Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-06-29

rom baS Gasp anu, DOuNCAuS away
from him. draws herself to her full
height.
With a glance Of doubt at sudden
inward gathering OF alarm. he looks
up at her
Jeannet"
"siIence!" she gasps How dare
you call me BY that name, How dare
you speak to me as YOU have done,
unless you are madg How dare you
follow, and insult me? Rise-no.
stand back One other sncn speech
one step toward me, and I call for
helpi I am not alone and unpro-
tected. as sou deemed. you coward!
& Coward
! As if she had struck him, Clarence
rises and staggers away rom her, a
deathIy pallor spreading slowly over
his face
4 Clarence leans against the balcony
his eyes fixed on hers, his lips NOV
4 ing for a moment in silence then he
i stands upright, one hand grasping the
rail Of the balcony, the other wiping
4 the cold sweat from his face.
u must be mad, he mutters, looking
at her vacantly Mad! You loatne
met"
II loathe you! Oh, do not think !
fear you"-for with start he has
made a movement toward her. Keep
/ away from me, or ! call witnesses
70 your discontinue and disgrace"
/ And she half turns to the door
/ with a gesture Of despair and weak
ness, he bolds up his warning hand.
Stopi" he says. There is no need
am not the coward you deem me,
Jeannel
Il am the Warehouses Of Ferndale.
Lord I.anel" says Jeanne, erect and
seornful,
Il am no coward save in my love
for you" he says, hoarsely, slowly,
as Il every word cost him physical
effort; and though was mad, you
have brouga me to my senses. There
has been some mistake, some cursed
mistakel" he groans. looking at her
/ remorsefully why have you fed
from the castle-why are you here
alone2"
Il have not fed from my home,
Lord I.ane-I am not alone" says
Jeanne but / deny your right to
ask any such, questions OF me, and /
refuse to answer any. II you nave
one spark of manliness left in you.
you will rid me Of your presence.
Col"
And she extends her hand with the
/ gesture OF an empress denouncing a
slave
Z Yes he says, H,oistenfng his lips.
r will go why should note And
yet would wait If, by remaining. I
could see you happy; for love
You Jeanne, say what you will over
whelm me as you may with hard and
cruel words. | will go because !
could not bear to stay and see you
wretehed, Jeanne. consider: there Is
yet umei I'll must tell you; for
what reason you have left your home
and the protection of your husband,
! cannot conjecture. do not know,
but I know that you cannot return.
or II you should do so, you will find
your place usurped BY this time. If [
know him Alright, they, too have fed.
Lucelle will not have let this oppor-
unity slip--an opportunity She has
been waiting for. DO you not under
stand?"
Jeanne's face. white as death, con
fronts him inquiringly
Have you been as blind to her
passion as you have been to mine?
Heaven help us both II is my turn
TO pity. Jeanne, vane loves LuceIle
as I love youi"
Jeanne does not quail, doea not re-
move her eyes.
You lie lord Lane!" is all she
SAYS.
/ He starts and bites his lips to con.
troll himself
No" he says. "as Heaven is my
Witness. it is the truth Think go
over the past few months~-remem.
bert With whom has vane spent all
his time. Recall .he words the Looks
tnat have passed between them. aud
| the glances which. unless you have
been deaf and dumb and blind to
your own welfare. must-must have
told their own story. Jeanne. reflect;
there Is still time Snap the chain
which binds You 10 a man who has
treated you with studied GOODNESS,
and WHO has dy this time, seized
the opportunity of setting another in
YOUR place one word Jeanu.. and
Il am yours, ms completely your slave
as have ever been, All, Jeanne,
YOU win not leave me and such love
as mine for a man who does not,
and never has loved you? Jeanne,
speak 10 me One kind word, and
all your cruel ones are forgotten
Jeanne, and he kneels again to her.
Jeanne does not Move, does not
hear apparently, for minute; then
she looks down at him.
Arise" size saws. OoldIy. as Il he
were some dog who had exhausted
her patience. You are mad indeed
and II you were not. if all you said
were true. listen to the last words
YOU will ever bear from my lips, Lord
lane l would rather be she life
long slave of him YOU traduoe, living
IN his hourly scorn and contempt
1 H.,,,.,,4i ors,t..Ifv