Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-06-17
Only a 6irt's Love
By CHARLES CARVICE

like a lightning fash, JasDers face
changed and a convulsiye smile
forced itself upon his lips.
He caught the arm and held it, and
smiled down at him.
My dear Frank" he murmured
What It the natter"
So sudden was tho change. so unex
pected, thar 5tefla, wnc lad caught
the boys other arm, stood transfixed
Frank gasped.
! What did you mean by keeping the
rose?" he burst out.
Jasper laughed softly.
"Oh, / see." he said, noddlng with
amused playfulness. Il see. You
were watching-from the window,
perhaps. en-" and he shook his arm
playfuIly. "And like a great many
other spectators, took Jest for earnest!
Impetuous boy"
Frank looked at the pale, smiling
face. and at Stella's downcast one.
rs it truce" he asked Stella,
bluntly.
oh GOMEZ said Jasper, reproach'
fully Isn't that rather rude? But !
must forgive you. and do it easily,
my dear Frank, when remember that
your sudden onslaught was prompted
By a desire to champion Miss Stella.
Now come, you owe me a rose, go and
cut me one, and we will be friends
ftsfuudu nil NJ. MT ."
Frank slid from his grasp, but
stood eylng him suspiciously.
you viii not?" said Jasper. Still
uncertain lest It should have been So
Der earnest? Then I will cut one for
myself May I? and he smiled a.
Stella
Stella did not speak, but inclined her
head
Jasper went to one Of the standards
and cut a red rose deliberately and
carefully, and placed 1t in his Goa
then he cut another, and with a smile
held it 10 Stella
win that do instead of the one the
stupid boy has spoiled" he said, laugh
ing
Stella would have liked to refuse IT,
but Franks eyes were upon her
Slowly she held out her hand end
took the rose.
A smile of triumph gittered E)r q
moment in Jasper's eyes, then he put
his hand on Franks shoulder
My dear Frank" he said in u soft
voice, yce aaGst ~ careful. you must
repress hat impulsive temper Of
yours. must he not?" and he turned
to Stella and held out his hand
Goodbye! 1t is so dangerous, you
know" he murmured. holding Stellas
hand. but keeping his smiling eyes
fixed on the boys face. Why, some
of these days you will be doing. some
one an injury and find yourself In
prison. doing as they call Il, six
months hard labor, Ike a common
thief-~or forgerl" and he laughed, as
If It We're the best Joke in the world
Not so Frank As the bantering
words left the thin, smiling lips, Frank
recoiled suddenly, and his face went
white
Jasper looked at him,
And now you are sorry?" he said.
Tell me it was only your fun! Why,
my dear boy you wear your heart on
your sleeyel Well, Il you would
really like to beg my pardon, you may
do it,"
The boy turned his whit face 10.
wait no longer Tor the ihoJumaose
treasure, the exquisite happiness that
lay within his grasp
His great wealth. his honored title
seemed as nothing to him compared
with the thought of possessing the
first real love OF his lie.
he smiled rather seriously as he
pictured his fathers anger, his
mothers dismay and despair. and Lis,
dear Lillian 5, grtet. but it was a smile,
though serious one.
They will get over it when it has
once Teen done. After all barring
that she has no title and no money
tNNAtAtNA VI NAttA are Nssitt1Ns ~ AhN
way--she is as delightful a daughter
m-law as any mother or father could
wish for Yes; IN do it,"
But how? that was the question
There is no Gretna Green nova.
days" he pondered. regretfully. Il
wish there were, \ ride TO the Dor
der, with my darling by my side
nesting close to me all the way with
mingled love ard alarm, would be
worth taking \ man can't very we'll
put up the bans IN any out-ofthe-was
place. because there are few outof
the-way places where they haven't
heard OF us Wyudwards. By Joyel"
he muttered. with a little start
there is special uSeIASA Vss Al,
ward him.
Tt eg--yuut - rsruvt,. -tt q, -
il every word cost him an agony, aud
then, with sudden twitch OF the face,
he turned and went slowly with bent
head toward the house.
Jasper looked after him with a
steel cruel glitter in his eyes aud he
laughed softly,
Dear boy, he murmuyed, Il have
taken SO fond q liking for him. aud
;h.s only leepens IL, He did it for
your sake You aid not think I mean,
10 keep the rose Ne. [ should have
given it to you, But may keep this3