Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-06-01

Eyes, the marquis, Master Hal He's
got more brains than all the rest OF
them put together, begging your par
don, sir; and if he got on the scent,
then-but there. Master Hal. they'll
come up when it's too iate,'
Hal mods emphatically and turns
away, but George keeps MIN for a
moment or two to brush the dust
from his clothes, and then Hal makes
straight for the little chapel. whose
UNCOVERED tower arises from a lit
tie clump of trees.
AS he expected, he finds beside the
chapel a low rooted little cottage.
There is little garden in front. and
as Hal swings open the gate he sees
the priest picking the autumn roses
which Chamber the porch and greater
part Of the cottage Hearing the gate
open, the lure looks around. He is
an old man, and one of the old
school with a face so peacefully set
in it's long. white locks that 1t LOOKS
like one of the pictured saints He
raises his shovel hat as Hal comes
forward bareheaded, and greets him
in a silvery voice, whose sweetness
strikes at once on Halls beating heart
and stills its excitement
CHAPTER xxxVIlI
Hal bends bis head with the cour-
tesy Of an English gentleman TO the
priestly greeting, and says, without
much fear. for he has found that
nine priests out of ten speak his
tongue:
Il am English, sir
so ] see, my SON." says the cure,
with a gentle smile.
aAnd a stranger, sir adds Hal.
~That also / see" responds the
cure, with still more gentle smile,
IL that be possible. ewiil you enter?"
and he motions with thin, sinewy
hand to the door
Hal hesitates: the cure immedi-
ately points to near seat, and as
Hal sits down, seats himself. And
now. for the first time during the
fight, Hal finds himself nonplnssed;
Incredible as II may seem, he has
not prepared himself for this. the
most important part of the adyen-
ture. So absorbed has he been in
the one idea OF snatchlng his dar-
ling from the claws of the count tnat
| he has not foreseen the difficulties
that now arise like mountains, and
threaten to crush Sim.
In silence. profound and excruciat-
| ing, ne looks on the ground for fully
minute. and when he looks up and
finds the the soft, peaceful eyes of
the good old man fixed upon him
with gentle, almost plying gaze, he
bushes like schoolboy detected IN
some fault.
1t is the cure who breaks the ST.
lenee.
You are In some trouble, my son p
he says, musingly. rs it not SOP
Il ann, sir" says Hal. with long
breath. and | didn't think-and I
didn't know what trouble | was in
until this moment"
Until you came here-yes?"
Yes" says Hal, wiping his brow,
mot until came here"-a pause,
during which the old father folds his
hands, and looks peacefully. patiently
out to the setting sun.
Then Hal bursts out;
I'll ought to tell you. sir. am
La Protestant"
The gentle fare turns to MIN with
a smile that lights it up rs If the
sun had shit ray full upon 1t.
You are in trouble. my son"
Six words only. but what perfect
charity, what a gentle. loving nature.
they reveal, and how fully they en-
body the good old mans creedi
Hal IS only boy-a boy whose
heart is softened and electrical with
love and his eyes moisten.
"You mean, sir" he says, with
touch of reverence in his voice. that
is most musical that because am
in trouble and difficulty You will help
me?'
surely" says the old man
Then HAL turns to him eagerly,
anxiously:
Look here, sir" he SAYS. Il want
10 be married /"
The cure does not start: he smiles.
II want TO be married. ana must
be, at once. without delay"
The cure lifts mis- eyebrows gently
Why this haste, sir?"
Hal hesitates moment-only mo.
ment: then he edges nearer.
IN tell you. sir" he SAYS: and
with hot, eager haste he pours out
his confession-for it is nothing more
nor less
He tells the whole story. from the
day Of his stumbling over Verona to
the present time: couceals nothing,
eNaggerates nothing. uses no elo
quence. and yet--and yet the white
hand goes up TO the gentle eyes. aud
The old mans lips tremble
% YOU see" says Hal. in conclu.
sion, his face pale with excitment.
| you see there was nothing else TO
be done I love her with all .ay
heart and soui-aud she-she loves
ne: she SAYS so--actually says so.
And This old man. this count. was
coins to carry her off tomorrow
think. sir, tomorrow, And il hadn't