Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-04-22

want beauty, wealth
sof which we have too much Al
ready. Go on"
rank, and what is stin better, a
high position The Wyndwards can,
not troop with crows. LEICESTER"
Beauty. wealth. rank and mysteri-
Gus sort of position. A princess, per
haps, my lady?"
A proud light shone in her eyes.
L should net feel abashed in the pre-
sence OF a princess, if you brought
her to me" she said, with that serene
hauteur which characterized her.
No. am satisfied with less than thai,
LEICESTER"
4 am relieved he said. smiling.
And this exalted paragon
should say-who is she?"
Look round-you need not strain
your vision" she returned; Il can
see her now. On, blind, blind. that
you cannot see her also! She whom
see is more than all these; she is d
woman with a loving heart in her
bosom. that needs but word to set ii
beating for-youl"
His face flushed.
4 can think OF no one" he said.
You make one ashamed, mother"
Il ueed not tell you her name,
then? she said.
But he shook his head.
Il must know it now, think" he
sid, gravely.
She was silent moment, then she
said in a low voice:
1T is Lenore, Leycester."
He drew away from her, so that he:
arm fell from his shoulder, and looked
her full in the face.
Before him rose the proud, imperial
figure, before him stood the lovely face
of Lenore, with its crown of golden
hair, and its deep, eloquent eyes oil
violet, and beside it, lowering like a
spirit, the face of his girl-love.
che violet eyes seemed to gaze at
him with all the strength of conscious
loneliness, seemed to bend upon him
with glance of defiance, as if they
said-"I am here, waiting: | smile,
you cannot resist mel" and the dark,
tender eyes beside them seemed to
turn upon him with gentle, passionate
pleading, praying him to be constant
and faithful
"Lenore!" he said, in a low voice.
Mother, ought you to have said this?'
She did not shrink from his almost
reproachful gaze.
why should | hesitate when my
sons happiness is at stalker" she said
calmly. IF saw a treasure, some
pearl of great price, lying at your feet
and felt that yoG were passing it by
unnoticed and disregarded, should
be wrong ia speaking the word that
would place 1t in your grasp? Your
happiness is my--life, LEICESTER! II
ever there was treasure, a pearl OF
great price among women, it is lie
more. Are you passing her by? You
will not do that"
/ AN1fEiy SlhNS Az SSuAA AOAhShADSti
had he seen her so moved. Her voice
was calm and even, as usual, but her
eyes were Warm with an intense earn.
estness, the diamonds trembled on her
neck.
He stood before her, looking away
beyond her, a strange trouble at his
heart. For the first time he saw,
he appreciated, rather-the beautiful
girl whom, as ii were, she held up to
his mental gaze. But that other, that
girl.love whose lips still seemed to
murmur. Il love you, LEICESTER"
What of her!
With sudden start he moved away.
Il do not think you should have
spoken he said You cannot
know"
The countess smiled.
"a mothers eyes are quick" she
said. "a word and the pearl is at
your feet, LEICESTER"
He was a man, warm-blooded and
lmpressionable, and for moment his
face flushed but the Il love you" still
rang in his ears.
"If that be so. all the more cause
for silence, mother" he said, But |
hone you are mistaken"
To be continued.