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


A look Of perplexity came over the
maids face.
NO. sir; there's no one Of that
name living here" she replied.
What Is he gone, then?" ex-
claimed sardonL turning pale. The
viear-who is vicar now?'
"a1r. Stanley Is vicar now, said the
maid win you come in and see
master, sir? He could perhaps tell
you what you want TO know. You see
sir, I've only been here in this situa-
ton a few days myself, so / don't
know the names hereabout."
Thank you-no-I'll not come in, .
said Sardoni; and he turned away and
walked down the driv, again with
lever word
"Ar1ico milo" said Carlo, when he
ventured at last to break the silence;
what can l do for you? Shall I go
and make inquiries in the village?"
They had by this time left the vicar.
age garden. and were in the LITTLE
copses sardoni threw himself down in
the shade of an old elm-tree.
Il wish you would, old fellow" he
said, In broken voice.
CarIo was just about to go when it
suddenly occurred to him that he
should have to master that extraordin.
airy name which Sardoni had spoken
at the door.
TITS stupid of me- he said, but !
couldn't quite catch the surname
Say it over to me more slowly"
"Postlethwayte said Sardoni, not
turning his head.
"Postlethwayte, repeated Carlo
with infinite pains
Spite of his trouble, Sardoni laughed.
You'll not ask me to call you
that!' said Carlo, when, after many
practicings and corrections, he had at
length arrived at the right pronun-
citation.
No, it's too crack-jaw a name for
an Italian; besides, 1 prefer to go in
cog. with the troupe. But I'll not be
sardoni any more with you; call me
Jack"
"One thing" said Carlo, as he pre-
pared to go. How much am I to
ash p
ASK wnen my father left and why,
and where he has gone; but give no
reason for asking Don't let them
think you are my messenger"
Carlo promised to do his best. and,
taking the path pointed out to him
by Sardoni, made his way through the
quiet little churchyard and across a
stile into the village street. For a
moment he felt rather at a loss to
know how to proceed, and half afraid
lest the villagers might talk some
unintelligible patois; however, he
went boldly up to a group of big boys
who were idling about and asked
whether they could tell him where the
sexton lived. Their dialect puzzled
him not little, but he managed to
make out which house it was, and
walking through the pretty strip of
garden, with its hollyhocks and dab
las knocked at the door A little
bent old man, with a weather beaten
face and friendly but toothless smile,
opened it.
You keep the keys of the church,
am told. Am l permitted tc see it?"
asked Carlo.
Yes. sir; certainly, SIR mumbled
the toothless old man. Fine day.
sir! Step in a minute. win We, sir?"
Carlo stepped in, and found him
self in a snug little room which
smelled strongly of apples The old
man took a couple of large keys from
q nail, and then. with a great effort.
effort tried to reach his hat from a
peg on the wall,
ALLOW me- said Carlo, handing it to
him in his pleasant. courteous way,
Thank We, sir. said the old sex
ton turning a kindly look on the
handsome stranger. Time was when
that there hook warn't bit too high
for me--not a bit. sir; but what with
the rhematiz and old age, why be
agoin down as fast as my grand
childer be acomin up
You've been here long time,
dare say" said Carlo. feeling rather
lisc a detective.
Continued.