Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-01-12

6
wiIdered, are raised to his accusing
tnes.
DO .ou wish ne to enter into she
mem oetails?" he says, sterniS
Have you forgotten-do you think I
forget what has Iassed? Do you
think that ! have lost all remem-
brance oi your feis,ed surprise ana
ignorance when that nervous fool
blundered out the title of the man
you ha0 married."
Jeanne starts, and puts one haa1
upon a table which stands near ner.
DO YOU forget nov you humoFeo
r.y Is him-as you no doubt deemed
Land allowed me % think that
had carried out that within success
fully? Jeanne, can you look me IA
the face, and tell me that you did
not know, that was other than YER
non vane. the artist; that you did not
know, in marrying me, you would be
the Warehouses OF Ferndale?"
As she stands with the subdued
lights at the back of her. he csunot
see her face distinctly. and as she re-
mains silent. wild hope rises within
him
jeanne he says, making a step
toward her, and speaking with fever
ish eagerness, Jeanne! tell me you
did not know it--tell me-"
But he stops suddenly and the
light dies out Of his face, for Jeanne
lifts her head, and he sees in her
eyes that Lady Lucille is-right
You knew it?" he says. almost in
audibly
Yes" says Jeanne. Out"
And she looks up eagerly; with a
gesture he stops her.
Spare mel" he says, spare me
and yourself the mockery of some
sophistical excuse. What can ex-
plain AWAY such deceit as you were
guilty Of? What can palliate the
lie. acted and spoken. which led me
to think that you did not know my
identity? Fool--fool!" he mutters,
pacing to and fro, gnawing at his
mustache, and working the fatal let
ter within the palms of his clinched
hands. Did not know that there
was no such thing for me as a pure,
disinterested love? Did ] not know
It! What curse is it that hangs
over me-a curse that, like two
edged sword, strikes both ways, ana
tempfs the deceit | suffer by. oh
child" and he turns with out
stretched hands toward Jeanne, do
YOU know what you have done
You have robbed me of my last hope
you have wrecked my life and your
own Your own! Oh, Jeanne. what
was there in the hollow bauble of a
title and the glittering dross Of
wealth 10 tempt you to faisehood
and treachery? You were happy un-
til saw you and tempted YOU to be
false to Yourself and me-"
"False!" echoes Jeanne, and her
voice quivers with anguish. false,
Eyes, false!9 he says. vehementIy;
you were false when you silently
pretended to think that | was no
other than am. You were false
when you led me to think You other
than you were I thought you loved
the unknown, struggling artist, but
you loved the marquis.
Jeannes color comes and gees.
Gradually his meaning is dawnlng
upon her
Hitherto she has stood over
wlelmed by the passion of his ac-
cusation, scarcely knowing of what
and how much she is charged, but
slowly she realizes how base and tg-
noble and mercenary he deems her.
Her color rises and falls, her eyes.
open to their fullest, stare at him
wildly.
"The marquee" he repeats, pas
slonately, "the marquis-that was
the magic word that won you: the
penniless artist might have wooed N
vain, You were cold enough until
you knew the value Of the prize
YOU scarcely threw me word when
we me,: your smiles were reserved
for Clarence Fitzjames until yoa
knew taat there was game worthier
Of your attention. You are all alike,
old ard young gentle and simple.
Heaven gives you fair faces and
sweet child looks, and hearts that
are old from ycur bahyhood Do
YOU wonder that am bitter? Am
too hard? Look at me. think how
great prize | have lost i, who
thought TO have gained the pure, un-
selfish love OF heart unstained by
one ignoble thought--and cons der
how cruel the disappointment must
be.
"Can you understand? l scarcely
think YOU can. Think. then, how you
would feel if YOU had learned that
the title You had married for was but
sham-that there was no Marquis
Of Ferndale. and that the man You
had so wen feigned TO love was simple
Vernon Vane, That is within the
grasp of your Imagination. l doubt
not: child as you are, you can under
stand that tell you, then. that my
disappointment is a thousand times
more than yours would be in such a
case. for have lost the quest of a
life, at he moment when I conceived
that held it within my grasp, Yes