Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-11-24
BARRIERS BETWEEN
By CHARLES CARvICE
By CHARLES CARvICE

very long he had caught up his hat
and was starting to plead his love
with Aunt Jane.
Just as his hand was on the gate,
however, the postman came down
the street, pulled ~ short, and, with
touch of his hat, gave him let
ter.
Vernon Vane glanced at it, and was
thrusting it carelessly in his pocket.
when. as if by a second thought, he
took 1t out again and opened it.
For a few lines he read hurriedly.
humming the while; then suddenly
the air ceased, and he looked thought
full, and at last he hurried back into
the house, and with the letter in his
hand, fell to pacing the room.
1t was not very long letter and it
was not in a lady's handwriting.
This was it:
My Dear Vane:-I write this, though
not feeling at all sure, with my
knowledge of your sublime indiffer-
ence to correspondence, whether you
will read 1t, or indeed, If 1t will reach
you; for, If know my man, you have
fancy. grown heartily sick of playing
the recluse and the mysterious visi-
| tor of Newton Regis, and have left
that delightful but dreary spot for
fresh fields and pastures new.
Where are you now, wonder? the
Nile the Hartz mountains, or up on
the lochs with a salmon-rod glued TO
your wrist?
am still in this COMPOUNDED Paris
for the best Of all reasons--that /
don't see any use, at present, of going
anywhere else.
Don't pitch this letter into the fire,
under the fe arful impression that /
am going to bore you with an account
of all my dolngs, good and bad. Sc
riously. have been trying to amuse
myself, and should have succeeded
better If had not missed your sweet,
grunting, cynical growl. IN like a
man who has grown fond of dane.
ing bear and lost him We've had a
pretty good gathering lately, and
among 'em-who do you think?
None other than the divine Lucille
herself? The last captive of her bow
and spear, the old duke, accompanied
her, and remained just a month. He
has gone no ore knows where. They
parted. il is said. in a rage, and all
Is broken off; whether that is true or
not, I don't say.
1t is rumored that the divine LII
celle few into one of her RACES, told
him she was tired of him, and that
she could not marry a man, even a
duke, with false teeth He has gone,
at any rate, and here she is, as beau
tiful and as popular as ever. There
are three italian counts, a French
marquis, and an English baronet at
swords drawn on her account. and as
usual she looks as innocent and Sc
rene as a sucking dove. | tell you
this. not because l think you are at
all interested in her-oh, dear. no.
I'VE have cured that wound" Of
course, but because her ladyship men.
toned to me---to whom she is sVeeter
than honey-~that she was going next
month to Leigh's. If remember
rightly won't be sure---you know
my sublime ignorance of my native
land-that the Leigh's place is within
a score of miles of your present her
mitage, aud you might run against
her.
Perhaps 1t would not be convon.
lent to have your real identity pro
claimed to the simple and conflding |
of Mudcum-sloper-I beg
your pardon. mean Newton Regis
She leaves here In about FIVE weeks
timer so you have plenty of time to
pack up your traps and decamp. that
s If you do not care to remain in the
hear vicinity of the divine Lucille,
Seriously, there is still danger, old
nan, She has mentioned your name
NICE or twice, in that deliberately
'areless tone which means mischief
With her. OF course l don't know
where yea are any more than the man
n the moon. But she doesn't believe
ne. If you are not quite cured, run
or 1t, or by the living lingo, she'll
AVE you yet! This is a long letter
nd has nearly killed me; but I'll be
worn you won't give me thank
GU" for it. Such is friendship! II
-ou decide to run. come over here,
nd Wen go on to Germany for some
shing. Can't write any more.
Charlie Hamilton.
This was the letter and Vernon
'ane eyed it very gravely. and, with
decided touch of annoyance, he fold
d 1t sharply and thrust it in his
'ocket.
Twenty miles from here" he nut
cred; 'It would not be safe to risk
t. A word from her would spoil
veil, my whim, and | have set my
cart upon carrying it out. wonder
they would give me my Jeanne so
oon--ah!" and at the thought an
ager light fell on his face. Strange
low impatient feel to make her my
wn--and yet would trust her for q
poor little Jeanne!"
SO he tried to sIsmiss the letter.
nd started again, and again was
topped-this time by the appearance
I the new viscount, who was pelting
own the street on his bay horse.
'hen. catching sight of Vernon Vane's
talwart figure, he pulled up at the