Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-07-13

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It is spring again, early summer,
and the freeze that blows
across the rocky little bay Of New
ton Regis is so gentle and zephyr
like that Il sends the tide ripping
in with scarcely foam head on the
distant waves, and at litt,s dis
tance a handsome yacht, that rides
at anchor. looks like "a painted ship
upon a painted ocean"
On the beach is gathered, as usual.
a little. group Of fisher folk, looking
at the yacht with admiration and
pleased interest
Presently a couple Of sailors, IN
the neatest of nautical attire, come
down to the beach, bearing a huge
picnic hamper. There Is the Fern
dale crest on its lid; and on the
caps Of the men. cleaning brightly
in the sun. Is the name of the yacht
Nancy Bell.
A few minutes afterward there
comes the souT.d Of happy voices and
laughter, and presently young man
bounds from a bowlder on to the
beach and makes his way down To
the boat, in which couple OF the
yachtsmen are waiting.
II you do not recognize him by his
short, curly hair. sunburned face and
generally happy-go-lucky air, you
would do so on the moment his blithe,
CHEEKY voice rings out in friendly re-
Spouse to the affectionate greetings
of the fishermen.
It IL Hal.
"Haroa. GrifHni" he says to that
worthy salt. "alI ready" That's right.
Just enough wind. Ell? What glor-
ious day! Come on, folks; don't
waste a minute" and he puts his
hands 10 his mouth and shouts in
sailor fashion:
'All hands aboard"
A peal of laughter greets this sum.
mons, and in answer to it party OF
ladies and gentlemen turn around the
corner and come clambering down
the beach.
To see them-so light-hearted, so
like a pack of schoolboys and girls
Just out for a holiday-you would
never guess that there was a mar
Iquis and marehioness. and a count
and countess, to say nothing OF an
earl and a clergyman.
But so it is; for here, back at
Newton Regis, are Vane and Jeanne
and the count aud his new.made bride
whom we know as Maud Lambton
and here also are Charles Nugent and
dear old Bell. the last smiling through
his spectacles as If life were one per
Ipetual holiday: and here also is We
rona-Verona. as beautiful as we
knew her, but no longer pale and
wlstful-eyed. but with roses growing
on her cheeks, that the English sol
and happiness have planted.
"Come a.ong." says HAL who seems
unable to keep still. but insists upon
arranging the hamper and tossing VI
the cushions that have been placed
in the boat for the ladies. and gen
orally getting in the way of the sail
, ors. "Come along-don't let's waste
minute. Look, Verona, isn't she :
beauty ?" and he mods enthusiastic
. ally at the yacht. which is Vane''
present to Jeanne on her last birth
, day. isn't she clipper! Come alonl
we shall have a glorious saill VIVA
Jolly party we make. Iwish Georg
ina and that foreign swell, her nus
band--I never can remember hi'
Iname-were here: we should be com
plete then, And say. have you go
watch or. darling? The last words
Aunt Jane said to me were: Don
be late for dinner! ] shall make
vol responsible. vane has no iuea o
time. neither has Jeanne when she
IS once on board: and as for me,
never could get watch to go prop
erIy In my life. You'll have to keeT
The time when we're married."
| Verona bushes: he has spoken
quite loud enough for the men &c
hear. and she looks at him with low
ing rebuke, but Hal only laughs and
makes her comfortable, and looks
around. all Impotence.
What on earth are we waiting for
!. is Jeanne end Vane. Hi-come
along!"
i Yes. it Is jeanne and Vane; they
have fingered behind the rest, aid are
stands looking at an old boat that
lies hish and dry upon the beach
Though old. every plank is sound
every rope in its place for does not
cid Griffin keep her with jealous care
1t is the old Nancy Bell.
For a moment or two they look
down at her in silence and Halls
summons Is dlsregarded. Jeanne looks
up. and, though her lips smile, there
is suspicious moisture in her elo-
euent eyes. and the past Is forgotten
in her great happiness of the present