Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-12
Continued


Of those childish caresses which mad
Carlo feel that everything he had beer
through was worth while.
He sat down to write 10 Clare. anC
Gig ran Jack to his beloved soldiers
monotOnously chanting, in his rather
pretty little voice:
Pray, Mr. Frog, will you give us q
song,
But let it be something that's moi
very long
Indeed, Mrs. Mouse, replied Mrs
Frog,
"A cold has made me as hoarse as a
hog"
Carlo was fain to confess that day
that it was relief to get rid of his
little companion. He sent him off to
Merlebank with a friendly scene
shifted. and sat In a great armchair
drawn close to the fire, bearing mis-
cradle headache and backache, yet
finding a sort of relief in the con
sciousness that he could cough and
ghiver to his hearts content now that
no one was near.
The morning passed In a strange
quiet, like the pause before a storm;
the very streets were deserted, for all
Ashborough was on the race-ceurse;
Eito. who was not singing that even,
ing. was still In her room: Made
moisele Do Caisne was closeted With
her dressmaker; there was nothing 10
break the peace Of Carlos solitude,
II indeed such a feyerish misery
could be called peace.
The clock struck twelve, and he
started from troubled waking dream
Of Francesca TO the recollection that
in another eight hours he should have
TO transform himself somehow into
Figaro; and with nervousness far
greater than that which he had felt
al his FIRST appearance, he made his
way to the private sitting-room which
was the joint property OF Merlno's
troupe, and began to practice But
five minutes completely exhausted
him, he shut his piano. and in a sort
81 despair stretched himself at full
length on the hearthrug.
u don't know what Is going TO hap
pen 10 mel" he thought to himself
with tho misery OF a thoroughly
healthy man for the first time at
tackled by serious illness But IL
am to sing ! can sing. that much is
certain; I'll at least die In harness"
Resoltuely driven back the crowd Oh
cares that surged in upon him, taking
advantage of his physical weakness
he lay in a sort Of enforced quiet
the quiet which can only come to q
good man we'll schooled In selfdis
cipline. He %as failing, and knew Il
all too we'll but he knew stlll better
that he was but unit In the great
army of One who cannot fail, knew
that
He
Alone may say. "Tis finished all and
very good.
We only do part, and partly we'll
And others come and mend it,
He must have dozed for a few min
ut%s, for on suddenly opening his
eyes he found that Nita had come
into the room, and was looking dowr
upon him with her beautiful. heartless
face, and once again that look of sup
pressed excitement which had painet
him 80 much at Birmingham.
You are ill?" she said. breath
lessly. You are not gsing to sin,
tonightY
He was on his feet In a moment
Certainly ] am going 10 sing" h.
said. "Mariani advised me not to &,
out this morning, 10 save up for tbs
opera. as have a cold coming ON.
Where Is Gigi?" she asked, viii
nervousness. which he hailed with
relief, Since the chiId's narrow es
cape from death she had certalnl,
learned 10 think much more of him
and that she should trouble hersel
as to his safety was something quit,
new.
''Gigi has gone over 10 Merlebaul
sith note. meant Ia have gone I,
see Miss Claremont but thought /
wiser to save M for Figaro sen
him over with Adamson; he'll tax,
great care OF him"
But here is Adamson coming dowi
the street alone. What can have hap
pened to the child? Way did 70,
send him."
Carlo was only TOO glad 10 be scolded
for every word revealed to him how
much she loved the child,
The discussion was soon ended b,
the arrival of the sceue-shif1er, with 1
message 20 the effect that Master Gig
"ds staying 10 lunch at Merlebank
and that Miss Ciarcmont would brinl
him back In the carriage that after
noon
Mia was pacihod end asked Carl,
TO accompany her while She practice,
new song. she seemed to forget hel
FIRST impression on seeing him. gui ab
sorbed in the music. and thought nc
more Of his possible illness, ana
Comer!o's possible advent. He wa,
relieved, and presently went down {,
luuvn with her, made "A feint Of eatins
somethins and heard with satsfac
ton that a plan was proposed fo,
hiring q brake and going GA 20 ID,
Taet-cuurse. since he knew that D.,