Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-06-15
Continued
By CHARLES GARvICE

AEtF MEAAt cHs . ~~e-.%''~f
her head, and she goes out.
Halt an hour afterward the dinner
bell clangs out over the castle, and
Bell. who is never late on any occa-
sion, comes out of his room, and
knocks at Halls door; that young gen
tleman, being many miles away, does
not hear him, and, at last, after play
ing a mild tune on the defenseless
oak, Bell opens the door gently.
"Hal, my dear boy, there's the DIN
ner-bell. Are you dressed yet? Make
haste, they are all going in. Can ]
help you--can +"
BY this time he found that he had
been addressing space.
Hal is not there. Bell goes into
the room and looks around. It is ex-
tremely tidy, not thing thrown
about-a clear proof to Bells mind
that Hal has not been in the room
since the servant arranged it in the
early morning
Now where has he gomez" asked
poor Bell: -'it's unlike him to miss
his dinner, and he is fond of his
pipe, too Dear mel" And. yainly
specializing, Bell goes down.
perhaps he hasn't had time to
dress, and-but he wouldn't have the
courage to dine with them in shoot
ing jacket"
If Hal hasn't the count mas, for
Bell finds his excellency seated at a
table in his frock coat, and Maud, in
delighted whisper, tells Bell how
it happens
Jeanne asked him at the last mo-
ment, and begged him not to take
the trouble of going home 10 dress;
and he stayed Wasn't 1t kind OF
him."
"Yes?' says Bell. very kind But
where is Hal?'
HALF" says Jeanne, looking around.
Yes, where is he?"
There is dead silence. The SER
wants wait for the signal to uncover
Vane, lost in thought, looks up.
rs he not here?"
mo" says Bell "He hasn't been
in his room since the morning. T."
He stops short. for the count has
suddenly arisen to his feet with a
strange look OF suspicion
rs 1t Hal you are inquiring for?''
says Lady Lucille, who, engrossed in
conversation with Clarence, does not
appear to have heard the previous
inquiries. "Oh know where he isl
He was kind enough to 90 off this
morning TO shoot hawk for my hat,
and ! suppose he doesn't like to come
back without it,"
And she smiles.
The count sinks to his seat again,
looking, for the first time in mis- lire,
rather confused.
Il was afraid some accident had
happened to my dear young friend. "
he says, with a charming smile.
How kind and thoughtful of you!'
murmurs Maud
''If he doesn't come back until he
shoots hawk In Forbach, we've seer
the last of him for some years." re
marked Nugent, bluntly.
Which would be rather hawk
ward, remarks Mr. Lambton, quite
unconscious Of his pun.
There is a general laugh. Hal is
forgotten by all but Jeanne, Bell and
Lady Lucille, Jeanne is so far from
forgetting him that she Is pale with
anxiety, and so absorbed that she
matches that other pale and absorbed
face next hers--Clarence's. Al,
through dinner, wnich he scarcely
touches, he sits vainly trying TO talk
and laugh. but every now and then
glancing at Jeanne With a look on
his face which nearly maddens vane.
She hes lold him already that she
is going ne thinks Both pale and
ATTRACTED they sit and suffer Yes,
will take the empty shell with me
tomorroN--her heart win remain with
him!"
Such thoughts are not likely 10
tend toward producing good appe-
tite, and Vane sends dish after dish
away. as has been usual with him
of late; but when the ladies' have
gone he drinks glass after glass of
port, which is not usual with him,
and sits with his fingers on the stem
of his glass, moody and silent.
1t is a lovely night, and all the
front or terrace part of the castle
is flooded by the moonlight. The
servants are bringing the tea: Maud
is at the piano the others are scat
tered about; the room seems hot and
close TO Jeanne, and she feels rest,
less, her mind equally troubled about
Vanes sudden return TO England and
Halls absence. To Jeanne mental
trouble always brings a longing for
fresh air and scope TO think in:
Maud's thin voice grows almost tor
turing, and at last she opens the
French window, and steps out on the
terrace. AS she does so she hears
the thud-thud Of horses hoofs. and
one part of her trouble flies away in
stantly.
II is Hal, OF coursei
To run down the steps to meet
him. scold him, pet linn and learn
whore he has been is the impulse OF
a moment. Throwing her lace shaw
over her head, and gathering up hen
rich skirts, she hurries around to the
front. but the sound has ceased mo
not ceased, but drifted toward the
hack Thanking that Hal wishes to