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

his surprise, utters the once familiar
name
"Lueelle,"
The blood flies to her face; it isa
GOOD omen.
"vane.9 she says, what are you
doing packing2'
Yes" he says. Give are going
tomorrow. You do not know yet? 1t
is sudden
~Going-tomorrow. she echoes
Ifaintly. You, also?''
T Jeanne and l." he says.
She turns away to hide the swift.
triumphal smile which will wreathe
her lips.
so soon and so suddenly! Oh,
vane!"
what is the matter?9 he says.
willis" but Willis is too well
, trained a servant TO wait for dismis-
sal; he has gone, for she stands WITH
dropping head and loosely-clasped
hands.
Nothing she murmurs. 1T i be-
cause ! am taken by surprise, sup
pose And you are going? And when
shall I see you again-when? AlasI
never, perhaps, Vanel"
Never" he says, absently Then
he crosses to her. and puts the lamp
on a pedestal. why. Lucille" he
says. gently--sorrow makes men gen.
tle-''what is this? Are you unhappy"
Unhappy, Can you ask me? Are
you happy?"
T--no, Heaven knows!' he says,
bitterly.
"And yet you ask me, Vane! Do
you think that | have no hearth"
u hope you have not" ne says, "or
be sure You win suffer some day
Am | not suffering now, do you
think? Oh, Vane-Vane! if you knew
IF you could read my heart, and
see how it has beaten for You and
with yours all these long weeks,
would you learn to think of me lit
tie as you used? Look ut me, Vane.
Am flesh and blood. or stone? Do
You think have forgotten. or that
can stand by and smile while your
heart is breaking?"
Vane does look at her; her eyes
are limpid. her lips half-apart her
face pale with passion He looks at
her, and turns away. Noiselessly she
is at his side, with her warm hand
on his arm.
''Vane, don't turn from me- could
have hidden it from you. and let you
think ! had forgotten, if you had
been happy. ] could did. but not
now! Why should I? While you were
happy you belonged to another; but
now, to whom do you belong but to
the woman whose heart beats in UNI
son with yours--whose whole life Is
here at your feet?'
And she sinks slowly beside him,
her white hands wound around his
arm.
Trembling in every limb, vane looks
down at her
For Heavens sake, arise. Lucellei"
he hreathes, hoarsely Don't don't!
Think-remember. My poor girl
what is thise Remember"
Il do, too Welt" she breathes. 1T
is for You now to remember: then
will it be my task to teach you to
forget all, saving the past which we
will hold together For-Vane, be
streng--I--who cannot see Won un
happy without suffering with you
have to wound and torture you"
He starts and stares at her.
"What is it, Lucelle, speak! Isl:
it--Jeanpe?"
Hush" she says. DO not breathe
hea name; it is not fit to pass your
lips againl"
With low inarticulate cry, he
withdraws his arm from her grasp
Jeanne where is she2'
Silent she looks at him.
Maddened by that silence, he
springs past her, hut she catches him
Loose me" he says, between his
teeth. where is Jeanne? Arise! get
out Of my sight you--you serpent!
Tell me where she is. or"
And he grasps her arm with q
hand OF steel.
White and writhing -serpent-like-
she stands erect,
Where is she?" she pants, with
her iover-fool! Would you follow
them?"
White and stunned, his. hand drops
from her arm
Are you made?" he exclaims, pain
fully.
mo! was moment acu! For |
loved YOU; now-I pity you You wish
to know where they are?? I will tell
you. They are at low roadside inn,
at Durbach Now follow tnem, to
find that YOU are too late
With hoarse cry he staggers back
against the wall, eyeing her as If she
were indeed some loathsome reptile.
| Then in an instant he RECEIVERS him
self Upright as dart. he opens the
door and points TO it sternly.
"Vane!' she cries. extending her
hands, "tIave pity, II love you!
a shudder convulses him for mo-
ment; then he raises his hand. ana
points to the door again
Got" he says. hoarsely: "and
Heaven grant may never see you
again!"
That he may not do so he turns
aside; when he looks again sue has
gone,