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

crowd of liveries seem TO melt
| Jeanne finds herself, still leaning on
her husbands arm, ascending the
great staircase, up which, as far as
width is concerned, they might very
well have been conveyed by the trav'
cling carriage.
Look over, jeanne" he says, when
they reach a wide, sheltering gallery.
See. down there On that marble floor,
many a struggle has been fought out.
Once the Roundheads laid siege to
the place, and-confound them-took
it. The men fought to the last, even
the very last, and It lay strewed with
but never mind. Wen put these
cheerful stories off until your dinner;
which, by the way, when viii you
haye?"
Jeanne stares and bushes, but says,
with pretty little air OF indepen.
dence:
~oh, very soon. please; l am 50
hungry"
so am l." says Vane, and he turns
to the graye-looking individual who
comes to meet them. Southall, tell
them to let us have some dinner in
half an hour, in the small room
The man went off with noiseless
alacrity. and Jeanne, looking over the
huge, thckly-carved oak balustrades,
saw his black form disappearing in
the distance OF the church-like hall.
1t is magnificent she says, look
ing up shyly. Il shall awake directly,
and find have been asleep. Vernon,
/ am afraid to speak eboye my breath
here"
He laughs.
Twill be scolding me at the top OF
its voice in a weeks time, little wife,
he saws.
Jeanne bushes and bends her head
lower, but suddenly looks around and
sees an old lady approaching, dressed
In plain black silk, and looking more
spruce and tidy than ever did Aunt
Jane,
Can this be a relation?
but the old lady comes straight up
to them, beckoned by Vane's hand,
aud dropping respectful, not to say
awed, courtesy, says, in her lowest OF
soft voices:
Il hope | see your ladyship well?"
Poor Jeanne looks around 20 see
where her ladyship may be, then sud
denly recollecting herself smiles
shyly
"This is Mrs, Fleming. the house
keeper" explains Vane. in his care
less fashion Hope you're well. Mrs.
Fleming? That's right! WIN you
svnd her adyship's Made
win her ladyship permit me 20
conduct herr" says the old lady,
gently, Il thought she was going
to say her ladyship would bring her
own maid"-but stopped In time ana
looked gently at Jeanne.
An. yes, OF course!" says Vane.
Jeanne. don't be long, or nothing
win be left Of me but my skeleton!
and with a laugh he touches her arm
lovingly, and goes on to his own
rooms
Jeanne looks after him for mo-
meut, then follows the old lady down
a corridor, which has its old oak re-
leved by exquisite paintings on panels
OF duh god Gradually the decora-
tons grow OF lighter character, and
! presently the old lady opens a door
and ushers Jeanne, with a little cour-
tesy. into delicious little room. FUR
nished in exquisite taste-a little nest
in the old tree of a castle. Jeanne
looks aropd iwth hushed breath
then, with an exclamation OF childish
delight, she runs across the room and
stands before a picture which is hung
over the antique mantelpiece,
1t is a picture OF gray cliffs and a
pring sky, with billowy sea, and a
boat sailing in over the bar. 1t is the
/ Nancy Bell Jeanne knows whose
/ hand painted il. and her eyes fill with
/ happy happy-tears. The old
lady watches her from a respectful
distance.
"When--do YOU know how this
came here?" she asks.
My lord sent it a week ago, and
gave directions where It was TO be
hung. my lady"
/ Tit is picture of my boat, and
/ Newton Regis, where | came front"
/ says Jeanne explain ing.
Yes, my lady, sNys Mrs Fleming
This is your lady,'hip's own room
This is the dressing-rcom," she adds,
( opening another door, 2ud the next
is your ladyship's bed-chamber That
/ door leads to my lords rooms They
] have been decorated and refurnished
/ en- suite, my lady Is there any al
terations your ladyship would like
made"
They are simply perfect" says
Jeanne, and what lovely view.'
The best from the castle, though
] they are all beautiful " says Mrs.
Fleming. will your ladyship allow
me to remove your hat?"
Jeanne bushes. then with her old.
candid laugh, shakes her head.
4 have never had maid in my
life. she says. IL think III man
age, but-don't go. please" she says,
as the old lady. dropping courtesy
moves away, You shall stay in case
l want any help, oh. where are my
/ boxes"
In the dressng-room, my lady, :"
/ says Mrs Fleming, Il made haste 10
/ vet them M while your Iadvship was