Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-01-05

smile and soft. silky hair.
] Il am-and / am not says Jeanne
leaning back with luxurious sense
of rest, as Mrs. Fleming Ioosens the
mass of silken hair and brushes it
gently almost lovingly; and you are
the housekeeper?"
Yes, my lady"
Jeanne signs rather wistfnlIy.
Il wish"
Mrs. Fleming suspends her task.
Yes, your ladyship."
Il wish on were my maid" says
Jeanne, frankly
The old ladgs face lightens up.
Your iadyship is very good TO say
So she says; you have only to say
so; there is no dificulty-my duties
are very light"
They viii be very light so far as
am concerned says Jeanne. laughing.
Il am sure of that, my lady; too
light"
1t is settled.
IF / wanted a white elephant,
suppose / should get it," thinks
Jeanne. yes, it is a great thing to
be rich and powerful, for all Vernon
says to the contrary"
With deft hands Mrs. Fleming ar
ranges the lace dress, fixes flower
in the silken curls, hands Jeanne a
pair of blush pink gloves, fastens
them. and pronounces the toilet fin
ished.
you must show me the way down,
says Jeanne, "or shall lose myself in
the castle keep, PERHAPS"
1T VIII not be the inst time in the
history OF the castle that a lady has
found herself there" says Mrs. Elem.
ing, with her gentle smile.
Jeanne follows her down the stairs,
across the broad hall, but there her
further services are rendered unnec-
essary by the appearance of Vane,
who, in evening dress, awaits her.
Mrs. fleming, musing. watches them
the slight, girlish figure against the
stalwart, broad-shouldered one--for "a
moment, with something like tear IN
her eyes,
God bless her sweet heart!" muir
murs the old lady. "She be a flower
indeed No wonder he loves her
the heart of stone she'd coax"
Oh, mesdames. if you only knew
how easy 1t is to win the affections Of
those beneath you! If any one had
been required to die for my Lady
Jeanne, Mrs. Fleming would have
been quite ready to go cheeFfully 10
the stake or the block in her stead.
In ten minutes the select servants
had been informed that my lady" was
the most beautiful creature that ever
the sun shone on and an angel" eX-
claimed Mrs. Fleming. q wonder--I
wonder how long they've been mar
ried! just like my lord to keep ey-
erything so secret"
Poor Vermont" says Jeanne, ca.
ressingly, as they enter the room in
which dinner has been laid. and she
looks around at the exquisite decora-
tons of subdued gray, lit here and
there by choice picture or a touch
of gold. How you must have suit
fered in those rooms at the Park!
can understand now!"
He smiles and whispers in her ear
Il was happier there than anywhere
else-when a certain young lady by
the name of Jeanne was in them!'
There are severa7 footmen lowering
to and flo, but at signal from Vane,
the butler. sta!d old gentleman, dis
misses them and himself waits,
which. If Jeanne only knew it, is a
great and marvellous piece of condo
scension.
1t is not an elaborate dinner-which
Vane detests, but its simplicity is rem.
dered elegant and artistic by the
French chef, who has spent good
many hours in designing and perfect
ing it. so as to make it suit both my
lord the marquis and his bride.
Ieanne-hungry Jeanne-whose eX-
perience of dinners is limited to those
arranged by Aunt Jane, and the
heavy-harded solidity of the pastry
cook. thinks it simply delicious. and
would say so sf she did not fear that
the butler would expire on the spot
But Vane does not seem to entertain
any dread and is just as bluff ana
CHEEKY and simple as of old; once he
actually so far forgets himself as TO
get up and fill Jeanne's glass laying
his hand. as he does so, on her white,
warm shoulder with a loving caress.
If the butler is shocked he manages
to conceal his emotion admirably, aud
waits, like an exquisitely-fashioned
machine. all eyes and ears for their
lordship and ladyship's wants, and
none for their manners. At last the
staid old gentleman brings in, with
great solemnity. a tiny bottle. all
crusted and cob-webbed. and handling
it with the tenderest care, uncorks Il
and places 1t az Vane's elbow. Then.
with bow which would have become
bishop, noiselessly disappears.
Vaue takes up the little wicker cra-
die In which the bottle lies.
The old port he says, with
laugh. fully is in an admirable hui
NOR tonight l don't get this every
day In the week, Jeanne. II strikes
me rather forcbly that this is in
tended as compliment to you.
You'll have 70 he'll. ne TO finish it;
iully would die of ief and disgust
If we left any Of it. ,ome. fer his sake,
over kissing her this time as he fills