Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-10-14

ing my delicate state OF health!'
Il don't care anything about the peo-
pie at the hotel" he says, IN that
frank, simple way which speaks 50
plainly Of his love Il know that
dom. mean you to catch cold if | can
help it,"
"You-you are very good TO me,
she says. and there is a slight tremor
in her voice.
He laughs his short curt laEgn,
so.tened in a singular way.
Am 1? You might say that man
was particularly good because he
showed some concern for the safety
of a particularly precious stone!'
Her eyes droop. and. perhaps IN
| consciously, her arm draws little
nearer 70 him.
"You are good" she says, but am
not a precious stone, by any means
"You are all that is rare and prec1-
Gus to me, my darling" he says; you
are all the world to me. Stelia!--
he stops, alarmed lest he should be
alarming her. but MS arm slides round
her, and he ventures to draw her
nearer to him.
1t is the only embrace he has ven
tufed to give her since that night
when she fell INTO his arms at the COT
tage door at Canyon, and he haI
Tears that she will shrink from hun
IN he new strange shyness that mas
fallen upon her; but she does not, Ii
stead she lets her head drOop unit. a
rests upon has breast, and the strong
mans passion leaps idll force ana
masterful in a moment.
"Stella! ne murmurs, his lips
pressed To hers, which do not swerye,
may speak? VIII you let me? Iou
will not be angry
She does not look angry, her eyes
fixed on his have nothing but sub.
missive love III them.
Il have waited,-it seems SO long
because | was afraid to trouble you,
but may speak now, Stellar" and he
draws her closer to him. will yoh
be my wife-soon-soon?'
He waits, his handsome lace elo-
quent in its entreaty and anxiety. ana
she leans back and looks up at him,
then her gaze falters. A little culver
hoyers on her lips, and the dark eyes
droop.
Is it "Yes?" II so, he alone could
have heard It,
MY poor darling" he murmurs, and
he takes her face in his hands and
turns ii up TO him. "Oh, my darling,
if you know how | loved you--how
anxiously have waited! And it shall
be soon, Stella! My little wife! My
very own"
"Yes!' she said and. as in the old
time. she raises herself in his arTIs
and kisses him
"And and the countess, and all OF
them" she murmurs, but with little
quaint smile.
He smiles calmly. mot tonight.
darling do not let us talk of the out
side world tonight. But see If ALT
of them as you put 1t. are not exactly
OF one mind, one OF them is" and he
takes out a letter from his pocket
From Lilianl" she says guessing,
instmctiyely.
Leycester mods
Yes, take it and read; you will find
your name in every line. Stella, 1t
was this letter that gave me courage
TO speak to you ton ght. n woman
knows a woman after all-you will
read what she says. Are you still
afraid, Ley she writes, ask her!' and
I have asked AMI now all the past
will bepuried and we shall be happy al
last AT last. Stella, where-where-
shall 1t be?"
She is silent, but she lifts the let
ter 10 her lips and kisses 1t.
What do you say TO Parls?' Ne
asks.
"Paris!" she echoes, flushing
Yes" he says, Il have been talking
to the old Doctor, and he thinks yod
are strong enough to have a little ex-
element now, and thinks that tour
Ia Paris would be the very thing to
complete things. What do you say.
he goes on, trying to speak in a mat
terof.Ract voice. but watching hes
with eager eyes, IF we start at the
end OF the week. that will give you
time to make your preparations, Won
it,"
"Oh, no. no"
"Then say the beginning of next
he returns. magnanimously. and We
will be married about Wednesday
she utters q faint exclamation, and
turns pale and red by turns, but he is
steadfast--'and then We can have a
gay time of 1t before we settle down
Settle down." she says, with IL