Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-04-21

She had now been at Merelebank
for many years, and had given TO each
of the children the 'nothering' they
so much needed. In person Glare was
| short and slight: she was an insigntf-
cant-looking woman, and took scant
pains with her dress. But all these
details were observed only by strang-
ers; to those who knew her she was
Just Glare" the one being In the
world whose sympathy was always
available, the only person who could
brighten up a dull dinner, or enter
tain stupid visitors. or find good
points In those whom the girls them
selves condemned as odiously vulgar.
All the troubles and anxieties of the
household gravitated by natural
law to the school-room. Glare would
sit by the fire in winter, or by the
open window in summer. and would
listen to Mr.. Britton's anxieties about
the children or to the grandmother's
grief about her failing eyesight, or to
Katfe's difficulties in her district, or
to the boys hopes and fears with re-
gard to examinations, or first loves
or vanished poeket-money. Her clear,
Ight-blue eyes could sparkle with fun,
or grow soft with pity, or become
thoughtful and patient, as she
weighed he pros and cons of some
puzzling question; she was the most
delightful of confidantes, and her wide
circle OF friends did not scrup.e 10
work her pretty hard. for Clare was
always supposed to Ike to hear every
ones woes Probably she really did
like it, and few went away from her
uncontrolled. for somehow YOU were
apt to leave the school-room feeling
as If she had removed Grape veil
from before your eyes, SO that the
most common and trivial matters Of
everyday life became far more inter
esting than You had imagined them
to be.
Late on that March evening Mr..
Britton. returning from Ashborough,
made all speed toward the school
room. and, as he had hoped, found
Clare still sitting over the fire read
ing.
"The children have all gone to bed"
she explained; Kate waited till half
PAST len. out she was tired with her
choir practice"
81 am glad to find you up. said
Mr.. Britton, for have a message to
you from an old friend OF yours, who.
to my great astonishement, proves. to
be in England
Not Francesca exclaimed Glare.
Her next dooa neighbor young Do
natl: he sends you his kind regards
and is very anxious to see you"
"Well. that is really a delightful
surprise" said Glare. Il should like
so much TO meet him again, for as a
boy he Interested me good deal.
What can have brought him to Eng
land?"
He has developed a voice and has
turned into an operate singer. Tha.
quite explains my brothers determira-
ton to have less to do with him for
YOU know the captain disappro' es Of
the stage as much as you do. How
ever. | think ! have managed to put
two and two together. and 20 form a
pretty shrewd guess as 20 Donatfs
reason for his sudden change of pro
feseion. 1t seems he las sister;
did YOU know herr"
she was being educated in a con
vent when I was in Italy, but saw
her once or twice. Poor grill she
made some very foolish marriage,
believe. not long after we came to
England never heard the rights OF
the story but | know she eloped with
some one"
"Oh, that was t. Well. she seems
to have paid dearly for her folly, poor
thing for her husband is a brute; a
more sullen. illteugered fellow |
never saw lie is the impresario of
this travelling company which Donati
has joined; the sister. Madame Mer-
limo. is the prima donna. Let me see
what did he call her? Nita, think -
THAT was her name. remember
her as a demre little girl, shocked at
Francesca's freedom.
We'll, she seems to be one of those
pretty helpless. unhappy wives who
stand in such grave need of pro
tecior. Now when was az Naples |
heard nothing at all about this sister,
hut on the Sunday Donaii was intro
dueed to me by my brother as one of
| the most promising young advocates
at the Neapolitan bar. and his praises
| were sung to me in way which ! own
rather r.emdiced me against him. |
| couldn't help liking the fellow when
saw him. however: and YOU can i'm
agine my surprise when on the Tues
lay morning, found that my brother
had quaueled with him, and that
their friendship was at an end. He
/ had decided ON some course OF action
which tie captain disapproved, and
said you would also disapproye. How
ever the matter was a private affair
/ Of ponajis and he bound me over 10
silence, telling me- however. that |
should soon see al for myself and
should then agree with him, got
quite on a wrorg track, and thought It
was some political difference but