Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-11-03

and the drawing-room OF MIR. Lamb
toms huge brand new mansion Is !,
ablaze with light. flung down from
spring ng from the walls, from wax
candles on the gypsy tables. Mr..
Lambton and his family generally |
like tight and plenty OF it. They a'e,
indeed, iattsvr 100 fond of light things |
and the room n gorgeous and diz |
cling in mirrors ans g 1t frames, orla |
ments in ormolu, AID crimson plush |
Even the great piano-fort is OF white
enameled wood, lined out and deco
rated with gold. The yellow metal is
everywhere, from the ceiling to the
floor. and the result is, If gorgeous
and splendid, rather trying to the
eyes.
In this magnificent apartment are
collected the Lanbton family and
their guests, to-wit, the Honorable
Mr.. Fitzjames, Mr.. Bell, Jeanne and
HAL and lastly, none other than Yer
non Vane.
How it has come to pass that he is
here. leaning against carved man
tel piece and listening to Maud Lamb
toms falsetto he himself would have
been puzzled to explain.
At little distance from him sits
Georg ma, listening to Mr.. Fitzjames
Iisping some story of fashionable life,
and not very distant is Jeanne. Maud
and Georgina are in full evening
dress, looking very thin and very
SNOWY; Jeanne wears a plain frock OF
some soft material, covered by sim
pie muslin, through which her white
neck and rounded arms CLEAN softly.
Maud and Georgina's hair are ar
ranged in the latest Partisan fashion,
and frizzled and pulled: Jeanne's soft
silken bands are tightly coiled, and as
smooth as the natural ripple W II per
NIT. 1t is the same Jeanne. and yet
not the same Jeanne, who crouched in
the bow of the Nancy Bell, and quiv-
cred beneath the touch and the VIII. s.
pered words of the fisher-clad man,
who now leans so stalwart and dis
! MISUNDERSTANDING, listening to the
| last new ballad as weakly sung by
Miss Maud. Three weeks is not a
| lengthy period in ones life, and yet
Jeanne is changed. She is more 81
lent even than of old, and more
dreamy, and the wistful, questioning
look which visited her face for the
first time when Vernon Vale played
that song without words, is upon II
now.
Modern fashion has decreed that it
is not at all impolite to talk while an
other person is singing, and Mr.
Lambton, in scarcely subdued
voice, is talking now.
GLAD to see you at the Hall, Mr.
Vane," he says, in what he deems the
old English gentleman tone.
Vernon Vane, who has been looking
absently at the quiet Jeanne, awakes
and rather suddenly, but composedly
murmurs that Mr. Lambton is very
kind. Not at all-not at all" re
turns that gentleman, condescend
ingly. Always pleased to make the
acquaintance OF clever men. I'm an
admirer of art, Mr.. Vane, and like to
encourage it when l get a chance"
Vernon Vane inclines his head.
Bought good many pictures in
my time goes on Mr. Bambton. look.
Ing around the gorgeous room.
Some of 'em rather valuable, too.
fiatter myself. That there Rubens,
for instance and he mods to hide
GUS copy of one of that masters best
known works, which hangs upon the
glittering wall, and has been torturlng
Vernon Vane during the whole of the
time he has been in the room. That S
genuine Rubens; cost me a small
fortune, though | say it. What do
you say of that now?"
"A remarkable picture" he says,
grlmly.
"Jes, SO assents Mr.. Lambton,
complacently. "A remarkable pic
turc as you say; I've got lots of 'em
stuck about the place. Money amt
no object with me when / take a
fancy to thing. Let's have the best
AAAS~S an bhSB pay II lis HLNlCfSI
or sauce-pans-the best that money
can buy. That's my principle, Mr.
Vane, and when heard from my
daughters that you were an artist. Il
said: Invite him to the All; let's en-
courage art, We as can do it without
hurting ourselves
Very kind" says Vernon Vane
again, his eyes wandering from the
commonplace face of his vulgar host
to the quiet figure by the table
And. continues Mr.. Lambton, IF
you've got any pictures on your hands |
that's worth buying, I'll look at EN-.
know a good picture when | see it, |
Mr.. Vane," he adds. nodding his head
confidently. You won't sec no bad
ones in my 'ouse."
Vernon VAne glances around the
walls, and takes in the hideous copies
and still more awful originals with
which the apartment is adorned, and
maintains discreet silence Maud,
having arrived at the end of her bal
lad, rises with a modest shipper.
awaiting applause; and Vernon Vane
walks over to the table at which Hal
Is turning over the pages OF a scrap
book.
The boy looks up and welcomes him
l..