Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-08-31

a. HHCA III Tue o4O udgSs 1ou HSlpSu
about the birds"
And both were severely spanked
for it" interrupted Sarah reminis-
Gently.
THAT is true" assented Irene.
"Perhars / ought not TO lead you into
this"
TN take my chances now as l did
then" replied Sarah. and after thank
I ing her. Irene departed.
Things went on for several weeks,
until Irene knew that the time for the
mating of her husbands soul had
come. and she dismissed him with a
smile. feeling rather Judas-like.
at is too bad. too. poor boy" she
said But he win come home COM
pletely cured. and would thank me. if
he knew-which he never shall"
The last article from Sarah John
sons pen had won a letter from Will
son. The article In question had been
on the "Allness of the One" 1t was
| full of gold so he told her, and she
| had replied in like coin. Now, after
months correspondence, fervid in its
| his weli-ftting coat. went to see the
author Of these epistles. He felt
many qualms on going to this ap-
! pointment, but he tried to smother
them by holding the thought" of
/ Oneness.
Should the friendship be purely
platonic. or should he divorce Irene
Irene. whom he still loved. despite the
| glamor of the other-and marry Sarah
| Johnson?
1T shall be just as Sarah says" he
breathed. Soul mates should do soul
work together and nothing, however
dear. should interfere"
! Clearly from her letters. Sarah
Johnson understood him as he had
never been understood before, as he
had longed to be understood when a
child. Yes. 1t should be just as she
| said.
The hour for which the appointment
was set was late, for Sarah Johnson
was a busy woman. That night she
was billed to speak at the Negro Wom-
ans league-"How dear and kind Of
her" he apostrophized. Irene, with
| all her winsome ways would never
have consented to mix So Indeed, he
himself, he had to confess, was fas-
tidious to degree. All. well, Sarah
must teach him her broad ways
He was at her door now, a modest
home in Hoyne avenue. He rang the
bell and smart negro girl admitted
him and went to summon her mis-
tress. After waiting a moment. he
heard a deep. melodious voice. such
a voice-sweet toned and clear, as he
had not dared to hope for
Mr.. Edgerton Wilson, believe. A."
said the voice.
He turned at the sound of the
mellow tones and encountered a WON
an of magnificent proportions Il am
Sarah Johnson" said the woman.
Wilson stared gasped. and stared
again. He shuddered and choked !;
and despising himself for coward !;
tried to pull himself together. For
though the voice was melodious. the
form magnificent, the woman fault
lessly attired, she was black-unde-
niably black.
You thought was white" said
Sarah Johnson. her full lip curling
slightly.
Yes, said Wilson, recovering him
eslf. "and ] thought I was white my.
self, but now see my mistake. ]
beg your pardon and bid you good
evening"
For an hour he paced the streets,
trying to regain his composure ard
readjust his thoughts, but to no avail.
Despise himself, he certainly did, for
after all, he was a man, and not a cur.
The scales dropped completely from
his eyes; he allowed himself but one
solace to his wounded, bleeding, dying
self-esteem - Irene should never
know!
Remaining away until the house
should be quiet. he crept home at last !:
for the first time ia HIS life he was
without latch key, wondering duly
how it happened, not knowing that
| Irene, who had distracted It from his
pocket while he was guilty kissing
her in parting, had sat lingering Ii for
an hour. before rising to admit some.
one who tapped softly at the basement
| entrance.
1t was late before Wilson stood
baffied, before his house He found
by investigation that he could Green
indoors by way of the pantry window,
which was some eight feet from the
ground.
Raising himself with the help of a
bit of woodbine, he gently pushed IN
the window and was presently head
and shoulders in the room and was
in the act of raising one knee 20 the
sill with the intention OF drawing up
his whole body. when suddenly the
| window shut down On him with a force
so unexpected and so painful that he
cried for help, rot knowing but that
he would be crushed.
It was all stiffness throughout the
house. but in a moment he heard the
beating of feet on the paved yard be.
| low and a second later found himself
grasped hands and feet by invisible
| forces.
The force which held his feet was
part of the police force, and lusty
patrolman was drawing him with no
gentle hand. towards the ground
Held by strong arms above, he was on
the point of thinking that his time
had come; when out OF the black
chaos. flashed light the electric light
| of civilization; and revealed in IT,