Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-02-01

circumvention, with one sweep of his
long arm, he included the statue in
his grasp of her. With a laugh of
triumph he drew her out of her con
| cealment.
To her the splendor OF skies and
trees and morning light melted into
| that wonderful moment. For the
first time in weary days she had all
to give. nothing to fear or withhold.
She was at peace. She was ready to
| stop, to stand here in her life for
always-here in the glowing garden
with him, and their youth But he
was impatient. He did not want to
loiter in the morning. He was hot
to hurry on out of the present which
was so mysterious, so untried to her,
as If these ecstasies had no mystery
to him but their complete fulfilment.
He filled her with a trembling prem
onition of the undreamed-of things
that were waiting for her in the long
aisle of life.
Come. speak" he urged, as they
paced around the fountain. when
am to take you away?"
She hung back in fear Of her veyy
eagerness to go. to plunge head over
ears into life In strange country
with a stranger. Next MONTH" she
yentured.
Next MONTH why not next week
why not tomorrow" he declared with
confidence. who is to say no? I
am the head of my house and you
have no one but me. To be sure,
there is Mrs. Herrick-excellent wom-
an. But she has her own daughters
to look out for, and" he added slyly,
much as she thinks OF you, / doubt
II she thinks you a good example for
them. AS for that other, as for the
paid woman"
"Oh. hush. hushl" Flora cried, hurt
with a certain hardness in his voice;
Il don't want to see her. shall
never go near her! And Harry"
Il wasn't going to speak of him"
said Chatworth, quickly.
Il know" she answered, but do
you mind my speaking of him." They
had sat down on the broad lip Of the
fountain basin He was looking at
her intently. ct is strange" she
said. but in spite of his doing this
terrible thing l cant feel that he him.
self is terrible-like Clara"
And yet" he answered in a grave
voice, II would rather you did"
She turned troubled face. And
have you forgotten what you said
the first night ! met you? You said
1t doesn't matter what man is, even
If he's thief, as long as he's a good
one"
At this he laughed a little grudg.
ingly. ooh. don't go back on that
but was looking through the great
impartial eye Of the universe. Where
as man may be good of his kind,
he's only good in his kind Tip out
cat among canaries and see what
happens. My dear girl. we were the
veriest birds IN his paws! And no.
tice that it isn't moral law-it's In
stinct. We recognize by scent before
we see the shape. You never knew
him. You never could. And you
never trusted him"
But" she interrupted eagerly, 81
would have done anything for you
when / thought you we're a thief"
Anything" he caught her up with
laughter. "Oh. yes, anything to haul
me over the dead line Oh to your side.
That was the very point you made.
That was where you would have
dropped me--if had stuck by my
kind, as you thought It. and not come
over to yours"
She saw herself fairly caught. She
heard her mental process stated to
perfection.
But IL you hadn't felt all along
was your kline, II you hadn't had an
idea that was a stray from the orig
tnal fold. you would never have want
ed to go In for me-" he explained IT,
Flora had her doubts about the
truth of this For a time she had
been certain Of his belonging to the
lawless other fold. and at times she
would have gone with him in spite Of
Il, but this last knowledge she with.
held She withheld It because she
could make out now. that, for all bis