put the
rose inside TIE breast OF his coat
Then trying to look as il nothing
had happened. trying to look rs if The
whole world had not become changed
for her, Stella sauntered into the
drawing noon by his de
And il really seemed as If no one
had noticed their entrance. Stella
felt inclined 10 congratulate herself.
NOT taking into consideration the
usages OF high breeding. which enable
50 many people @ look as II they wera
unaware OF an entrance which they
had been eNpt,ctiuE for an hour since