Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-03-09
Continued.


Yes" says Hal, that's the great
fault with the BeTtrams, excepting
Jeanne. But we try to console our
selves with the fact that we come Of
good stock That goes for some
thing-but very little"
While he is talking she looks at him
with a grave regard Then she
slowly takes off the glove OF her right
hand and puts it on again, lost in pen
sive meditation.
Suddenly she jumps up.
Il must go back. she says. 1T 10
late. I know by the shadow on the
convent down there. They Will be ex'
peeting me at home"
"They-the prince and the lady
whom / saw" says Hal
and the count" she says.
count Mikoff," says Hal. isis
he at the vllla2"
she mods, and looks straight before
her with a fixed expression.
"Yes, he is staying at the villa; he
10 on a visit"
A mad kind of curiosity consumes
Hal.
isis he your uncle?' he asks.
she turns her lovely face. with a
surprised look in her dark eyes.
my uncle? MOI"
ANY relation" says Hal, despei'
ately
"And old friend, them says Hal.
"He must be, for noticed that
And he pauses.
She looks at him expectantly
"YesY
"I-I-rm very impairment and
rough always was. was just 60
ing to say that noticed he-he
kissed your hand yesterday"
"Did hep she says, a little troubled,
puzzled look coming over her face.
Eyes, he Is an old friend. | am go
ing to marry the Count Mikoff."
II she had said. 81 am going to be
executed tomorrow morning" Hal
would not have looked more startled
or Mortified.
Instead of bowling. with q courteous
smile, he stopped short and stared at
her. his bright face turning white as
death, and his eyes starting from his
head.
Perhaps she is startled, for she
bushes a deep crimson, which the
next moment leaves her face as pale
as his, and stands with her hands
folded and her eyes cast meekly
down.
Hal cannot speak. cannot bow. anC
so they stand opposite each other
with this awful gulf dividins them.
Then Hal awakes 60 the situation
and breaks the silence with the in
sane remark:
Your horse has got four white
feet
Yes" she SAYS, arouslng with Z
sigh; do you thlnk he is pretty?"
"Oh, vi, mot at all-yes, ex
tremely," says Hal. dsjointedly.
Then he holds the stirrup, and, TAX
ing her tiny foot in his hand, puts hel
in the saddle, wakes up his own horse
and mounts and comes up to her.
Still be cannot speak. Il am coins
to marry Count Mikoff," rings in hii
ears and renders him dumb and stu
pi6 Has he dreamed that she said It,
II can't be true, He glances at her
scrutinizing her She Is hut a child
seventeen at most Until now he ma
not thought OF her age, but now sn,
seems a child, only a child, and IN,
count appears Methuselah- Methuse
lah himself. Up before Halls visor
arise the wrinkled face. with It's val
nished smile, the gray hair and whit
red-hot. furious, mad II is mon
strous, horrible, unheard-of. criminal
Why should she do 1t?
Suddenly, without looking at him
she says, with a touch of serious gray
ity:
Your sister married the marquis
Is he handsome?"
Handsome? Vane? Yes"
And is he very old?"
~old? Mo-, he replies. emphat
caIly. Not much older than Jeanne
Yes, he is, perhaps. nine years.
no mOre?" raising her eyes wit
soft surprise. And she is quit
young?'
a year older than I am; quite
girl"
My age she says. u did no
think--I did not Think did no
know English ladies married S
young"
No. says Hal but Jeanne look
elder; she ia tall and-and womanly,
suppose
4 shall see perhaps" says tn
princess 4 am going-we are goin
in a month"
Halls heart sinks like a plummet {
lead
GOING! he says, with disma.
~where?"
TO st. Petersburg. she answer
in low voice. u am going to /
married next month"
Hal nearly falls out of the saddle
"Going-to be married." he echoe
She looks around at him, still wit
the little, sad, puzzled look as If h
palpable emotion had aroused a doul
in her mind
Eyes. so it is arranged. Papa AT
the count arranged everything "
hn.-z hoes, anga God is that tho r;gi