Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-06-08


ment in silence. al last he stops
and looks at Nagent with face SO
marked BY anxiety and care that
Charlie starts.
"Charlie," he says, in low voice.
4 must go back; can't stand ms
any longer. / faneied l could remain
until our time was up; l believed,
wanted to believe, in your assistance,
your emphatic assertion, OF my-oI
Jeanne's purity and innocence, even
in thought; can believe it no longer
-stopl" for Charlie had started Tor
ward. pale as himself. DO not mas
understand me; believe she IS pure
in act and deed, but ! cannot trust
her to herself any longer Don't ask
me what | have seen-yes, ! VIII
tell you. / saw Clarence kiss heE
hand: / heard his voice, low passion
ate, troubled as mine-Heayen help
me-used TO be! will wait no longer
Charlie, | nlust-I must take heI
back to England with me tomorrow!
Right! Quite right" says Nugent
But still, nothing shall persuade me
that such cause as you believe ex
lists. Mind that. But you arc quite
right tc go. And what can | do
shall | explain TO the people that re
main-shall I send them away? III
tell them important business has
called .you home, that Lady Jeanne
must go with you; and I'll take EN-
to the abbey, the whole Dining 0.
them, If you like"
Vane holds out his hand.
Il knew | could rely on you, Char
lie. best and dearest friend Do as
you think best; make the best ex
cuse you can, and let them remain
here as your guests, if they, and you
Ike. Candidly. this evening / am al
most befeft OF my senses. If / was
Indifferent. If | did not care for her
i could not take her away, send her
away, put bullet through him, do
anything easily. But, Charlie, love
her, love her as madly as in the
old days before our marriage. as in
In the old days before we parted"
Parted" echoes Charlie.
Yes, parted" repeated Vane. 1--WE
have been parted since our wedding
day Don't ask me any questions; |
cannot tell any more; parted, yes,
parted, as far asunder as If an ocean
divided us. Think OF that, Remem.
Der that love her madly, and that
her beauty, her sweet face, sweet and
bewitching, as you know, draws me
ON to love her more dearly every
day And parted There. Charlie, |
am scarcely myself tonight"
You look it, old man" says Nu-
gent, laying his hand upon Vane's
Your hand is on fire
1T is my heart" retoits VaGe, al
most wildly. land | am full of fan.
cies and prcsentiments. Fancy me
being so superstitious For the last
two days | have had a dread OF
something intangible going to hap
pen. Tonight ii hangs upon me like
a cloud hate the place, the very
air. the castle, everything about It..
Yes. wen go tomorrow, and take her
with us.
Nugent noes What can he do?
Right you are. Vane, Shall ! say
anything tonight?"
Wien you Iike-no, better wait
until the morning. my being busy
vii. be an excuse for your explaining
Instead OF me.
Nugent goes out without another
word, his heart wrung for his friend;
not Eve yards has he gone when he
meets Clarence coming languidIy up
the stairs.
For moment Nugent feels inclined
TO seize him and fling him out OF
the window. bur ne controls himself
and, instead. lays his hand upon
Clsrence's shoulder
Lane, he says. sharply
Clarence locks up.
"Well?"
Aren't you tired of hanging and
dwadling about? why the devil don't
you go to Norway-Sweden--or wher
ever you sai0 you were going?'
Clarence starts and reddens angrily,
What do you mean, Lord Nugent
Why should go?''
DO YOU want to ask me-" says
Nugent, sternly. Don't be fooi,
ClatIence. don't want to quarrei
with ycu, and If am to answer your
Question | should 90 so. We under
stand each other What good can
your staying do yourself--or others"
Clarence turns pale and hangs his
head, biting his lips irresolutely. Sud
denly he looks up:
'Nusent. you are right" he says
hoarsely; Il 90 understand you. can
do no good. and nothing but harm
to myself You are right, l will go.
Nugent holds out his hand.
Spoken like a man" he SAYS
when2"
Clarence makes great effort.
Tonight.
Without any fuss?"
without a word To a soul, he le-
plies.
Shake hands, says Nugent: YOU
are not quite lost, Clarence. Then no
more words as you say. We uncer
stand each other; tonight.
Ionlght.' says Clarence. and he
passes on. pale and agitated
This little momontouS conference
mas taken place outside the door Of