Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-02-10
knight Grant
By EDNA LYALL


Yves, and I find it hard to forgive
you" said Enrico.
TO forgiven" echoed Carlo. ques-
tionaIly
YES, to forgive. You have falsi-
fed my pet theory said the egoist.
Here. give me one of your cards,
and I'll tell You in two words what l
think of you"
Carlo, not without a pang, as he re-
membered row at first sight of those
copper-plate words. Advocate Carlo
Poerio Donati," he had felt himself
the happiest man In Naples, handed
the card to his friend, and EnricO,
crossing out the Advocate" scrib-
bled above It the words. 'KnightEr-
rant"
Sardonl glanced at It with smile.
You couldn't lave put the case
more tersely." he said, rising to go,
because he thought the two friends
would rather talk cut the matter
alone. But before he turned he
glanced searchingly at Carlo, and
again surprised on ais face the look
which had perpIexed him before.
Does the fellow actually take
pleasure in giving up his life to the
service Of that chit?" he thought to
himself as he walked away IF ever
there was a commonplace, uinterest-
ing woman in the world, 1t Is Anita
Merlino; she'll not even have the
grace to be grateful to him"
Later on, in the afternoon of the
following day. Carlo, returning from
a long lesson with Piale, happened to
meet, in the Piazza MunicipiO, q hand
some English sailor whose face
seemed familiar to him. He glanced
hastily at the name embroidered on
his Jersey, and read the word Pilgrim.
With a great hunger in his heart TO
know Francesca's whereabouts, he
turned and accosted the man.
so the Pilgrim is still here" he
said, oourteously, when does she
leave?"
Tonight, sir said the sailor, look.
ing pleased at the recognition. Cap
tain Britton and the young ladies'
came on board an hour ago. and we
are only waiting now for the caterer,
and there he comes yonder."
Carlo. glancing round, saw another
OF the yachts crew. blufflooking,
elderly man, whose duty was to buy
tba food for hia matea
We shall sail now as soon as we
get on board. sir" said the coxswain.
Can take any message for you?"
None, thank you" said Carlo, and
bidding the a courteous farewell
he turned gu sky away. Hurriedly
he walked toward the Strada Nuova
and looked across the blue waters of
the bay There was the Pilgrim,
anchored to the Military Mole, her
beautiful white sails all set, and only
waiting for the return of the dingey
to raise anchor. Carlo saw the little
boat threading its way between the
vessels in the harbor, saw it round
the yacht and disappear, then de
serted Oxenberrys 1.-THE figure spring
ing on board For a feT minutes all
seemed haste and confusion; he could
hear the rafting Of chains. ana could
even make out the figure of the stew
ard seated on the capstan with his
cmcertina, while the sailors heaved
up the anchor swinging merrily round
to the familiar strains Of the
"Shanty." Their hearty voices
reached him even ut that distance,
and he remembered how as a child
Francesca had proudly taught him to
sing the "Shanty" with a proper Eng
lish accent Fragments of the words
seemed now to float across to him,
and the tears started to his eyes.
"Hurrah, my lads! we're homewatd
bound,
We're homeward bound Cor Plymouth
Sound:
TIP with the sail and of goes she
HLIrah. my lads hurrah, hurrah'"
The cheerful old tune seemed to
him now like n dirge--the dirge for
his old life which was passed and
over. the dirge for his betrothal so
swiftly ended
All at once his heart began TO
throb wildly, for he saw IA slim. dark
figure come on deck. with a white
shawl wrapped about the head and
shoulders Francesca stood with her
face turned toward him. looking to
the shore and away from n, bl':ne
sailors. whose merry scng, perhaps.
brought to her rdnd the very
thoughts It had suggested to Carlo
He gazed on hardy knowing whether
The sight comfcrted or tortured him.
but, in any cGse, unable to move.
unable for one instant TO relax the
strain
~ .s, the song ceased, the chain
ratified no more. the Yacht began 20
move. and Francesca shifted her posi-.
ton little but stu kept aloof from
the rost, still gazed shoreward Aud
thus she remained while the summer
wind filled the white sails. aud the
Pilgrim glidcd OUT OF the harbor
gently. proudly but rc|enflcssly. moy.
ill., out Seaward
To the very last his eyes rested on
her ,ilI the slim black figure became
Nero speech In the distance. and
finally was lost 90 sight He fingered
a.