Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-03-24

] WHefe III the NOriu are We gong
asked Carlo, looking perplexed.
By this time they had reached the
station. and for reply Sardoni handed
him his railway ticket. This con
yeyed to him nothing at all, and IN
| silence he followed his friend TO q
smok.ng-cariage and, knowing intui
lively that Sardoni did not care to
talk, lit a cigar and gave himself up to
the enjoyment of the beautiful wooded
country through which they were
passing.
sardoni watched him silently.
after all, 1 doubt whether he'll
make any impression on them" he
thought TO himself Now. # he were
stiff, churchy-looking fellow, with a
cross on his watch-chain and the IS
celtic type of ace, there might be sfyme
good in his coming; or, On the Other
hand, If he were one of your priggisf
looking. truly-pious young men, then
might gain a sort of reflected re-
spectability But there's no classify
ing Valentino. he won't fit any of the
| conventional notions. Imagine my
father here at this moment; what
would be seen in him? Merely very
handsome Italian in delightful easy
reprehensfbly on a Sunday afternoon,
idly enjoying the scene'v and CT
gar. Ana yet that fellow is hero, ii
| there ever was one, and a saint OF
the real sort and no mistake.
could wish for this one afternoon TO
shake him into the goody-goody mold
though; that. at any rate, has the
merit Of catching the eye Of the re-
spectacle and virtuous and getting a
good deal more credit than it deserves.
Now, Valentino, looked at casually.
might be anything | believe If he
thought more highly of himself he
would get the credit he deserves, but
confound 1T, he never seems to think
They got out at a small way-side
station, and, making their way up a
steep hill. found themselves on a
wide. deserted-looking common, where
here and there a solitary horse or COW
grazed. and where the mingled heather
and gorse, set like jewels in the
smooth green of the turf, unioosed
Carlos tongue.
How beautiful he exclaimed; Il
never saw anything like 1t before"
Sardoni seemed pleased by his ad-
miration
"You see we have something be-
side chimney-pots in England he
said, with a laugh Look there"
And he pointed to the rugged and
rather Withholding rills In the back
ground These. however, seemed to
be much less to Carlos taste than the
smiling common. with It's near beauty
and its glow of rich warm color. He
did not care much 10 look at them,
but the narrow winding lane into
which they sooned passed charmed
him. and he seemed to find pleasure,
which quite amused Sardoni, in the
high hedges with their tangled growth
of blackberry bushes. travellers Joy,
and red hips and haws.
~ hedge like this is quite a nov
city to me" he said. we have moth
ing of this sort Do you know this
part of the country well?'
II know every inch Of the ground.
said Sardoni Down there to the
right is the village-look; you can
just see the churchtower through
those trees"
He leaned over field gate and
gazed down on the little country place
with softened look in his eyes
which Carlo was quick to note.
This is Sardoni's old horne" he
thought to himself; but he only said,
'Tt is a perfect little place, just like
the English villages l have read of.
I'm glad you brought me out here"
we cross this field" said Sardoni,
not quite In his natural voice. Il
don't want TO pass through the viii
lage. for some one Is sure to recog-
niza me. This Is where | used to live,
you know"
And you are going home?'
SaI Ion nodded. Just at that mo
ment he could not have spoken a
word to save his life.
Carlo. too was silent. but his 81
lence was perfect sympathy. 1t was
the Englishmau who first broke the
pause.
1T 5 your doing, old fellow!" he
said, rather huskily Il should never
have come II 1t hadn't been for you,
He did not explain himself aud
Carlo asked no questions only looked
glad and SURPRISED; and quickly put
ting himself in Sardonts place. said;
let me wait for you here, you
had better he alone"
No said Sardoni with forced
laugh Alone. there is no knowing
what might do. must have you.
Valentino. to keep me up TO 1t, can
assure YOU ttert1l be none of the
fatted-calf business. I'm nothing
a disgrace e them and this is the
hardest days work I've had for an
age
GlaC Carlo was at his friend re-
solve t. seek out his people. he was
sorely perplexed as to the part he
hin self was to play. Naturally
enough he felt that be would be very
much De trop In family recon ella