Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-06-30
have TO keenn

have to keep"
A great lump arose in Hates throat
as she remembered how foolish and
disagreeable she had been to him on
the day when Francesca's letter had
arrived, and had made him so absent
minded.
And tea, / suppose, is not good be-
fore singing" she replied, putting
forth the first platitude that came into
her head.
NO, he said, with a smile which
vas who ly pleasant and had no sus-
picion Of sarcasm. There are a few
things which ,ausr be renounced even
by the Neros who fiddle while Rome
is burning!"
The genuinely humorous look in the
eyes which but a little while ago she
had seen full Of tears, touched Kate;
she felt half choked, and her usually
ready words faljered.
Il want to beg your pardon for say
ing that" she began hesitatingly; 81
don't really know anything about stage
! life-I-I---" (the admission was
hard to make) have never even been
inside a theater, only somehow one
gets in the way Uf picking up other
peoples notions and echoing them
without really finding out the truth.
I had no right TO say such thing,
hope you will forgive me"
His warm-hearted Italian reception
Of the apology a little overwhelmed
her, and she was glad that the en-
trance of Glare ard the girls made the
talk more general.
THE English seem to have a rooted
idea that an actor must be danger
GUS sort of fellow, and they generally
look askance at foreigner said
Carlo Il don't think there are many
Mer, ebanks ready to befriend fog
stricken singers. and I assure you /
have become well accustomed to be-
ing regarded as a sort Of dynamite, to
be kept at a safe distance"
"'The effect of Puritan traditions"
said Clare. "But there is certainly
something in the argument that now
the stage is 50 greatly improved the
attitude toward it ought TO be changed
am not sure. Carlo. that in the end
you may not convert me-
ct is not | who ought TO convert
you, but the many English actors and
actresses now living, who by their no
be efforts to raise the drama, and by
tbof,. ruyy ,,,,ro and ,,rrinbt li,ae r,iv,o
the lie to the old view which the Puri-
tans were no doubt quite warranted in
holding, Or if you win not be con
yerted by the living, at least study the
lives of the dead; think of such a
man as Phelps, such a woman as your
Mrs. Siddons!"
The talk was interrupted by an alb
rupt question from Molly:
What car have become of Fran
cesca? l never knew her late for tea
before"
Kate felt herself coloring, but was
relieved when Carlo quietly turned
off the remark.
Don't you think she may be finish
ing her sketch in the church?' he said
"Oh, yes" said Molly. quite satisfied
and perhaps she will stay on and
hear them practice the anthem for to-
morrow. 1t is our yearly festival to-
morrow, you know. BY the bye, Kate.
have you done the ,vases?"
Yes" said Kate snatching up al
biscuit, and crossing the room to feed
Beyis. that her burning cheeks might
not attract notice.
francesca did not appear till dinner
time Kate glanced a. her then appre-
hensiyely, and saw thai she had not
been nearly so uccessful as Carlo in
getting rid of al t-aces of her emo
ton 1t must have been patent to any
one with eyes in his mead that she had
been crying: and Harry, with the in
convenient candor which cousins and
brothers often exhibit, commented
across The table on her appearance.
To be continued.