Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-05
Continued.

between him and Kate, for at that
moment she startled him with the
question, 81 suppose they have new
ueighbors now at Casa Bella? Who
took your house when you left?'
1T was taken by Count Carossa,
he replied. Mr.. Britton met him at
Naples. on Whit-Sunday. He has a
yacht not unlike the Pilgrim, and was
anchored close by"
u remember. now. father mentioned
him. What sort OF a man is he?
viii Uncle Britton Like Aim?"
y believe he was much taken with
him" replied Carlo. hearing his own
calm replies. with sort Of astonish-
meDt
Uncle is dreadfuiiy fond Of people
with titles said Kate. 1T Is his one
weakness. Is the Count Carossa
really nice 30 you think?"
Il have only met him once, replied
arlo. He is quite young and very
rich, rather an original sort OF man.
has travelled a great deal, and is a
good raconteur."
He ran of the list OF his rivals
merits unfalteringly, but was secretly
relieved by an interruption.
Don't you hear wheels?" exclaimed
Lucy. opening the drawingroom door
that she might listen better.
Yes, it is father?" cried little Flo.
"for Bevis Is waking up. See" she
said, drawing Carlos attention 20 a
very old deer.hound which lay
stretched out comfortably on the
hearth-rug "Bevis always does that
when he hears the carriage, but when
IL is only people coming to call he
sleeps right on"
In the hall there was little bus
tie Of arrival and welcome. The re-
turn of the father and son from bust.
ness made one Of the pleasantest Of
the daily events in that quiet country
household. They brought with them 1
sort of atmosphere of the world which
was refreshing Generally there we're
commissions 10 be delivered, or library
books to Be eagerly seized upon, and
Invariably there was some sort vi
news 10 be discussed Carlo realized
something OF this as Mr.. Britton came
into the room with Lucy. his favorite
daughter, clinglng 10 his arm, and the
dog Oscar, son 10 the elderly Bevis,
al his heels.
The ship-builder never showed TO
greater advantage than in his own
house. Looking now at his clear gray
eyes. his refined face, his thick white
hair and snowy. wellkept beard, he
seemed to Carlo the perfection of an
English getleman His manner was
delightful: q little more courteous
than The manner of the Englishmen
Carlo had hitherto come across. but
free from all suspicion of Formally
manner that was genuinely friendly
without being In the least overland.
tar He gave Carlo hearty welcome
and turned to introduce him to his
son, who seemed to be much what Mr
Britton must have been forty years
ago
Harry Britton had not yet acquired
however. his fathers easy, genial
way of talking: he seemed not quite
at his ease with the Italian, and,
after the greetings were over, moved
away with a perceptible air of relief.
which tickled Carlo not a little, and
began to open the shiny black bag
which he held in his left hand, From
this he proceeded to dole forth vari'
Gus purchases which the girls had
asked him TO make, ending with the
evening paper, which he as usual
brought 1utifully TO Glare. with lit.
tie time onored joke which had for
them all halo of happy associations.
Carlo watched the little bin of by
play. and understood Il all perhctly.
II brought back TO his mind the old
days when Clare was IN Italy. and had
been to him just such true, stanch,
CHEEKY friend as she was now TO
Harry Britton To his tired brain
there was something indescribably re-
freshing IN that glimpse Of homelite.
Il was a scene which he never forgot.
and which often returned TO him with
sense Of comfort in his wandering.
homeless iir' For there are people
SO genuine. so English. SO whole
hearted. that they can make even
afternoon callers feel for the time
being, one Of themselyes--can send
them forth again with a pleasant ltv.
ing picture in their hearts. and a
consciousness that there Is true friend
liness and good-fellowship in world
which had seemed to them for the
most part a place of weary formality
and routine.
He felt a great wish 10 do some.
thing for these people. and knowing
that etiquette forbade them to ask
him 20 sing. and that Glare was anx
ious to hear him he took advantage
OF some reference which Mr.. Briton
made TO his singing in Faust TO OF.
fer 10 sing them bio Possente.'
The unmls,akahle look OF real De.
light which greeted the suggestion
aud the eager way In which Molly
and Flo ran ,o open the piano.
pleased him moro han The 'oudesi
public applause could have done He
sang very well and eutranced his
hearers. IUusiug even Harry out Of
his shy reserr"
DO SOU ever sing English songs 90