Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-11-17


Let me passl" breathed Jeanne.
trembling; Il won't hear any more"
But you must" he cried, excit-
eddy. Il love you, Jeanne. madly; l
can't lose you!s
it was foolish speech.
Transflxed for an instant, Jeanne
paused, the fire in her cheek and
eyes.
You have not got me yet, she said.
proudly; then she wrung her hands;
Oh. let me COL won't hear any
morel"
''Won't?" he said, hoarsely, thor
oughly astosnded by her persistent re-
fusal to hear him. Let me tell you
everything. Tiff you think that
am poor
LET me go.' cried Jeanne. below
her breath, and with set teeth.
IF You think nae poor and not in a
position" he went on, still blocking
her way, "you-you are mistaken.
was last night, but that is changed;
the money 1 received was
Jeanne put her hands over her
ears.
Hear met" he pleaded; Il am no
longer a younger son; l am 0 longer
Clarence Fitzjames, -other is
dead and | am Yiscount 44ane!" and
as he spoke, he drew black-edged
envelope from his pocket.
Il am viscount now, and the next
in succession, Jeanne" he said, and
you--if-if you viii only listen, viii
be Countess of AirdaIe. You will
not refuse mel"
Jeanne's small pink hands dropped
from her ears, and she looked at him
with an indignant fire in her beautiful
eyes
And yop can come and-and say
this to me with your brother just
dead?"
"Jeannei" he pleaded.
'sJeanne-J eanne!" she cried pas
sionately, her eyes full of tears, how
dsre you call me Jeanne'I What
have l done or said that you should
do so? And if-if you will make me
say it, then / say that it would make
no difference to me if you were a
duke or king. Now let me pass, Mr..
Fitzjames."
But Jeanne-Miss Bertram," he
stammered; but Jeanne, taking adj
vantage of his amazement and con-
fusion, pushed past him, and, before
he can recover himself, is flying to-
ward the house, and safely locked in
her own room.
Clarence, the new Viseount Lane.
stared stupidity after the retreating
form for a full minute, then he passed
his white hand over his brow. and
growled out an oath.
Amusement, chagrin and mortified
vanity strove with baffied passion, as
he picked up his hat and tried to
smooth it.
That he should be refused as the
honorable Fitzjames was hard to be-
lieYe, but hat any one should decline
the ho or of picking up the handker-
chief thrown by the Viscount Lane,
heir to an earldom, was simply in.
credible.
But he had to believe it at last, and
after standing for a few minutes TO
realize it. walked off, by path, to
the gate.
Still less than before would one
have recognized in this gloomy brow
and sullen mouth the exquisitely calm
and nonchalant Clarence.
What an ass I have been," he
muttered, land all to no purpose!
What will my people say 'shen they
near this? How beautiful she looked
as she stood stamping her feet. BY
Jove, thought she would strike me!
A child, too-a child! Could she have
understood? Yes, put il P.ainly
enough. And she refused coro-
net! Phew! I must be as ugly as
sin, or-or something. And now
there's that confoupeed pillmaker and
his gangl' he exclaims, with shud-
der That's a lucky escape, anyhow,
/ can't go back there, and / won't,
that's fiat! They'll hear of this
everybody, my people, too, and the old
earl will rave like mad nan, and"
70 be continued.