Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-06-29
By CHARLES cARv7cE
Continued

/ knew thaI you were dAOnS e1ilA -
happy?"
@Unhappy!7 says Jeanne, vaguely.
yes" he repeats fervently, his
lips trembling, mis- eyes fixed on her
face. pJ you think ! have not
known, haze not seen how unhappy
your life has been? Has there been
an hour of the day since we nave
been together, do you think, that
have not hung upon your words and
watched your face? And do you think
that one sigh, one sad glance Of yours
has passed nnoticed, unfelt by me2p
I-I-do not understand" says
Jeanne, troubled and perplexed. Why
DO you kntel there? I am not fright.
ened now. Arise, Lord Lane
obedient, ne rises and wipes the
Precipitation tio1l his forehead with
an uncertain hand. bis eyes never
leaving her face for a moment.
Jeanne looks at hin. uneasIy APP
Drehensively. His words, his manner
are all languid, which Is entirely be.
yond her solution as yet Jeanne is
no flirt, has no suspicion Of the truth,
and yet there is something in his
haggard. anxious face and passionate
glance Which unneFves and alarms
her vaguely.
"You nave not told me yet she
says why have you eome-have
have they discovered us?"
Mo- ne says, eagerly. mot yet;
but there is no time to lose. | came
the moment heard where you were,
came without the loss Of moment
-"
1t was your horse heard, then?"
says Jeanne.
Yes. he replies, eagerly 4 have
ridden him hard. poor fellow, and
left him more dead than alive in the
wood there"
Sand you are hot and tired" says
Jeanne IF you will 90 down to the
front of the house win ring them
up and they shall get you some re.
reshments. Then you can advise me
what is best TO be done.
He shakes his head and comes
closer to her,
"Nolr he says. why arouse them?
/ want nothing whiLl you are near
nae, Jeanne. Let ne have these few
minutes--these precious minutes /
aave waited months for--foretaste OF
the long, blissful time that lies be-
fore u.s. Oh, Jeanne, you shall know
what happiness Is il am spared to
teach youl The rest OF my life shall
be spent In the endeavor to make
You happy-and shall succeed
will succeed, Jeanne; such love as
mine must conquer, must carry ev-
erything before it, Look at me, Je.
anne, give me one word the one
word ! have been waiting. longing for
so patiently Jeanne"
Jeannes face has been growing from
white to crimson, and from crimson
to white again With wild, lncredu.
lous eyes she looks at him
Are you--or am I--gone mad p
she breathes at last, but inaudibly,
tnd ne goes on:
7 frightened you tonight, Jeanne!
tou must forgive mel brighten my
self sometimes think no one has
loved as love you-dont shrink
from me, Jeannel ! cannot bear that!
Listen-let me pour out my heart.
Let me tell you how | have lived
You ever since that old time at New.
son Regis, when you were a happy,
hgnt-hearted girl | loved you then,
out I did not know how dearly, how
entirely, until | saw YOU no longer a
Happy, gay,heartec girl, but a woman,
fnsatisfied, unhappy. then, Jeanne, my
oye grew into an absorbing passion,
which has grasped me, body and soul,
and made me tempest-tossed ana
weak before YOU All! Jeanne, it is
not often men love as | dol"
Speechless, smitten dumb with sur,
prise, terror, horror, Jeanne does not
speak while he dmolds the truth, and
he goes oa-sometimes hurriedly,
scmetimes with lingering. iyaplor,
ms tenderness:
AN these months past I have been
struggling with my love. sometimes
fiattering myself that | had crushed
II under foot. but when you speak
Il always arises again, and ever mas
tiers me. l think II was the kuowi,
edge That you were not happy--that
he was cold ana unkind TO you"
"Ahi" comes struggling through Je.
anne's parted lips.
Sometimes have felt that could
lay him dead at my feet; but my
scorn for the creature who could be
eold 70 you saved him; ! pitied him.
Jeanne But now ! know that his
heartless neglect has driven you from
him, hate him, though he has driven
you TO me! All. Jearae. when |
heard that Won had gone without s
word, without sign. knew knew
that I had been right TO wall pa
tiently. and that the hour OF my re
ward had come; and see. Jeanne, my
love, Ny goddess, am here at you'
feet" and he kneeis, and clasps her
arm.
White and Mortified, Jeanne looks
down at MIN, struggling for the power
of speech. She has not struggled &
thrust him from her, nor 10 shrink
away from him. She feels rooted tc
the spot. fascinated by the working
agitated face upturned to her. witt