Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-06-03

and seized Stella,s hand.
He will see you" said Stella, blush
ing.
mo, he will not" he retorted, and
he bent until his lips touched her
hand. Stella, want to speak to you
very seriously. You must promise
you will not be angry with me"
Stella looked at him with smile.
rs It so serious?' she said, in that
low, murmuring .ce whic- Soman
uses when she speaSs to the man she
loves.
Very" he said, gravely, but with
the bold. defiant deed. Stella, / want
you to marry me-
Stella started, and her hand closed
spasmodicalIy on his.
u want you to marry me soon, he
went on" at once"
oh, no, no." she said. IN d whisper.
ana her hand trembled in his.
Marry him at oncel The thought
was so fun of immensely that it over
whelmed her.
but If must be Yes! yes! yes! =
he said. My darling, l find that
cannot live without you. / cannot! /
cannot! You win take pity on me.
Take pity on him-the great LORD
Leycester, the most popular man in
London; the heir to Wyndward; the
hero OF whom Frank had been speak
ing so enthusiastically; while she was
but Stella Etberidge. the painters pen
niless niece.
What am to say? what can
say" she said. in low voice, her
eyes downcast her heart beating
fast
q will tell you, he said "YoH
must say Yes, my darling, to all l
ask you"
There was a moments pause, in
which she felt that indeed she must
say yes" to anything be asked her.
Listen, darling" he Wen 90.
caressing her hand, his eyes fixed on
her face wistfuIly. Il have been
thinking of this love Of ours, thinking
of it night and day, and I feel that
you and can do no good by waiting.
You are happy-yes, because you
are a woman; but am not happy, be-
cause, perhaps, that I am man. I
shall not be happy until we are one
Iuntil you are my very own. Stella,
we must be married at once"
mot at once" she pleaded.
AT once. he said; and there was
a strange, eager. impatient light In
his eyes. Stella. : can speak to YOU
as | can speak TO no one else-you
and are ore IN thought-you are my
other self M darling / would go
through ERE to save you moments
pain, not only pain, but uneasiness and
annoyance
Her fingers closed on his hand, and
her eyes. raised to his face for a
moment. plainly said. Il believe it; =
but her lips said nothing
stella. there would be pain and an
noyance to you if--if we were to make
known our love It is a foolish, stu
pid, idiotic world; but as the world is,
we must accept tive cannot alter 1t.
If we were to declare our love, all
sorts of people would be arrayed
against us. Do you think your uncle
would consent to it?'
Stella thought a moment.
Il know what you mean, she said,
in a low voice No. uncle would not
consent. But it is not that only.
Lady Wyndward-the earl-no one
of your people would consent"
His lips curled.
About their consent l care little.
he said. in the quiet, defiant manner
peculiar to him. But l do care for
your happiness md peace of mind,
and l fear they might make you un-
happy uncomfortable. SO. Stella
think YOU and had better walk TO
church one tine morning, and say
nothing to nobody"
Stella started
Secretly, do YOU mean? oh, Ley
cester!"
MY darling, Is 1t not best? Then
when 1t is all over, and you are my
very own. nobody will say anything,
because it will be no good to say
anything Stella. It must be so! II
we waited until we got every body 5
consent, we might wait until we We're
as old as Methuselah!"
but unciel" murmured Stella. He
has been so good TO me"
and | will be good to you'" he
murmur with such sweet signifi-
canoe that the beautiful face Grim
soned. He only ants to see you
happy. and will make you happy, my
darling-my own"
As he spoke he took her hand, and
held it 10 his lips as If he never
meant to part with ii, and Stella could
not find a word to say II she had
found a word it would have oeen
Yes"
He was silent a moment-think-
ing Then he said
stella, YOU think l have some pan
ready. hut l have not / would not
even think of "a plan tin l got your
consent Now have got your con
seut--l have, haven't r.
Stella was silent but her hand
closed o,er his
y VIII thnk ! VII me',e a plan.
AZ. .h1Ef ,,-,tyt some, an, ~ bstD u 90