Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14

tel me whether You come back on the
Sunday or Monday, and ! will meet
you al the station. Monday will be
all right, if you don't want TO call a
special rehearsal after the pleurisy
bur as I'm sure you could do Valen.
tino in your sleep, / don't see that we
need be bothered with that II you
are at the Yicarsge. you might men.
ton that we sail in September, and
that could spare a few days in Au-
gust If they would like it. Gigi sends
afectionate messages by the yard. He
talks of little else but your return.
Ever yours,
Sardonl.''
Once again Caro- and Francesca
kept their Whitsuntide together. 1t
had fallen earlier than on the previous
year. and it was no small comfort to
| Carlo that his last day at Merlebank
should have CHANGED TO be that quiet
Sunday, when he was able to walk
through the sunny grounds to church
with Francesca, and later in the day
TO have a long. quiet talk with her as
to the future. OF Mr.. Kavanaghs
kill-Or-cure verdict he would not allow
her to hear a word she was quite
anxious enough about him already.
and Glare agreed with him that there
was no need to mention it. But the
doctors verdict troubled kind-hearted
Mr.. Britton; and when on the Monday
morning the carriage was announced,
and all the family met together in the
iall 10 wish Carlo goodbye, he
watched with deep sympathy the si-
lent hand-shake that passed between
the lovers, They both tried sol
brayely to keep up appearances, that
Mr. BrittOn was touched with com
passion and drew Francesca aside into
his study. If the work should indeed
prove 100 much for Carlo, Francesca
would never see him again. Hel
would at least give them the comfort
of less public farewell; the captain
might p ssibly be yexed but Mr.. Brit
ton was willing to risk something for
the niece who was almost as dear to
him as his own children.
"Donati." he said. Just come in
here one minute, will your" then, clos
ing the door after Carlo, he gave him
a little push on the shoulder. indicat-
ing that he should go across to Fran
cesca.
Carlo did not speak, but he gave
his host a grateful look, and Mr.. Brit
ton kindly turned his back on them
and began to make hay in the papers |
on his table, to unlock drawer with
a most unusual rafting of mis- keys, |
and to behave as a kind-hearted uncle |
should behave under the circum-
stances. Presently. crossing the room,
he opened the French window. signed
to francesca that she might beat a |
assembled family, then pioneered
Carlo through the hall to the carriage,
talking to him as if they were just
ending the discussion OF some bust
ness matter. There were manifold
lland-shakings, good wishes. regrets,
duC eHtTedJleS from FLO tDdt ne WOuiu
come again; but at last the ordeal
vas ever, Carlo was shut into the car
riage With Mr.. l}ritton. and was driven
rapidly along the dusty road to Ash
borough He was quite silent, and
sat gazing out at the green hedge
rows. seeing nothing. however. but the
inward vision of the woman he loved
Not til they had reached the town
did he dare to trust his voice, but a
sudden perception that the time left
TO him was short. reused his native
courtesy. and he tried TO thank his
host for all the great Kindness shown
TO him during his illness.
My dear fellow" said Mr.. Britton,
Il can only say That Z has been a
great pleasure TO have you. | look IN
you as my prospective nephew. You
know. though for the present we must
keep that hope TO ourselves"
To be continued.