Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-11-10

1 4
! Beautiful" echoes Jeanne, In
whisper; and in her eyes shines tn
shadowless happiness which knows n
past. To her the spring brings nj
memory of sorrow, or bitterness, 0
Disappointment. --he cannot tell why
but that spirit of unrest which feI
upon her an hour ago has vanished
and she feels at peace. did / no
tell you that Newton Regis was Lowell.
in the spring?" she says to Vernon
I'vane; but wait for the summer"
THE summer" he says, looking
far away ahead. "Yes-perhaps-
am afraid l may not be here in New
ton Regis to see the summer"
He speaks, as she has done, almos
in whisper. and for a momen
Jeanne does not realize the meaning
of his words; then suddenly shs
comes down from the stars, and turns
her face.
1t is not pale. it does not fiush-il
is simply startled and wondering, as
if she had suddenly heard the solemn
stroke of great bell. She looks al
him with this awakened, half-horrified
look while one could count twenty;
then her head droops and she says in
measured accents and her words drop
ping low and distinct:
Are you going, them"
Vernon Vane looks down modify,
with his hands thrust into the pockets
of his dress overcoat. He has not
seen that sudden, startled look, he
does net note anything but the slow,
sweet accents of the musical voice.
Yes, | think So" he says. why
should stay?"
He puts Inc question to himself, ex-
pecting no answer, but she answers:
Why I do not know. You are
tired of Newton Regis-you have been
| here"
She hesitates.
-Four months, about" he says.
-Four months--is it so long?" she
says, with innocent wonder; II did
not think it was so long"
1T has not seemed long to me-" he
says, and he bites his mustache.
BY this time the volatile Hal has
dashed on In front, and is trotting
fully a couple of hundred yards ahead,
And yet 1t must have been so dull
to you, who have seen and done so
much. Well, 1t has been rest for
you, has 1t not?"
"A rest!" he echoes, and there is a
touch of self-mockery in the words.
"Yes-that is what came for, but
Gke most people, have not found ex-
actly what / sought"
Jeanne glances at him with a
strained, puzzled look on her sweet
face.
Have you been-unhappy here?'
she asks, in low voice.
Unhappy and happy he says;
but ne-er so happy as / am tonight,
Jeanne"
He speaks her name-the musical
Normandy name-unconsciously, and
his voice grows more gentle.
A faint flush lights Jeanne's pale
face for a moment. The name has
struck her with strange, sad pleas
ure that she does not understand, but
is still pleasure.
81 am sorry." she says, simply. u
did not know"
You thought all the world was as
innocent and happy as yourself" he
says. with a frown. ut is not so.
That world which you are so anxious
to enter is not the happy, joyous
place you deem It. I, who know III
well. tell you so, I--but-" heI
breaks off as he happens to glance al
her face and catches the questioning
trouble upon it; u am raven, and
you must not be frightened at my
croaking--and listen-there is some
thing better to listen to- and he
holds up his hand.
It is the nightingale, which, star
tied into song by Halls whistle. sends
a flood of melody through the night,
The music softens the man; it sets
the girls delicate lips quivering, and
fills her eyes with newfound tears.
Eyes, l must co." he says presently.
AS you say, have had my-rest,
and must be on my pilgrimage again.
And yet--and yet, Heaven knows am
sorry to go!"
Are you so--sorry?" says Jeanne, |
sorowfully incredulous. "Well, Hal
will be sorry
"Ah, Hall" he says.
DO not laugh at him." she says,
simply "Hal is only a boy, but he
mas warm heart, and You have
taught him to grow fond of you"
Il did not laugh" he says, gravely.
II hope Hal will not forget mel
shall not forget him.
He win not forget you, says
Jeanne; che scarcely thinks of any
one else, and that is natural, seeing
how kind you have been to him. No,
he will not forget you, long after you
have forgotten him and Newton
Regis"
He turns TO her sharply. almost
hercely, with some word on his lips,
but checks himself.
Jeanne he says, after a pause,
When you were looking over the
portfolio which lent Hal, you asked
me the meaning Of the sketch of the
girl sitting thinking, with her face in
her hands, with the line beneath;
Which shall | choose2"