Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-02-17
knight Grant
BY EDNA LYALL


said sardoni. q should no. have
thought you would prove such cool
hand"
"Ah, well! it is the first battle OF
the campaign" said Carlo. with a
laugh Let no man boast till he has
been under fire"
per diOl no battle. but triumph,
said the dresser, as he left the room.
BEST wishes for your success, sig
nor"
Carlo thanked him, and began in a
practical matter-of-fact way to study
The construction Of the sword which
had to break in two at the challenge
OF Mephistopheles. Sardoni, to amusc
him, told him stories of various stage
contretemps, and was just mar"eling
at his companions perfect composure
when Donati suddenly started forward
and gTasped his arm.
They have begun the Kermesse
| Chorusi' he gasped.
And then at last the realization
broke upon him: he was. after all,
Carlo Donati, novice, with terri
BILE ordeal before him, and failure
would mean ruin. All recollection Of
his part seemed to leave him He
looked distrGcteA.
Come and wait at the wings" said
Sardoni, "and take a look at the audi
ence. You are sure to do well. Keep
up your courage, AMIGO milo"
III II were only fame which de-
pended on 1t, or only myself" he
faltered "but to fail means the ruin
Of all our plans"
You will not fail--you will succeed,
and your plan too; 1t deserves to.
Comet"
With kindly persistence he took
his arm and drew him toward the
door. The noise without seemed to
bewilder Carlo, the orchestra, even
at that distance, sounded deafeningly
loud in his ears; the clear, joyous
chorus Of the citizens seemed to mock
his wretchedness; he dragged himself
J on in obedience to Sardoni, who
took him to the green-room, where
they found Anita ard meslino. Nita
was crying. and wtping away her
tears with anxious care lest they
should make too much havoc with her
rouge.
Here Is my wife more upset over
your debut than she was over her
own" said Merlino. more pleasantly
than Carlo had ever heard him speak
before Come. Eitf see what a fine
figure he cuts as Va ,ntino You may
well be proud OF him
Carlo glanced dow at her, vaguely
noticing her whit, dress, her long
plated hair. She did not make up
we'll as Margherita. and he dreaded
acting with her because she recalled
to him the terrible stake for which he
was playing.
Give me your good wishes, Nina
mia" he said; and then. Disguised to
find how his voice trembled. he turned
away and followed Sardonl to the
| crowded wings Sick and dizzy he
looked out across the crowded stage
with its skillfully-grouped soldiers
apd students and citizens to the sec,
ton OF the house which could be seen.
His breath came in short, quick gasps,
and his fingers played nervously with
| sword-hilt SardoH felt intensely
curious TO SEQ how he would get
through his task
Mesticr Divini Mestier DivInu
shouted the soldiers. and Carlos I'm
gers frightened on the sword. He be-
came at last able TO think of moth
ing but that the chorus was drawing
nearer and nearer to an end and that
at the close would come that dead si,
lence in which he. Carlo Donal must
cross the stage and either fail or sue
coed His dresser approached him.
The charm. signor! You have 1t
all right?'
4 have It, thank you. he replied.
and uuclasped his hand. where the
medal burned like fire.
1T will soon be over, said Sardoni.
cheerfully.
II know" he gasped, his lips A.
most refusing to frame the words
oh said { ''pui. II meant the or
deal not IL etrus. Look to yourI
goal; that's the ally way with high
Jump or with this sort Of business
II was ali y well to talk of look.
Ing TO the Z, but just then CarloI