Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-02-19

4 nave 10 make puuulHSt snS
said.
He looked at the white arms. and
then at her, with an intensified eager
ness.
IF you knew how beautiful the
morning is-how grand the river looks
you would let the pudding go
Stella shook her head.
He inclined his head. too highly
bred to persist.
II am sorry" he said simply. Il
am sorry now that have gained my
way. l thought that you would have
come"
! Stella stood silent and with some
thing like a sigh, put down the things
and held out her hand; but as he
took the finger which she gave him,
+ his face frightened. and light came
into his eyes.
Are you still firm?"
81 would not desert the pudding for
anything, my lord" said Stella,
naively
At the my lord,' a slight shade
covered his face, but it went again in
stantly, as he said;
Well. then, will you come when
the inevitable pudding is made!
There" he said. eagerly, and still
holding her hand he drew her to the
window and pointed with his whip,
there's the place! 1t is not far-just
across the meadows, and through the
first gate. Do you see it?''
Yes" said Stella. gently withdraw
ing her hand
"And you will Gomez" he asked, his
eyes fixed on hers with their intent
earnestness.
At that instant the word-the obi
Gus word infamous rang in her
ears, and her face paled. He noticed
the sudden pallor, and his eyes grew
dark with earnest questioning.
q see," he said, quietly, you will
not comet"
What was it that moved her? With
sudden impulse she raised her eyes
and looked at him steadily.
1 Yes, l viii comet" she said.
He inclined his head without a
word, called to the dogs, and passed
out.
Stella stood for a moment looking
after them; then she went into the
kitchen-not laughing nor singing,
but with strange feeling that had
got possession of her.
She felt as if she was laboring
under some spell. Charmed" is an
often misused word. but it is the
right word to describe the sensation.
Was it his face or his voice that
haunted her? AS she stood absent.y
looking down at the table, simple
words, short and commonplace, which
he had used rang in her ears with a
new meaning.
Mrs. Penfold stood and regarded her
in curious establishment. She was
getting used to SteIlas quickly chang
ing moods, but the sudden change be-
wildered her
Let me do it. Miss Stella" she
pleaded, but Stella shook her head
firmly; not by ore inch would she
swerve from her cause for all the
beautiful voice and noble face.
In rapt silence she finished her
work, then she went upstairs and put
on her hat and came down. AS she
( passed out of the house and down the
path, the mastin leaped the gate and
bounded toward her, and the next
moment she saw Lord Leycester
seated on stile.
! He dropped down and came toward
her
How quick you have BEEN" he
said, 4 thought pudding was my
stery which demanded an immensely
of time.
Stella looked up at him, her dark
brows drawn IN straight line.
, You waited for me?' she said
NO" he said, simply. = came back.
did not like to think that you
should come aloAe."
Stella was silent.
"Are you angry?" he asked, in a
low voice.
Stella was silent for moment,
then she looked at hfm frankly.
No. she said.
If she had but said YES and
turned back! But the path all beauti-
full with the bright cooring of Spring
stretched before her, and she had no
thought Of turning back, no thought
or suspicion of the dark and perilous
land toward which sne was travelling
by his side.
Already the glamour of love was
falling upon her like the soft mist OF
Summer evening; blindly, passively
she was moving toward the fate which
the gods had prepared for her.
CHAPTER VII.
Side by side they walked across the
meadows; the larks rising before
them and soaring up to the heavens
with burst of song; the river run
ming in silvery silence to the sea;
the green trees waving gently in the
Summer breeze; and above them the
long stretching gray masonry of Wynd-
ward Hall.
Lord LEICESTER was strangely silent
cor some minutes since that Are you