Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-05-20
Only a 6trl's Love
BY CHARLES GARvICE

q
heart,
Till death US sever, We win not
part
Stella repeated the words after him
with faint smile on her lips, which
died away under the glow Of his earn
est eyes.
Then, as the last words dropped hur-
riedly from her lips, he took her in his
arms and kissed her"
Now we are betrothed, Stella, you
and l against all the world"
As he spoke a cloud sailed aersss
the moon, and tie shadows now at
their feet suddenly changed from sill
yer to dullish lead.
Stella shuddered In his arms, and
elung 10 nm with little convuisive
movement thai thrilled him.
Let US 60" She said; let US 60
Il seems almos' as if there were
spirits herel How dark it Isl"
only FOX a moment, darling!' he
said. Seer" and he took her face
and turned it to the moonlight again.
"One kiss, and we will 60"
With no blush on her face, but with
glow OF passionate love in her eyes,
she raised her face, looked into his
for a moment, then kissed him.
Then they turned, and went toward
the boat; nut this time she chung to
his arm, and her head nestled on his
shoulder. AS they turned, something
white and ghost-like moved from be
hind the trees, in front OF which they
had been standing.
II stood In the moonlight looking
after them, itself 50 white and eerie
that IT might have been one Of the
good fairies; but that In its face
beautiful enough for any fairy-there
glittered the white, angry, threatening
look Of an evil spirit
Was it the nearDess Of this exqui'
sitely-graceful figure in white which
by some instinct Stella had felt and
been alarmed at?
The figure watched item for nom
ent until they were out Of sigbt, then
II turned and struck into parh lead
ing toward the Hall.
As IL did so, another figure IA black
one this time--came out of the
shadow, across the path obliqueiy.
She turned and saw white, not
unhandsome. face, with small keen
eyes bent on her, She the watcher,
lad been watched
For q moment she stood as II half
the aeecy shawl round her head with
gesture of almost insolent hauteur
But she was not to escape so easily;
the dark. thin finger slipped back and
STOPPING down picked mp the handker-
chief which In her sweeping gesture
she had let drop.
"Pardonl" he said,
She looked at him with an inclina-
ton OF her head that was scarcely a
/ bow would have passed on again, but
be did not move from her path, and
/ hat in hand stood looking at her.
Proud, fearless, imperioasly haughty
as she war. she felt constrained to
stop
Hs knew by the mere fact OF her
stopping that he had impressed her,
aud be at Gaze ,Nllowed up the ad-
vantage gained.
II she had wanted to pass him with
out speaking she would have taken no
notice OF the handkerchief. and gone
lcu her way. No doubt she now
wished that she had done so, but it
was too late now.
"will you permit me TO speak TO
your" he said, in quiet, almost a
constrained voice. every word distinct,
every word full OF significance.
She looked at him. at the pale face
with its thin resolute lips and email.
keen eyes. and Inclined her head.
''If you intend TO speak to me, sir,
I apprehend that cannot prevent 1t.
You will do well TO remember that we
are not alone here
Still uncovered. he bowed.
Your ladyshlp has no need to re-
mind me Of that fact No deed Or
word of mine will cause you to wish
for a protector
/ have yet to learn that" she
said You appear TO know me, sir"
No words will convey any idea Of
the naughty scorn expressed by the
/ ley tone ana the cold glance of the
violet eyes,
a faint smile. deforeutial yet self
| possessed. swept across his face
There are SOME so we'll known to
the world that their faces are easily
recognized even in the moonlight:
such an one Is the Lady Len
she pat an her hand, white and
glitter,nE with prieeless gems, and at
the commanding gesture he stopped,
but the smile swsvt across his face
again. and he put d. his hand to his
lips
you know my name you wish &c
speak 10 me9'
He inclined h'e how'd
What have you TO say 10 meY'
he mad not ~sked his aane: abe
hal treated him as il he were some
bol,gar wbc had crcpt up to her car
riage as 1t stood at rest, and by a
mlxtur, Of brayado and servility