Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-10-13
BARRIERS BETWEEN
By CHARLES GARvICE
By CHARLES CARvICE

give yOus MISS Jeduue-
Jeanne looks up with sudden sur
prise on her fair face.
Yes, that is my name" she says.
He mods.
Yes, know. I asked Mrs. R-Swn
last night You see l was curious"
you told her" begins Jeanne,
with barely-concealed scorn.
"Nothingl" he says, soIemnly; sim
ply asked who lived at the old red
house, and she told me. Was that
wrong?"
NO" replies Jeanne, musing.
And this then, is the artist who has
come to Newton Regis in the dead of
winter for some mysterious reason
known only to himself. Jeanne feels
all the curiosity OF her sex aroused.
1t is something to be walking beside
a real live artist; it is something to
have thrown a SNOWFALL down an art
lists neck. Somehow Jeanne is
vaguely disappointed. An artist ought
10 wear his hair long, look thin and
pale. and have a soft voice; her com
panion's hair is cut short as sol
dier's, he is broad-shouldered, his
voice is deep and strong, though quiet
and musical, and his face, though
rather haggard, is Leither thin nor
pale.
There is an eloquent silence, during
which they emerge from the wood,
and near the village. He is the first
to resume the conversation.
"A pretty wood, this; is 1t short
cut to the station?"
Yes" says Jeanne. ut is called
The Home Wood, because 1t is near
the village: there il forest on the
her side there" and she mods in the
direction of a dark outline of trees
THAT is beautiful. Perhaps you will
pain; the wood?'
Very likely" he says.
Then there is the river and the old
bridge, and the chapel on the hill;
that looks best by moonlight-you
must see it some night, and paint it,
, He looks down at her, struck by hel
frank candor.
q viii, by moonlight" he says. q
must get some one to act as guide"
"Oh, any one viii show it to you,'
says Jeanne.
Mrs. Brown" he suggests, with q
smile.
Jeanne laughs, softly.
Mrs. Brown couldn't climb the hill
nv brother will take you to it, 4
you like" she adds ingenuously.
Il shall be very glad" he says, #
he would not think it too much trou
! BILE"
ooh, Hal will not think it any trou
ble-and If he did, he would be only
too pleased to go If you will show
him some paintings. He is very font
of drawing"
And you?" he asks, concealing
smile at her naivete.
Yes" says Jeanne, so am 1; bu
Hal is passionately fond of painting
and can draw can't. I've tried, bu
my houses won't stand up straight
and my trees look like mops."
THAT is unfortunate he says
gravely.
Jeanne laughs. She has got ovel
her unwonted shyness and regainec
all her usual frankness. He seems
so very grave aud staid-though there
is not a hue of gray in his closely
cut hair--that 1t is like talking tt
Uncle John in his most lucid mo
ments
Isn't it?" she assents. But girl.
are very stupid, Hal says, and think
they are-don't your"
Yes" he says. gravely.
I Jeanne laughs her short, soft laugh
again, not at all offended at his
prompt and ungallant assent.
This is the PARK Lodge, she says
where the dog lives will take my
skates now, please"
Il will wait until YOU have got rid
of your interesting patient" he re-
joins. and opens the gate for her,
Jeanne runs into the lodge, and he
hears her clear young voice recount
ing the discovery and rescue of the
nomad, interrupted occasionally by
The whine of Master Terrier, who evil
IDENTIFY does not like losing his SOFT
couch on her nun,
Then she comes back, and finds him
leaning against the gate. her ska. IS
over his arm. his hands thrust in his
pockets. and with The same distracted
look on his face.
SEEING her. he slowly slips the
skates off his arm; as he does 50. the
village postman passes touches his
hat, and suddenly stops short. and
commences looking over his letters.
Mr.. Vane-Mr. Vernon Vane?' he
inquiries.
The stranger mods.
only one for you" SAYS the post
man, handing him a letter.
Mr.. Vernon Vane drops 1t in his
pocket, and hands Jeanne her skates.
Thank you" she says. Good
morning"
He raises his hat with a grave
smile, and strides away. TOO well
bred to accompany her, now that
there is no excuse for T. and Jeanne
follows after him more slowly, and
quite at her ease
1t never occurs to her that she has
been rather more free and communica-
tive with stranger and a gentleman
than is conventional In all the ways