Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-08-05

power so completely that she IS
forced to break her word 70 M, 20
jill me for him!-can p
His voice was so hoafse and harsh
as 20 be almost inarticulate, and ne
stood with outstretched, appealing
hands, as if demanding an answer.
What could she say? For a moment
she was silent. then she put out her
hand to him
"And you have left her with him,
Ley?
The question sent all the blood from
his face.
Yes" he said, YEARLY, q nave left
her with her future husband. Posi-
bly,. probably. by this time she has be
come his wife. One Lan can procure
marriage license as easily as an
other"
You did that! What would papa
and mother have said?" she muir
INJURED
He laughed.
What did, what should l care?
tell you l loved her madly; you do
not know, cannot understand what
such love means! Know, then, Lii,
that / would rather lave died than
lose her-that, having lost her, life
has become void and barren for me
that the days and hours until forget
her will be so much time of torture
and regret, and vain, useless longing
shall see her face, hear her voice.
wherever l may be, in the day or in
the night; and no pleasure, no pain
will efface her from my memory or my
heart"
"Oh, Ley!-my poor Ley!"
Thus it is with me. And now
have come TO say goodbye
"Goog-bye? You are going-where?
"Where?" he echoed, with the
same discordant laugh. Il neither
know nor care. am afraid all places
will be alike for awhile. The whole
earth is full Of her; there is not
wild flower that viii not remind me or
her, not sound Of music that will
not recall her voice. If l meet a
woman | shall compare her with my
StelIa-my Stella! no, Jasper Adel-
stones! Oh, Heaveni l could bear
all but that. II she were dead,
should have at least one comfort-the
consolation Of knowing that she had
belonged to no other man-that in
some other remote world we might
meet again, and ! might claim her as
mine! But chat is denied to me.
My white angel is stained and be-
smirchcd, and is mine no longer."
Worn out by the passion of his
grief, he dropped on the seat at her
feet, and hid his face in her hands.
she pat her arm round his neck,
but spoke no word. Words at such
moments are like gnats round
wound-they can op'v irritate, they
cannot heal
They sat thus motionless for some
minutes, then he rose, calmer but
very white and worn.
This is weak of me. worse than
weak. inconsiderate, Lii" he said,
with a wan smile. You have SC
much of your own sorrows that you
should be spared the recital of other
peoples woes. I will go now. Good
bye, Lii"
"Oh, what can l do for your" she
murmured. My dear! My dear!"
He stopped and kissed her, and his
heart grew calmer and more resigned.
Nothing, Lii" he said.
yes" she said in a. low voice; IF
can do nothing else l can pray for
you, Ley"
| He smiled and stroked her hair.
you are an angel. LIZ he said
softly IF all women were made like
you. there would be no sin and little
sorrow in the world. In the future
that lies black and dreary before me
shall think of you. Yes, pray for me,
| Lii. Goodbye! "and he kissed her
| again.
She held him to the last, then when
he had gone she buried her face IN
her hands and cried But suddenly
she sat up and touched the bell that
stood near her.
To be continusd.