Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-06-08
By CHARLES GAR,yICE

ters of everything, anything. and my
lady listens listlessly. But suddenly
Lady Lucille becomes all attention.
And Master Hal" says Marie.
Master Hal has gone out with the
grays, a thing he Is not accustomed
to doiagi an, no. He hates the grays.
But the bays. tney are gone to the
blacksmith's. And Master Hal he
has gone to shoot eaglesi"
ITO shoot eagles!@ says Lady Luz
celle. on the alert: "nonsense!"
THAT is what George and at
the name pretty Marie's teeth shut
close. that is what that villain says"
'He-does not peak the truth.
says Lady Lucille mo one but an
idiot would go TO shoot anything on
such day as this. There is not a
bird to be seen"
And he has taken the two grays,
my LADY," says Marie, eagerly. and
that scoundrel George has gone with
him.
Lady Lucelle sits bolt upright
Marie. she says, you are a fool!
There Is more in tlis than you think.
Taken the grays, and the bays miss
ing. and gone TO shoot eagles. Bah:
Give me my wrap, and do you go
down to your friend-the spy, ] mean
-and find out where the bays are;
and wait" she added, as her obedi-
ent Marie was leaving the room,
see if the count is here.
Marie closed the door after her,
and sped on her errand. and Lady
Lucille stepped lightly to the look-
ing glass.
NO my young friend, she muir
INJURED. Shooting eagles. or anything
else, viii not deceive me. If you
have the grays, and the bays are
missing. something is in the wind.
Shooting eagles. indeed, | wonder"
So suddenly did an idea enter Lady
Lucelles head that she started.
Il have it," sac cried, flushing:
the foolish boy has run off with
the prncesst"
1t was not an idea, It was an in
SEPARATION. Suddenly her subtle brain
went TO work Which course should
she take =? Should she communicate
Der suspicious to the count, or vane.
or institute a pursuit, or--walt.
Without knowing 1t, the countess
has arrived at the most critical mo
ment of her by no means event1ess
life. without knowing Il she stands
upon the brink OF a crisis which de-
pends for its issue upon the simple
decision
She decides to wait, has decided
before Marie comes in, all eager to
relate that Ned can tell her no more
than he has already told her, but
that he also is suspicious
Lady Lucille smiles.
1T is nothing. have no doubt"
she says. easily. Very likely, after
all Mr.. Bertram has gone to shoot
or try to shoot Say no more
about it TO any one-and you can
tell your suspicious friend to retain
his suspicious within his own heart.
Slightly confused by the change in
the wind. Marie goes down again.
and while she is gone Lady Lucelle.
with her own hands, begins to dress
herself
As she enters the drawingroom
voice singing "Sweethearts" in a
very high key. strikes upon her ear
and she smiles.
Al toe piano is seated Maud: be.
side her, beating time gently with
his white. hand. is the count. ms
usual smile wrinkIing his face. his
little eyes fixed admiringly on Maud's
somewhat distorted face. It is not
given 10 every one to look prepos-
sessing when they sing. and Maud's
face does not look any better Tor
wide open mouth.
Lady LUCILLE watches the pair with
keen enjoyment. and wonders II tas
count would stand listening to sweet
hearts with quite such an absorbed
attention If he guessed. as she does,
that his bride-elect is at this mo-
ment running away with another and
younger man,
Without disturbing the pair. she
goes out again, and looks in at the
billiard-room.
In one corner sits Charlie Nurent
smoking huge Bengal eneroot. on
the Other is MIR. Lambton. putting a
short pipe.
oh" saws Lady Lucille. holding
her lace handkerchief to her delicate
nostrils land just before dinner too
1T is for an appetite, Lady T.u.
oelle!' calls out Nugent. eomposed,v
Wen pun them out il you'n come
and play"
But she shakes her head-she wants
to find out If Hal has retnrned--ano
with a light laugh goes on her way
stopping at a window. she looks out.
and sees solitary figure pacing up
and down with hurried. restless
strides. his hands behind him. his
head bent-it is Clarence. Again LADY
Lucille smiles.
Where is Jeanne. I WONDER" she
SAYS Evidently somewhere he cant
get near her. or he wouldn't he there
Why is it m,n make such fools If
themselves when they are IN love-
Women don't" And with this an.
struse problem she moves ON to mo
upper corridor again. but stops sud.