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

ton. What are you doing here?
Where have You come from, and why
are you riding the bay at this time
Of night?"
George takes off his cap: his hair
clings to his face with preparation.
"Ive come from Master Hal, my
lady. with this letter"
Give it TO me" says Jeanne, TAX
ing it from him eagerly. Where is
Master Hal-why have you brought
it? / cannot see to read it,"
George whips out his matchbox and
strikes a light. Begging your par
don, my lady, but there's no time to
be lost"
Jeanne reads the letter. and looks
up. pale and agitated.
What does this mean?" she asks.
why should ne write this? Why
doesn't he come himself?"
CHAPTER XII.
Three quarters of an hour later. In
one corner of the room sat the count,
the two Misses Lambton, and Nu-
gent, playing the rubber, Mamma and
papa are comfortably asleep in two
corners by thes ides OF the fireplace.
Leaning back in an easy-chair re-
clines Lady Lucille, her fan futter
ing slowly, her eyes upturned attent-
lively 10 Bell, who, fdgeting about,
thinking of Hal, yet feeling himself
chained to the side of the fascinat-
ing woman, who, by a word now and
then, keeps him close TO her as cas-.
lily as IL she had him bound hand
and foot. Strangely empty the great
drawing room looks, with these only
to make an attempt at filing t.
Jeanne is absent, Vane is In his stu
do. and Clarence-w where is he?
Three by honors," says the count.
We nave all the luck, Miss Maud,
all the luck. Shall we have another
rubber?"
"oh. yes. please, yes!" says Maud,
clasping her hands. 1T is not at all
late is it. Lady Lucelle?"
Not at all! And you have won
Oh, yes, play another, and let me
watch YOU
But they have played their last for
that night, for as the count. with
dexterous hand, shufHes the cards. a
servant enters and hands him a let
ter.
lie takes 1t with his usual smile
but suddenly springs to his feet
white and agitated
ooh. what is the matter?" murmurs
Maud, affrightedly.
"rhe--the-ma matter? oh. nothing!'
says The count. with a CHASTITY smile
But l am afraid / must take my
leave. Er-er--important business
communication my dear ladies. no
thing of very great consequence. de
mands. soweyer, my instant atten
ton. Err good night"
Good night; so sorry!" murmuri
Lady LUCILLE, holding his hand tina
fidgets to be free Must you reall,
go. count?"
Il must he says. Then. as h,
goes. polite to the last. he SAYS
Make my adieux, madame. II yot
please And--and--" he adds. turn
ing and looking over his shoulder
with smile that makesI hisface looI
like a piece of ivory that has cracked
for q thousand years-"has my deat
young friend returned yet ?"
Hal? On. yes" says Lady Lu
celle. with a smile 80 kind of 70,
to think of himl He is up in hi.
room, quite tired out Won't Won stor
and see him?"
But with startled, bewilderet
stare. that is real for once. the willy
count hurries out.
Lady LUCILLE looks around the room
with a smile that is almost hyster
ical. Truly, the situation grows com
ical, but for the tragedy which lies
hidden, like the asp in the fruit
lies hidden to al but 'ner.
Nugent smothers a yawn behind
his handkerchief Tets have hand
at nap" he says. where is vane?'
II am going upstairs to inquire after
Lady Ferndale." says Lady LUCILLE
and viii send him down to YOU
Where are you going Mr.. Bell?"
Didn't you say Bell was in?" saws
Bell, anxiously. Il must go and see
where the bay has been"
Lazy Lucelle puts her hand on his
arm with a winning smile.
DO wait minute, to please me.
Mrs. Lombton will think It so rude
all of us leaving herr
What can Bell do? He bows. goes
back TO his chair, and sits and stare.
at the somnelent pair in restless
fidget to get to Hal.
Outside the door, in the hall. Lad,
Lucelle pauses a moment and draws
a long breath.
Lady Lucille is not only beautiful
and cunning; she is brave: but hel
check pales a little. and her near
throhs swiftly and unevenly as she
approaches the studio door. and pre-
pares Tor her last card. There is !
Venetian glas in an oak panel set
ting in the corridor; she goes up L
It. and steadily consults the reflec
ton of her face.
Without egotism or weak vanity
she feels, she knows, that it is beau
tiful; and It is beautiful just sow
with a new aud dangerous loneliness
for there is the light of passion in
the eyes, and the breath of passion
/ IN thp half martial l;,s o,,,, 49,,