Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-06-22
Continued.

"And-and-he says that we must
wait: that he cannot marry US"
With a sudden start she shrinks
from him, pale and terror stricken.
Cannot" she breathes. Then
then-I must go back"
"No-no," he interposes, passion
ately, soothingly. Don't be fright
ened, darling! Go! No. that is impos-
sible,"
Impossible she echoes, family
Buff the father says"
Then suddenly the truth, the whole
reality of the situation breaks upon
her. and, with low cry, she bounds
from him, and hides her face in her
hands
Hal goes down on his knees and
draws her hands to his lips.
Verona" ne pleads, my darling,
don't-don't be so frightened could
not keep II from you. would not.
But you must not be frightened. You
make my heart ache to see you look
SO white and terrified Listen. dar-
ling, There is no occasion for alarm.
II is all my fault. l didn't make In
quiries was so set upon getting
you away from them that / didn't
think of what was TO follow"
With a low cry she withdraws her
hand, springs from MIN, and sinks
into chair Almost beside himself,
Hal bends over her, pouring out en-
dearments and caresses, and implor-
ing her to be calm. But the simple,
trusting nature has taken alarm, not
at him. her lover, but circumstances,
and all Halls passionate pleading
sweeps over her as the wind sweeps
over the hilltops.
Suddenly she springs to her feet.
and looks at him, the tears stream
ing down her pale cheeks.
mo" she says, ut was my fault
It was I who did not think. I'll
must go back" and she moves to
ward the door
'Stop-stayl For Heavens sake,
wait and listen" says Hal. catching
her arm. Verona, oh. my darling.
can YOU not trust me?"
Pale and distraught she stands,
torn both ways.
Yes, she says, but / must go!''
and gently pushing mis- hand from her
arm, she opens the door Almost as
she does so there comes a Gathering
Of hoofs, and, with cry, Hal catches
her in his arms.
Thank Heaven!" he cries stop.
be calm! Verona, darling, look" and
as light step is heard outside the
door, ne opens 1t, and discovers
Jeanne-Jeanne, pale and trembling
her riding habit dusty and stained
her brown.gold hair halfescaped from
under her hat.
With cry, Verona flies to her.
To say that Jeanne looks surprised
Is very inadequately TO describe the
stare Of amazement with which she
regards Verona in her arms, and Hal
leaning against the table and wiping
the perspiration from his excited face.
is II possible?" she exclaims, in a
low voice, "Is it really you, Prin-
cess Verona?"
Yes" SAYS Hal. answering for the
weeping girl Eyes. IL is Verona.
Jeanne. and-and don't be angry and
look so astonished. knew you
would come, felt sure of II! Jeanne,
you are a brickl"
Yes, no doubt" says Jeanne, rather
confused, sinking into chair. and
drawing Verona beside her: but
butt don't understand" she says.
hewildered and perplexed. "Wny are
you here? Why is Verona here? How
did you come here? Was there an
accident2 why didn't you hire a con.
veyance and get back somehow"
Why, Jeanne" he says. "you don't
mean to say you don't understand.
We didn't and don't mean going
back"
Then Jeanne compartments. and the
color 1ies TO her pale face, as In
stinctively her arms loosen around
the slim figure nesting against her
You have run away" she says; 81
see, But-but why do you want me -
II was only reasonable and to
he-expected question. and Jeanne puts
II with both eyes wide open. and a
look something like indignation.
Hal looks from one to the other:
then he stoops and raises Verona
who elings to Jeanne for moment
and en- allows him to take her tc
fhe sofa. Hal comes back. and in 8
few hurried sentences explains the
dilemma
What could I do?" he says. -
couldn't leave her here for days and
nights together, and"
Hal" says Jeanne, lnterruptinl
hims with the first touch of severity
be has ever seen in her face, ''yol
have done wrong-very wrong! Yo,
have done more harm than you jus
now can realize. She must 90 hackl'
'Neverl" says Hal
Then he tells her how the eoun
has planned 70 carry her of to Rus
STA
"Pshaw!h says Jeanne; that sor
of thing goes on in novels, but"
st IS true, every word Of III" say
Hal Think. Jeanne' Put yourself
in her place--wonldn you run ava
il you knew you were TO be made
prisoner Of, and carried to the ent