Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-12-29

the life which fate-under the guise OF
good fortune-had made so bitter.
Jeanne. do you remember the win
ter night YOU STOOD behind the old
ssu with the snow failing softly
down, and the stars beginning to peep
out OF the clear. blue sky? I had
taken leave Of the world in the shape
o. one man who had proved himself
the one true, disinterested friend. and
! was going to my lonely life OF soil
tude with heavy, sinking heart,
What put hat madcap freak INTO
your little head? Was It chance?
think not. ! remember, as felt the
cold snow falling down my back. that
/ awOke from my dismal dream and
TUNED TO see-what? Only a little,
slim girl, with silky hair blown and
/ tum 5led about her face, and a pair oil
oft eyes, bright with childish ms
chief. | remember the very dress you
wore that night, remember the half
defiant. halffeaTful curve Of the red
Douting lips. as you looked up at me
half boldly. half shyly. and painted out
your little lmDertinences."
Jeanne smiles and h.;
1t Is so long ago-I as a child
then!" she murmurs, almost inaudibly
Long ago! Yes!" he says, putting
the hair from her face and kissing
her passionately-"s six months. Well,
took that little face home with me
against my will II haunted met
even asked Mrs. Brown to whom il
belonged, and / looked for it the next
morning like hungry man for a NOR
sci of bread Jeanne, I fell in love
with that little, proud. defiant face
that night Then came the days that
followed Close upon how | fought
against the spell that the little child
ace had cast upon me. How | swore
that love had passed for me; but how
I looked and longed for you. How
hated those gold people-the Lamb
tons, and that vulgar place that saw
so much of you. Why, Jeanne" he
says, with little laugh, Il was even
jealous OF Fitzjames-my Lord Lane,
who was more than half in love with
you himself, but you didn't know it,
did your
Now Jeannel There ere to be no
concealments, no shadows. Speak
out
4 envied Hal-dear old Hal, the
truest. bravest boy had ever seen. /
envied him the caress of those little
hands. and the kisses a those soft
lips-oh, but I may kiss them now as
often as / please, little wife," and he
kisses her passionately. We'll, Jeanne
what long story it is But l like
telling it, / loved you more passion
ately each day Then came the ques-
ton shall l tell her my real name
and position? No, | thought. Here
is a chance OF winning love if it is to
be won by me, for itself alone. Here's
Clarence Fitziames-the Honorable,
and tt res the Reverc..G Peter Bell.
These are my rivals now if |, plain
Vernon Nane. supposed to be poor,
struggling artist can win her from
these, why. then, l shall have found
true love at last. And so | went on,
tin lighting against my desire, until
F'itzjames goaded me one night--it
was at the park--into revealing my
love. DO you remember"
Is it likely Jeanne has forgotten
viii ever forget?
Yane pauses and draws her other
hand into his.
Then ought TO have told you
but could not, The greatest happi-
ness I had ever known came to me
as Vernon Vane, and Vernon Vane
wished to remain. Jeanne, you" love
is twice as sweet to me, givips it, as
you do. to the poor artist; though
YOU had loved me ten times more than
you say you do, l should have been
tormented with the demons of suspi-
cion and doubt IL had wooed you as
the marquis; some time or other, in
one Of ny black fits"
Jeanne looks up with smile OF in
credulity curving her lips. Black fits!
| He, the most courteous, targe-heafted
and good-natured man!
Yes, Jeanne" he sa,s, with a lit
tie remorseful smile in answer to
that look of hers, 81 have my black
fits; we all of MS have. You haven't
heard of the 'Ferndale temper yet.
Jeanne flushes and starts slightly
Was Lady Lucille also true in this
point too, that vane was tickle, pas
onate, capricious and changeful?
Il say, in one Of my black fits, the
ugly doubt would have crept into my
mind. Oh, she loves me for my coro-
net, and not for myself; she is like
the rest. But now" and he takes her
face in his hands, and kisses her,
| but now, no doubt is possible, for 1t