Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-02-23

! white of marble statues and fountains.
, It is, in fact, essentially an Italian
garden. though Hal doesn't know 1t.
The princess leads him through a
cool and shady by a grotto Of ferns,
over which falls the spray OF hid
den fountain.
This is beautiful garden" ne
says, in his abrupt fashion. ''Youi
highness ought - be happy.
She had been plucking the ferns
growing near her, and looks up. with
little smile parting her lips.
"Happy?" she says, as If his words
had called up a question in her mind
Yes, I suppose / am happy. But
am very dull sometimes"
"Duil?" says Hal, looking at her
alphabetically out his honest eyes.
YES, very dull" and she smothers
little sigh. There is only papa
and Titena-the lady you saw, you
know. papa Is always with his books
and papers, and Titella-Titella is
busy about the house. Are YOU never
dull?"
often" he says.
Tell me" she says, in her little in
quisitiye manner, which seems so
frank ana confding to English Han,
tell me, what do You do then?"
oh" says Hal, "I-I-well, l gener-
ally go and shoot something or take
my rod, or smoke a pipe"
She laughs.
There's nothing to shoot here,
she says, looking around, excepting
me, but you can smoke your pipe, if
you like"
but I'm not dull now, and /
don't want to smoke; shouldn't think
of It," says Hal, "anda I'm very
sorry you are ever dull.
she smiles.
Il must learn to shoot and smoke,
must | not?"
He laughs at the thought of pipe
staining those soft coral lips, and his
laugh seems catching. for she laughs,
too As she does so the companion
comes out upon the terrace
Hal looks mp, and the princess, fol
lowing his glance, turns suddenly
grave and rises.
win you come and see pa?o she
says.
Hal nGds. and offers 70 take the
fshing-naaket from her hand. but she
puts it behind her with the gesture
Of a child,
No. will carry this They are
mine now yon know
slowly they wind around the garden
toward another part OF the terrace,
which surrounds the house, and, as
scending the steps, stop at win
dow which is closed, and has the cur
tains drawn
Then the princess, with her hand
ON the window, looks around at BIN.
"Wll YOU tell me your name
again?' she saws. on, l have not
forgotten II, she adds. quickly with
an evident desire not to wound him.
bus am not used to English names,
and may have made mistake on,
here is the card; but tell me"
lial laughs
Beruam Henry Bertram,' he
/ says
"You said .Hal-wa il not Ilal?
last night
That's what I'm always calied. he
avs.
II like it best, she says. ,ad
opened he window
To Halls astonishment, he saw the
room within was lighted by a reading
lamp, close to which sat a tall ana
wonderfully thin old gentleman. read
irg.
The princess went UP to him. and
laid her white hand on his shoulder;
! Tut il was quite a minute before he
looked up, during which Hal noticed
that a map of Italy was spread out
upon the table. and that various plans
of battlefelds. he learned after
ward-hung upon the wall A dis,
/ pateh-box stood beside the table, and
papers were Uttered over the room
Presently the Prince Verona looked
up, and rose abruptly.
Papa" said the princess. this IS
Mr. Bertram. whose fishing | so clum-
silly spoiled Yesterday he has brought
me a present OF some trout
The prince looked across at Hal
| shading his eyes. and bowed. then as
if by an afterthought. held out his
hand. which was long and as white as
the princess own.
Il am very pleased TO see YOU, sir"
he said; Il am afraid my child dis
turbed YOU yesterday. (Hal glanced
nstinctively at me princess, and Won
| dered If the old man really did not
realize that this beautiful creature
was fast growing into woman.l
/ Trout? yes | thank you! 1t is very
Kind Are YOU staying at Forhach?"
Yes. said Hal FOR a time.
Mr. Bertram IS going to the cas-
tle-to his sister. papa, said the
/ princess. The castle, you know.
'Yes-4es." said the old man
"N!azzini once stayed there. Is il a
Big Fle ct fol