Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-03-11

asked the old man, quite bewildered
Il feel quite strange conveying a
brilliant yourS lady"
And l feef-frightened out of my
life" said Stella, with little breath
and laugh.
Then you conceal your alarm with
infinite art" he retorted.
That's Just it." she assented. 'My
heart is beating like a steam hammer,
but, like an Indian at the stake, I am
determined to smile to the end. They
will be very terrible. uncle win they
not"
'Who?" he asked.
"The countess and the paragon
mean Lady Lenore Beauchamp. /
shall have to be careful, or shall be
calling her the paragon to her face.
What would she do, uncle?"
Smile and pass it by With a graci-
Gus air" he said. laughing. you are
clever and a bold girl, Stella, but
even you could not take "a rise.' as
We used to say in my schooldays, out
of Lady Lenore."
Il am not clever. and am trembling
like mouse" said Stella, with a pite-
GUS little pout. you'll stand by me,
uncle, won't your"
He laughed
Il think you are quite able to defend
yourself. my DEAR" he said. Never
knew one of your sex who was not
The fly rumbled over the bridge
and entered the long avenue, and
Stella, looking out, saw the lights OF
the house shining at the end of the
vista.
What grand place it is" she inus-
I'd, almost to herself. Uncle, l
J. as if | were about to enter an
other world; and am. think. have
never seen countess in my life be-
fore; lave been shut up within the
four walls of a school. If she says
one word to me l shall expire"
He laughed, and began to feel for
the sketch which he had brought with
him.
You will not find her so very ter
rible," he said
The fly got to the end of the avenue
fast, and wound round the broad
drive to the front entrance.
II doomed so large and awe-inspiring
above them, that Stellas heart seemed
to sink; but her color came again as
two tall footmen, in grand. but not
gorgeous. livery, came down the broad
steps and opened the fly door. She
would not let them see that she was
Eafraid. Afraid; yes that was the word
which. described her feelings as she
was ushered into the hall, and she
looked round at its vastness.
There were several other footmeu
standing about with solemn faces, and
maid dressed in black, with spot
less muslin cap, came forward with
what seemed to Stella solemn and
stately steps, and asked her, in almost
reverential whisper, whether she
would come upstairs; but Stella
shook her head, and was about to I'M
wind the shawl when the maid, with
a quick but respectful movement, I'M
dertook the task, going through It with
the greatest care and attention.
Then her uncle held his arm and
she put her hand upon it, and in the
instant, as IL they had been waiting
and watching, though their eyes had
been fixed on the ground, two foot
men drew aside tie curtains shutting
off the corridor to the drawing-room
and another footman paced slowly
and with head erect before them.
It was all so solemn, the dim yet
sufficient light, the towering hall, with
IT'S flags and armor. the endless cur
tains, with their gold fringe, that
Stella was remIndad- of some gothic
cathedral. The white cleaning stat
ues seemed to look down at her, as
she passed between them, with a
frown of establishment at her auda
city in entering their solemn presence.
the very silence seemed to reproacn
her light footsteps on the thickly- car
peted mosaic floor
To be continued