Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-06-15

VI MS DtS AHSti7s a. - ide III ny 4
hands.
Mrs AyTe wrote her invitation TO
Elsa Ross that evening. She is a !
woman who would know exactly what
to do if she found the house on FIRE.
and i suppose that Bellayre homestead
in flames would not wiring her heart
much more cruelty than what she saw |
that afternoon under her peaceful
grape arbor.
The main part OF Jeans next letter
was all about barn dance, which
Elsa had made a shining success, and
Laura took what she could out OF
some replies 10 questions she had
asked
No do not repent me of my
masquerade. To confess it would be
to rob the good Mrs Ayre of her sum
mer's satisfaction over having made
fine poultry and dairy maid out of
a poor girl taken out of foundry Stag
heap. Yes, she doubtless would feel
more reconciled to Johns infatuation
if she knew had twenty thousand
in my own right, but am the girl to
buy anyone's favor with money? Elsa
has little property, enough to build
for herself and John a pleasant house
in the big meadow across the street.
Oh, as to looks, John is six foot, sun
burned and homely, but he has the
kindest brown eyes, and gentle ways
with cattle and dumb creatures, that
belong TO strong and quiet people.
Yes. the boarders seem to think that
Elsa's heart is in the Irritation this
time, but of course nobody knows.
After that Laura went about with a
prayer in her heart that her little
Jean might not miss any good life was
offering her." Letters told little, but
one day important news went flying
from the little foundry village to Bell
ayre farm. and Jean was the one to
read with tears and anxiety.
A neighbor wrote: Laura says we
are not on any account to let you
know, but / know how should feel
III gOuI pidCSs IT 10 oAlF q piChSA
bone, and she win be as good as new
in a month or two. She had a sur
geon out from the city, and now that
young doctor that came here last
spring seems to think he can't look
after her to closely. She has also the
best nurse money can hire, and says
you are to be left where you are, for
she doesn't need you. There was a
collision and she was thrown against
bridge railing"
An nour after reading this Jean was
on an express train speeding south,
and at shutdown she was pressing her
fearful face into the pillows beside
Laura's and scolding, peting and pro-
testing all in one breath. 1t will pro-
baby spoil everything, everything"
lamented Laura when they were alone
together "You had to leave that
Elsa in possession Of he field and pro-
plnquity is so much to man."
i wanted to come away. l wanted
to see if propinquity, as you call it,
was the stuff my midsummer dream
was made Of" and she laugh gayly
protesting that it was time she came
away as nearly all the boarders We're
gone. But Mrs Ayre offered to write
me now and then and said she might
send for me to help her out if there
was a wedding in the family before
long" Jeans merriment over this
sounded genuine, but Laura stin
sighed that bones would break, and
break at the wrong moment, too.
Jean trundled her sewing-maehine
in beside Laura's bed next day, ex-
planning that she was used now being
always busy. And if we go to Bos-
ton for the winter we shall need some
pretty clothes. so / may as well set
about making them" she added
You may groan as loud as YOU can
when your pain grips hard she pre-
sently remarked loosely, but if you
do not stop trying to read my soul
through my face / shall move over
10 the window there and turn my
back, and after that Laura hid her
anxieties and tried no ito see how
eagerly Jean set forth each day for
the mail or with what brave affccta-
lions of eheerfulness she came smiling
back with nothing of especial interest
among the. papers and magazines and
letters in her hands
Slowly the bone knit together and
as slowly and surely the elastic joy
BUSINESS in Jeans nature turned to
silent usefulness when she was alone.
while fitful gales of nonsense and
drollery in Lauras room told of the
brave stand she was making.
Soon | shall be able to get pen and
paper for myself and even to walk to
the post-office and mail a letter any
v here / please" Laura began telling
herself, and then she would knit her
brows and ask herself what she could
write to man who might already be
promised in marriage to Elsa Ross.
The day they let her bear her weight
upon the mended limb she sent Jean
on the long walks the girl had come
to love. Go as far as the upper
falls If you want to, and will
mend the fires and buy the crullers
and write some neglected letters she
had urged and now Jean had been
gone nearly an hour and probably
that was the cruller man" at the door.
She anticipated the old .nsr's sur
Drise but the astonfsbrneu+ .raS al