Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-01-19
By CHARLES GARVICE

cannot forget, We are apart-apart!'
Terrified in his turn he holds out
his hands to her
Jeanne" he implores, have you
forgotten II love you, Jeanne? Have
you lost all your love for me so soon?'
A sharp pang seems TO wiring hel
heart
Yes" she breathes, q did love
you but not now-not now. You
have driven my love away. DO not
come near mel"
He has made a step toward her
but at the gentle, cold words he stops
and folds his arms.
You win have it So he says,
speaking with an effort. From to
night we two are to live apart-one
only TO the world. Oh, do not
shrink" for as he speaks, she has
drawn further away from hint
will not force your love. It was
yours to give or withhold. So be it
so ends this last hope of happi-
ness!"
Crushed by your own hand, . she
says. by your own hand" and with
out another word she turns and
moves silently over the thick carpet
to the conservatory.
He scarcely knows that she has
moved, but when he lifts his head
and finds that she has gone, he starts
forward, calling her name:
"Jeanue-Jeanne, Come back!"
But before he can reach the cur
tain he hears the outer door close,
and realizes that she is gone beyond
recall. With a smothered oath. he
filings himself onto chair, and looks
about him with dazed, vacant stare.
The black fit is passing rapidly, the
room seems sitting and hot as fur
mace. With "a fresh oath, the miser-
able victim throws open the window,
and passes to and fro with agitated
steps; then he takes out his cigar.
case, and. with trembling fingers,
lights a cigar
oh, potent tobacco, who, knowing
your virtues. can speak too highly in
your praise?
Before that cigar is half consumed,
Vane, Marquis Of Ferndale, sees his
folly. and curses the madness which
has cast aside, utterly thrown away,
and tramped upon that sweetest gift
which the gods can give man
loye That cigar has effected all
that reason, love. and experience
failed TO dot dispels the remaining
symptoms of the Ferndale passion;
but it shows. clearly as the MONDAY
sun, how great fool he has been.
For, with a groan, he leans his ell
bows on the balustrade, and his
head on his hands, and there he re-
mains smoking and repentant until
the dawn comes creeping slowly from
the east al.d throws its gray, coid
light on lace as cold and gray as
its own.
With a wild, almost blind haste,
Jeanne crossed the hall. and goes up
the great staircase
one or two OF the servants are
moving about Tully. the butler,
crosses the hall slowly. and solemniy
stands aside as she passes him.
A maidseryant, coming from one OF
the rooms, stands back against the
wall as my lady goes along the corrl
dor as II it were goddess passing,
little thinking it is only an unhappy
woman.
There are softly shaded lights up,
held by cleaning statuettes along all
the corridors. and Jeanne remembers
her way. or finds it by instinct, aud al
last reaches her own room
As she enters the boudoir, Mrs.
Fleming rises from chair,
Il was right to wait, my lady. was
| not she says. then stops suddenly,
struck dumb by 1eanne's white face
and wild eyes.
Right says Jeanne, at random.
Are you wait ug Tor me? Who are
YOU yes. I remember No. do not
wait, please.
But your ladyship will let me
comb your hair"
No mo-" says Jeanne, hurriediy
Go. please at once," and, follow
ing her to the door, she locks and
bolts H.
She goes to the iunetmost room
and bolts and locks both doors, and
then woman-like, falls Jpn her knees
and bursts into passion of tears
"Oh. Hal--Hal,"
Stihe as she may, the sobs that
shake her as willow is shaken by
the wind. Mrs. Fleming hears them
as she passes the door. and. pausina
a moment, is scared and Mortified by
the sound =
Merciful Heaven! she exclaims
trembling. What has happened,
Crying like that already, Poor chuC
poor chilu.'
And so ends Jeanne wedding-day.
While the world lasts, womeI
will have one great. vast adyautag,
over their lords and masters-the,
can weep Man. poor man, meet.
the sharp. sudden stroke of misfor
tune the duN persistent blows OF al
v,rsity. with q wrung heart, SHIFT
ing sense of misery, and duds nt
outlet Tor the hubbhng, see, Inn.
pain which threatens 70 stiae him
but women. no anguish is SO ipten
but sooner o. later, II finds its ex
! pres sion, its outlet, aud---its relief.
When Jeanne stood confronting til,
/ passionate storm OF Vane'a bitter dis
! appointment. and unreasouing ieaj
I pusN ShD wouId as sO0u hay.