Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-07-22
Continued.

No.. he said; Il viii admit that II
may be true-I think that it is posi-.
BILE that it may be true; and yet, you
see. have brayed your wrath AID.
FAR worse, your scorn, and baked
n,m."
For a time" she said, almost be-
meath her breath" for a time.
short time. | fear, Mr.. Adelstone,
that he will demand reparation, heavy
reparation at your hands for such
'Ealking
| To save her life she could not have
suppressed her threat
Il do not fear Lord LEICESTER, or
any man. he said. Where you are
concerned I fear only-yourself."
DO you intend giving me the ex-
PLANTATION, sir?" she demanded, impetu-
ously.
Il have stepped in between him
and his prey" he went on. still
gravely, because thought, l hoped,
that were time given you. though 1t
were at the last moment, that you
would see the danger which lay before
you, and draw back"
'Thanks!" she said, scornfully-
that is your explanation. Having at
torded it, be kind enough to open
that door and let me depart.
Stay!" he said. and for the first
time his voice broke and showed signs
Of the storm that was raging within
| him UGfay C4aItaI tponfora 10
| seech OF you! Think, consider for
one moment to what doom your feet
are carrying you! The man proposes
has the fudacity to propose-a clan
destine elypement, secret marriage;
he treats you as IL you were not wor-
thy to he his wife, as If you were
the dirt under his feet! Do you
think, dare you, blinded as you are
by nomentary passion, dare you
hope hat any good can spring from
such union, that any happiness can
follow such a shameful marriage?
Dare you hope that this mans love
ioye!- which will not brave the tenn
| porary anger and contempt of his re-
latIons. can be strong enough to last
lifetime? Think. Stella! He is
ashamed OF you already; he the heir
to Wyndward, is ashamed to make
you his bride before the world. He
must lower and degrade you by a Sc
| cret ceremony. What is his love COM
| pared with mine-with miner" and in
the fierce emotion of the moment he
put his hand upon her arm and held
| her.
With fierce angry scorn, which no
/ one who knew Stella Etheridge could
have. thought her capable of, she
dung his hand from her and con-
fronted him, her beautiful face look
ing lovely in its scorn and wrath.
"Silence!" she exclaimed, her breast
heaving her eyes darting lighting.
You dare to speak thus to me, d
weak, defenseless girl, whom you
have entrapped into listening to you!
dare you to utter them to him-him,
the man you traduce and SANDER.
You speak of love; you know not
what it is! You speak of shame"
she paused, the word seemed to over
come her. shame" she repeated.
struggling for breath and composure;
you do not know what that is. Shall
tell you i have never felt it unti
| now; / feel 1t now, because have
been weak enough to remain and lis
ten to you. 1t is shameful that your
hand should have touched mel It is
shameful that should have listened
to your protestations of love-love!
You speak of the shame which he
would bring upon me! Well, then
listen for once and all!--if such
shame were to befall me from his
hand, / would go to meet it, yes, and
| welcome It, rather than take from
yours all the honor which you could
extend to mel You say that l am
going to ruin and unhappiness. So
be it; / accept your words-to silence
you, learn from my own lips that
would rather bear such shame ami
misery with him, than happiness and
honor with you. Have have l."
she painted, spoken plainly enough?''
and she looked down at him with pas
| sionate scorn. He was white. white
as death, his hands hung at his side
clinched and burning; his tongue
seemed TO cleave to the roof OF his
mouth, and render speech impossible.
Her scorn dashed him; every word
fell like the thong of lnout. and cut
into his heart; and all the while his
eyes rested on hers with anguished
entreaty.
"Spe E me-" he cried. hoarsely. at
last Spare me! have tried to
spare you'll"
'You-spare met" she retorted, with
short contemptuous laugh,
Yes" he said wetting his lips, Il
have tried to spare you' tried argu
ment entreaty, all to no purpose!
Now-now you compel me to use
force"'
She glanced at the door. though
she seemed to know lnstinctively that
he did not mean physical force.
4 would have saved You without
this last step" he said slowly, almost
iuaudibly. Il call upon you to remem.
Der this in the after.time. That not
until YOU had refused all my efforts to
/ turn Won from vour purpose-not until