Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-26

Ing hopefully OF the future. some
mention or inc hospital brought Mr..
Britton to the bedside.
THE doctor says you may be
nursed at my house he said, kindly
Il couldn't think OF allowing you to go
to the hospital. Miss Claremont is
longing to have you at Merlebank."
And then to silence the Italians
thanks and doubts and evident wayer-
ing. he bent down and whispered a
few words In his ear. For Frances
cas- sake you must not refuse me- >
They were interrupted by a sup
pressed sobbing from the other side OF
the bed. and found that Gigi was sit
ting in a disconsolate little heap on
the floor. crying as though his heart
would break.
Put him up here, Jack, by me, {"
said Carlo. What is 1t. GID? are you
hurt?''
oh, don go away from me-" sob
bed the child Don't leave me so all
alone"
Let him come to Merlebank, too, -
said Mr.. Britton. who was apt to make
kind-hearted offers without at all con
sulting Kate or the household ar
rangements.
you are very good. but he ought to
be with his mother said Carlo, after
a minutes thought. 1t cost him much
to send away the little fellow, put he
i-paup that An;fa nod raal1,, kao,,u fo
care for him. and hoped that the
child might prove her greatest safe.
guard. Mr.. Britton guessed as much,
but of course there could be no expla,
nation to Gigi himself, TO whom the
refusal must have seemed barbarous.
He sobbed pitifully.
Look, milo caro-. love you dearly
and would like you to have this time
in the country" said Carlo, drawing
the child close to him; but in some
ways it is better not. Say, do you
love me a little bit?"
Yes, yes, sobbed Gigi, clingiug to
him
Then will you stay here 10 please
me. and help the mother, and run err
rands for them all when you can, and
write me long letters" He broke
of, unable to say another word.
"Carino' said the child, with a
depth of love and tenderness in his
tone. Then, as Sandoni told him how
i'll Carlo was, 81 will be good-good,
and, choking back his tears, he slid
down from the bed and sat like a sor
rowfm little statue on the edge OF
his portmanteau,
NJ. Britton. anxious that no more
time should be lost. hurried TO his of
fee TO telephone to Merlebank for The
landau and In an hours time he was
back again to help all the arrange
ments
The patient seemed a little easier
both in mind and body. though appar.
emily no one but Sardoni had seen
him. and there was no change as to
his substitute.
AT the Last moment Madame Mer.
limo came to say goodbye to him, ex
pressing very prettily her thanks to
Mr. Britton for saving her brother
FROM the hospital; but she seemed
particularly anxious not TO be left
alone with the invalid, and apparently
no words passed between them.
When they parted, however, he drew
her face down to his and gave her a
lingering kiss. and Mr.. Britton no
ticed that as she raised her head her
eyes were full of tears. What was
the meaning of IL all. he wondered?
Had she. after all. heart? Did Car
o's silence appea to her when his
words had failed or was 1t that his
manner had somehow conveyed a
confidence and trust in her higher ma
ture which had weakened it from long
sleep?
There was not much time for re-
tlectiou, for just then the doctor ar
rived to superintend the removal Of
the patient and before long Mr.. Brit
ton had taken leave OF the various
members OF Merlino's troupe. who had
become known 10 him during this lit
tie episode. and was driving home
with his new guest.
People seem to have a notion that
20 be III means to be more or less
free from temp'ation; that with physi.
chi weakness comes spiritual strength:
and thar If the sick are in some ways
10 be 2itled they are in other respects
to be very mach enyied As matter
OF fact however. this idea is cruelty
false. No hea'thy.minded active man
ever found 1t easy to be laid aside
ever submitted without q fierce strug.
gle to the humiliation OF dependence
and bodily weakness Far from nee
essarily becoming saints during i'll
ness, the bravest and best of men
often find 1t as much as they can 10
to be even deceutjy patient. and know
only too wei the mental misery of
the time
When the senSuous frame
rach'd with pangs that conquer
trust
ihe fat,h Which bad come 70 Carlos