Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-01-13
Knight Grant
By EDNA LYALL

Britton himself. Almost dlspasslob-
atelv he began to consider that big.
broad. massive figure. that bluff.
weaiher.beaten face, with its calcuiat-
ing far-saeing eyes and wide mouth.
Genial and friendly as he had hitherto
thought the captain to be, he had
never given him credit for much re-
fin ment Of feeling; he had known
well enough that the Eanalishnoan
soupd II wxrv ss.e - -nals@ advance
for anything outside his own circle;
he had long been fain to admit in
his own heart what be would never
have admitted, even to EnricO Ritter
that there was in FraAcesca's father
a slight but unmistakable vein Of Vul
gritty. 1t was, then, only too natural
that the captain should fail to under
stand the present state Of things, and
so failing, should supply hideous mo
tives for so unaccountable a step
Oh. yes, 1t was patural enough. He
ought to have been prepared for it,
But the perception Of this brought
him no nearer to forgiveness.
The night was now far advanced,
but sleep was out of the question in
his present state. He began to roam
through the house, considering what
things he should save from the
sale; some we're too precious to be
lost. end mast be left 10 Enrico's
keeping; some we're small enough to
be preserved as souvenirs OF home,
to be taken away on bis wanderings.
Gong up to his bedroom. his eye fell
at once upon his fathers sword.
which hung above the mantel-piece,
and beneath Il a childish device Of
his own, a golden shield. and upon it.
In red letters, the name Of each bat
tie In which the sword had been used.
"Aspromonte." in large letters curry
ing up to the left and right to meet
the shape OF the shield, shone out
conspicuously.
I'm not be parted from that he
said to himself n thrill Of loving
reverence passing through him and
killing the anger and hatred Il
shall, perhaps, need a sword in my
stage wardrobe and so, after all, this
win b. needed to protect Nita. It
would secu like Dissertation TO the
captain TO use 1t on the stage, yet it
will surely be my own fault II il Is
less honorable than at Aspromonte
HIS thoughts wandered back to
that last vividly remembercd scene
boside his fathers death-bed and a
glow of eager devotion warmed his
heart as he pledged himself anew to
keep that promise, to go forth bravoly
as the knights OF old IN defense Of
The weak and the tempted, to live the
life of the Crucified
Then. like lightning. It suddenly
flashed upon him how grieyoasly he
failed, Self had started to the front
even In his gelf.sacrihce; he had
borne but a few strokes from the en-.
envy and nj the first personal Insult
had thrown down his colors; reviled
he had reviled again; suffering. he had
threatened; wounded. he had sought
to wound In anguish he remembered
that flood of scathing words, that
fiery retort which had escaped him:
aud yet there was one who had borne
the worst possible insults In strong 81,
lence and he had vowed that he
would live His life. Instead. he had
stuff red himself 10 he overcome by an
unjust Judgment, TO be maddened by
n few words spoken by man who
had also yielded TO the same devil of
pride and anger. How was he to
face the difficulties of life In Merlinos
troupe when 1t the very outset his
temper had betrayed him? In bitter
grief and slf-reproach he had To
learn as all of us have to learn that
We must be humbled utterly in our
own conceits before we can be peace.
makers
After awhile he was seized with that
strong desire to start afresh which
comes 80 every wounded soldier.
whether he fights In the legions oil
the Seen or tho Unseen His share of
the wrong must first be set right
that WAS aa clear as it was hard HeI
doubted II he could bring himsetlf toI
do 1t, but he went so far as to gol
down to the salotto take out his desk,
and sit down with pen and paper be
fore him, And ut length, Just as faint
golden streaks appeared IN the hori-
&on heralding the day, the letter was
flushed aud the struggle over.
Carlo cOurd not rest till he had
done all that could be done. so bel
went cut into the cold dawn, and max.
Ing his way 70 the Case BELLA. dropped
his missivc in the letter box Then
when MI VAS over. when he knew
that for the last time he was leavingI
the honse which contained all chat
he loved. his desolation suddenly
broke upon him Wrath had stilled|
grief. hat now that his anger had
PASSED Grief claimed him for her
own His betrothal was at an end
francesca was no longer his; even a
farewell was denied him With heart.
broken wonder he maryelei how it
WAS that only now did hc FULLY take
lu he idea What WAS Captain Brit
ton: What We're all the Insults In
tho world before The one bitter. desc
'ating fact mat he was parted tro,a
his love-
How he got home he never knew.
. 4uf H., tau,,. 81 ,..,,,,.,,.,i. Il, a.. H.,