Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-12-08
By CHARLES CARvICE

have been trying to explain. Those
sketches ere not mine--they were not
, painted by me-"
Really" says Lady Lucille, with
well-feigned surprise; ARE they not7
And whose are they-your bfothers?"
NO." says Jeanne. they are Mr..
vane's."
''Vane'si What, Vernon vane's.
the s eat artist. whose pictures they
are all talking about?"
YES" says Jeanne, softly. with a
thrill of pride.
examining sketch. THE name is in
the corner And this" she says, TAX
ing up with interest the sketch at
which she had been looking when
taken by her little fainting attack
"and this is his, too? All lis? This
Is very pretty. Two young people
sailing in a boat-the Nancy Bell. 1t
says on the stern. The girl has a
lovely face-why, 1t is yourself"
Jeanne smiles assent.
"And the man, he is handsome
: enough, too, in that rough guernsey
and flsherman's nigntcap-very hand
some. May / dare to ask who he ISL"
THAT Is Mr. Vane," says Jeanne,
trying hard to keep the color out of
her face, and to look calm and self
possessed.
"The artist himself" says Lady Luz
celle. How charming! And he is a
, great friend of yours, Miss Bertram?"
YES" says Jeanne, the warm color
huctuates strangely.
"Ah," she says, your face tells
tales too readily, my dear Jeanne
, may call you SOFT is such a sweet
name. Your Mr.. vane is votre tres
I cher ami, Is he not?"
a Jeanne looks bravely.
: q am engaged to Mr. Vane," she
|, says, in a low voice.
Her ladyship's lips twitch, but she
= smiles so sweetly that surely If vane
: were here he would go on his knees,
: IL necessary, to be allowed to put it
, on canvas.
! II guessed It," she murmurs, look
q ing at the Nancy Bell riding over the
. bar, with Jeanne at the helm and Yer
non lying at her feet with his chin on
a his hands and his handsome face up
q turned to hers-'T guessed it; and
!, where Is Mr.. Vane now--does he live
hereY
i YES" says Jeanne. HE also finds
I. Newton Regis supportable."
1t is her first bit of sarcasm under
so much provocation.
"He is not at home today"
Il am SO sorr" says Lady Lucille
g You think me de and impertinent
o / know; oh, do : deny it, dear-but
one is naturally anxious to SEQ some
s of the famous men of the day. Well
!. may come over and see you-anc
3. him-next week; may II"
h Il am afraid" says Jeanne. "that
d we both--that he--that is
y She tries hard to be cool, to keeI
the color down, but the blue eyes are
>. so keenly fixed. on her face that the
attempt fails.
u Lady Lucille smiles-it is a queer
7. uneasy, apprehensive smile.
# Il see," she says; tell me-you are
o going to be married---isnt that so?"
= YES" says Jeanne regaining hei
d composure.
/ Lady LUCILLE smiles harder thar
ever.
s. when, dear? Am / not curious
and unpardonably intrusive? Wher
6 dear?"
It Tomorrow" says Jeanne.
a. Lady Lucelle's lips twitch. as 4
again some one struck her across the
=" face, which turns white; but she
I smiles-oh. she smiles rs swee+ly a:
T. ever.
: Tomorrow" she says. lightly, bu
: with harder ring in her voice. "ant
have come on the marriage eve
y Let me look at his face again; 1t is {
romance. Why" and she pauses. "dC
:. you know, think know your lover
1eanne?"
Jeanne opens her eyes to their wild
. est.
!. 'You!" she says.
:, Yves. /; oh, 1t is not strange" salt
= Lady Lucelle."I told you | was uset
= to artists: l went In for that sort o
- thing myself FIR time, until tn,
smell of the turpentine made me fee
faint. and the paint spoiled all m,
dresses. But Mr. Vane-how long ha
- he been here?--I should like to know
il 1t IS my Vernon vane."
six months" says Jeanne. smiling
i, as she thinks how we'll she remem
bers their first meeting.
:, six months muses. her ladyshir
"Yesl and what's he like-silent an
grim sometimes, and does he play an
sing like a musician. and-there /
the scar of saber-cut just above tn
" temple-ah," for Jeanne's face ha
" suddenly grown pale with surpris
AZ and mute wonder
~ How should any other woman know
u of that scar, which cannot be seen IN
~ til the thick, half-curling hair is LITE
as Jeanne has smoothed It aside ofte,
~ and often.
All" says her ladyship, and sh
leans forward, with her delicat
\. hands clasped tightly on the table
= and her eyes fixed on Jeannes. Isl
months! 1t is not long--it is com
: mendably short, even for a woman,