Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-12-15
CHAPTER XIV.

had LETT her, in the center OF the
room. about which still clings the deil'
cate perfume shaken from her lady
ship's delicate robes-Jeanne utterly
bewildered anu storm-tossed, asked
herself if it could possibly be true!
Then there arose BEFORE her the re-
membrance OF small. and at the time
unnoticed. incidents which had oc-
cured lately She remembered how
ON one occasion, Vernon had drawn a
rough sketch on a piece OF paper
which he had taken from his POCKET
and on which were stamped an slab-
crate crest and armorial bear ngs;
she had asked him at the time whose
hey we're. and he had answered so
oareIessly aud indifferently tina she
.ould not now recall the reply.
How vas it, too. that he never
spoke of the past but in strangely
guarded way, never alluded to his re-
lationa even in his loving converse
with her
was there not, also, something
mysterious in his visiting so I'M
known and secluded spot as New
ton Regis?
Could II be true?
Jeanne. pacing up and down, felt
that however much her ladyship mao
exaggerated in other matters, she was
true in stae ng that Vernon Vane, the
painter. was the Marquis of Ferndale.
If so why had he concealed his iden'
tity from her, from Jeanne VINO
loved nina 80 entirely, 50 passonately?
This question distressed her more
thtr the past had done-why had ne
not trusted her? Could 1t be for the
reason which Lady Lucille had as
signed2 Could 1t be because he was
so distrustful of the disinterested
love of woman that he wished to place
il beyond all doubt?
Teane's face flushed with sorrowful
indignation at the idea.
/ should have loved him, let hire
be what he might" she murmured.
why did he not trust me?"
Then came with painful intensity
that pang OF Jealousy which Lady Lu.
ceiies assertion of Vernon's love for
nor had aroused In Jeannes breast.
Had he really and truly loved her,
and grown tired of her?
Ieane's face grew pale, and her soft
lips auivered. II was a bitter ROW to-
her pure, sweet maiden 1--we, the
thought that another woma,l had lis
tened TO his low, musical words of
loge-that other lips rad received
The kisses which Jeann, had deemed
so entirely her own.
Jeanne was not a woman OF the
world; she was only girl under the
infuence Of her first. pure, passionate
love, and knew nothing Of the sophts-
tries with which women console
themselves when they find that their
lovers have llnelt at other aud earlier
shrtues She was so little Woman
Of the world. that she did not think
Tor a morlent of the worldly adyan
tages Which would accrue to her as the
wife OF a marquis.
What she wanted was her lover, not
coroneti and the knowledge that ne
had loved another woman before he
had won Jeanne's love was NORWOOD
and gall to her.
The dusk came creeping silently
down and found her still pondering
and chatting over the secrets which
had been revealed to her, and still I'M
decided what to do.
He--artist or marquis, whichever
he was--would be here in few hours.
How could she meet him with the old
light-hearted gayety-how could she
let him take her in his arms and kiss
her with the same freedom as OF old,
while this shadow would assuredly
creep in between them?
Surprising she told him of this
strange meeting with the iair-haired,
lovely woman of shion?-suppoging
she told him all that Lady Lucelle had
told her? What would happen?
This woman, who professed to have
known him longer and better than
Jeanne did, had said that he was a
creature of within and fancy. and that
he would cease to love the woman
whin II this were true, then--then
he might turn from her, and the
marriage might be broken OF!
Ieane's face blanched and her heart
stood still at the thought
should she chance it? or should she
maintain silence and keep this secret.
which was hers still, seeing chat he
had not disclosed IL TO her. but that
thts--this woman had done so, ma.
lidously, aud without the right TO do
toP
There were a hundred such
thoughts assailed her. until Jeanne's
spirit was storm-tossed and rode uu.
certainly upon a sea Of doubt, hesita
ton and trouble. like the Nancy Ben
struggling IN a hurricane.
a. last she arrived at her decision,
nut resolved to be guided by circum
stances. He would be here soon, she
would see him, hang upon his bear,
and than-and then looking up into
his eyes. would know what was best
to do.
OF one thing None she was sure:
she would not give him mp. could not
iusa AiI2. For Jeanne 20 love was 10
love passiona'el- and Wholly, and for
ever.
A step outside accused her she