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

with unfeigned, unspeakaDle pity
Impossible, my son. be repeats
1T is no. alone who says it; it is
the law. There are obsfacIes-many
lin the way. Two alone will suf
fce-your age and your religion. She
whom you love is OF a different
ehur h The ceremony would be in
complete. invalid; her friends could
tear her from you as ron left the
altar Besides this, there are forms
which are absolutely necessary, and
with none of which you have CON
formed Ny son. it is impossible,"
Hal starts from his seat, white, and.
| If the truth must be told. trembling
"Then-then We are LOST" he ex-
claims, hoarseIy, for you--of course.
you will feel ii your duty Toto"
"Betray you?" says the old father.
with smile, but with "a faint sor-
row in his face. do look like a
traitor, young sir9 Or do the priests
of your faith betray those who come
for counsel in their troubie?s
Forgive me, sir" says Hal, brok-
emily II beg your pardon-I was
wrong; I insulted you. VIII yor for
give me? You are right; was judg-
ing you by what others would do In
England they would deem it their
duty to communicate with the lady,s
friends. and make her unhappy for
life Heaven help as BOTH"
/ The father bends his head
| "Mv lips are sealed. my son, on
such confidence, but it is left me to
advise
Advise me. sir" says Hal.
The old man arises and PAGES
slowly, with bent brow and folded
hands. up and down the narrow path:
I, then he stands before Hal and looks
down at MIN.
MY son." he says. with world
of pity in his voice, ~you must take
her back"
Never" exclaims Hal. starting to
his feet and confronting him with
compressed lips and flashing eyes,
never, Take her back to worse than
death. death in life. lifelong misery?
Never. | would rather see her dead
at my feet. would rather"
He stops. smitten to silence by the
uplifting of the white hand
"Pause-pause, my son, and re-
feet! What you wish is impossible
What would you, then? Can she re-
main here with you? Would you
blast the reputation of her whom
You love so dearly? You would not,
you could not That face does not
mask so black a heart. What then?"
What then, indeed? 1t is Hairs
turn to strike up and down now. and
he does so with dismay and despair
Juggling at his heart strings What
then?
What am | to do? What am to
do?" he groans. Take her back
cannot, Keep her here with me 1
cannot, dare not! You are right
sir such a thing is impossible. love
her--I lover her! lake her back |
cannot"
The father looks at him with a
gentle pity wringing his heart. From
the moment the handsome, stalwart
boy entered bareheaded by the wicket
gate. the good old man had taken to
him: all the time the honest, fiuctu-
atlng voice was making its confess
sion the old mans heart was going
out toward him yearninglv, pitylngly,
and now-now as he watches the
white, working face that ought never
to wear anything but boyish seren.
| ity the father feels as If he could
give what remained to him of his
short span OF life to help MIN; but
what can be done?"
What shall / do?" says Hal, for
the tenth time.
Tell me, my SON." says the cure,
came you alone with her?"
Yes excepting my man, faith
ful fellow" says Hal
And she is at the inn"
"Ye@,'' says Hal, at the inn"
"She is safe there" murmurs the
father. 'hut alone! If you had brought
some one with her-a sister"
Hal starts as il he had been shot.
Stop he says. What do you
think of this? have a sister. won't
conceal anything from YOU. sir /
should be an ungrateful wretch Ii
did, My sister is the Marchioness
Of Ferndale: she is staying at the
Konigs sihloss, Forbach She is my
own sister, and we have been great
friends
is she married--oh yes. mar.
chioness. Well, SAYS the father,
you will send for herr"
will she come. my son? No'ling
must be left to chance"
"Wll she COME" echoes Hal. win
Jeanne come? All. you don't know
Jeanne. sir, She'll come-ah, on
wings, Yes. I'll send for her."
And afterward?" says the father
"Afterward," repeats Hal, blanksy
Afterward-oh. Jeanne viii think of
something. Oh, II she were only here,
Why didn't think of her before?''
How viii you send for here" asks
the father calmly, though his heart
beats in sympathy with the excited
Hal
by my man, George SAYS HAL
: