Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-08-26

Of the name had struck her ike a
blow.
He glanced round.
4 beg your pardon" he said. Il for
got; his name was Rever 20 be men
TONED, was it: / wiz not sin again
in word. In thought--one can't help
ones thoughts. stel!"
"No," she murmured, almost maud.
bly,.
Thoughts are free. he said; mine
are not however; they are a.
ways hying-after him, the best
and noblest OF men, the man who
saved my life. You see. though may
not speak of him, it would be migrate
full to forget hint"
/ Frank"
At her tone Of piteous supplic2tic9
and almost reproacl. he turned and
put his hand on her arm.
Forgive me, Stel! l didn't mean
to hurt you, but-but- well it is SO
hard to understand, so hard TO bear.
To feel, to know that he is far away
and suffering. while that man, Jasper
Adelstone-I beg your pardon, Stel!
Therel l will say no more!"
do not" she murmured, her face
white and strained, but resigned-"do
not. Besides, you are wrong; he has
forgotten by this time"
He turned and looked at her with "a
sudden anger; then he smiled as the
exquisite beauty of her face smote
him.
You wrong him and yourself. No,
Steb men do not forget such a girl
as you"
mo more!" she said, almost in a
tone of command
He shook his head, and the cough
came on and silenced him.
She put her arm round his neck
That cough she said. You must
go in, dea.s' Look at the mist. Come,
come int"
He turned in silence and walked be-
side her for a few steps. Then he
said TREMENDOUSLY:
Stel a, let me ask one question, and
then | will be silent--for always"
'Well?" she said.
Have you heard from him. you
know where he isl"
She paused moment to control her
voice. then she said;
Il have heard no word; | do not
rghn IA 10
He sighed and his head dropped
upon his breast
Let US go in" he said, then he
star ed, for his ears, particu arly
sharp, had caught the sound OF a we'll
known footstep.
There is-Jasper," he said, with
pause before the name, and he drew
his arm away and walked away from
her. Stella turned with strange set
smile on her face, the smile which
she had learnt to greet him with.
He came up the path with his quick
and peculiar suppressed step, his
hand outstretched. He would have
taken her in his arms and kissed her
If he had dared. But he could not.
With all his determination and deso1u-
ton he dared not. There was some
thing, some mysterious halo about his
victim which kept him almost at arms
length; it was as If she had sur
rounded herself by a magic circle
which he could not pass.
He took her hand and raised it TO
his lips and kissed it, his eyes drink
ing in her beauty and grace with a
thirsty wistfu ness.
MY darling. he murmured, in his
soft. low voice, "out SO late. VIII you
not catch cold2"
mo, she said. and like her smile
her voice seemed set and tutored, II
shat not catch cold, never do under
any circumstance, But I have just
sent Frank in, he has been coughing
terribly-he does not seem at all
strong"
He frowned with swift impotence
Frank is an right" he said. and
there was toIch of Jealousy in his
voice Are you not unduly anxious
about the boy-you alarm yourself
without cause"
Alarm myself" she repeated,
ready to be alarmed at the suggestion.
"I-don't think. hope I am not
alarmed Why should be?' she said,
anxiously.
The jealousy grew more pro-
nounced
There is no reason whatever" he
said. shortly "The boy Is al, right.