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

station!" exclaims Jeanne, leaning
forward to the open window, through
which the innumerable perfumes OF a
summe,. evening are waited, as the
train uffs into a rural station, as ii
it were dropped from the clouds,
amid the Surrey hills. They had
been travelling all day, and it is nearly
eight o'clock when Jeanne gives
tongue TO her admiration. A long
tourney is a wearisome thing gener-
ally. but there are exceptions, and this
is one of them Jeanne is dusty ana
slightly-only slightly-stiff, but she
is deIicously and bewilderingly happy,
and owns to a slight reluctance to ar
irving at their destination.
They had halted midway and par
taken of luncbeOn-whose luXuries had
been prepared for them at the railway
hotel-and where, though unknown TO
Jeanne, some of the castle servants
had come down expressly TO wait upon
them. With each mile my lord mar
quis had grown more thoughtfully at
tentive, and dellciously loving and
tender; sometimes being prevailed
upon to light fragrant cigarette. and
once. actually once insisted upon
Jeanne's lying at full length and rest
ing her silky head upon him Tor pill
low. Yes. Notwithstanding the heat,
and the dust, and the slight stiffness,
Jeanne is happy, and it is with GER
tain pang that she hears Vane reply:
Pretty, is it? Well. this is EXton,
and our station
Ours says Jeanne. Look. Yer
non! isn't that a magnificent carriage!
/ wonder
Before she can finish, two fooimen,
In handsome liveries OF almost a royal
kind, come forward to the railway
carriage. and opening the door stand
for a moment with their hands to
their hats, then lead the way to the
grand travelling carriage outside,
Jeanne starts and pulls down her
veil to hide the sudden blush. The
carriage is hers'
All we'll, James?" inquiries Vane.
Yes, M lord is the respectful re-
ply. as the man closes the carriage
door.
"Home quickly" says Vane. and in
another minute as wagon, with
more handsome liveries drives up for
the luggage. the magnificent bays
dash along the road.
Now, my Jeanne" says Vane,
"look out 10 the left see, there's the
village. | wonder how long it is since
they We had these bays out? We are
going pretty quickly There's the
village; pretty. isn't it? That's the
river running under that hedge, and
there S."
Jeanne breaks In with a sudden ex-
clamation, wrung from her by the sud
den vision OF = palatial castle, its
Gothic turrets and battlemented walls
cleaning brightly in the setting sun,
and looking down from greenly-clothed
hill 1t IS a sight that many an ar
list has exclaimed at, and yet ii Is
only one Of the many noblemen's
seats with which the little island is
studded What was it the shah said
to the prince. when he was being
shown over a certain aobleman's vast
estate?
"Your highness should behead this
duke. he's too powerful"
Aud what was the princes laugh
ing reply?
Your majesty there are TOO many
as powerful as he to make il worth
while to behead one.
A faint smile of satisfaction sets
upon Vane's face as he looks at the
rapturous admiration on Jeanne's.
"oh. Vermont she says. what a
vision! Is it Windsor CASTER"
mo" he says; cit is the palace Of
another queen. however"
Another queenl" says Jeanne,
musingly, her eyes fixed on the fairy
like towers, Il didn't know there was
more than one queen in England
"Queea Jeannei" he says, tenderly.
Queen Jea-' Then She sinks
back and turns pale. Isis that"
she is TOO overpowered. too bewil-
dered and amazed to conclude the
question.
"That Is Ferndale Castle. he says,
lightly. and adds more tenderly:
"Your future home, If you should take
TO II. Jeanne--if not-well, We will
try some other"
Our future home-yes," says
Jeanne. "But it seems all so unreal"
1T has stood for a good many cen
turtles, too" says Vane, trying TO
laugh her awe away
The next moment Jeanne sees a
huge pair OF gates fly open, the mel
low notes of horn arise upon the
summer evening and Vane says,
cheerny:
we have Just passed the lodge
gates"
Then, in brilliant panorama,
passes velyety lawns with glittering
beds of flowers set jewellike, in their
midst, the ground rises, with terraces
of white marble and statuary. tier on
tier; then, with sweep, the road
winds around TO the front OF Ferndale
Castle itself.
Instantly. as if their approach had
been anxiously watched and awaited
handsome iiveries appear at all the
doors: the carriage is surrounded by
attentive and eager, yet not busting
servants; the great hall doors clang
open, and Vane, drawing Jeannes
double line of servants into what