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

gone. Clsra's part in the affair, and
the price she had exacted. even in
this unnerved moment. F1ora's in
ztinct withheld. to save Mrs Herrick
the last cruelest touch. But for the
rest-she let Mrs. Herrick have it all
and under the shadow of the grim
facts the two women chung together,
as If to make sure Of their own identi-
ties.
Il don't even know who he is"
Flora said family.
Mrs. Herrick gave her quick
glance. She had not a moments hes
itation as to whom the he" meant.
You will have TO ask him when he
comes"
DO you think he will come back?"
Mrs. Herrick had the heart to smile.
But think Of what l have done. l
have lost him the sapphire, and he,
loves it-loves it as much as he does
me-"
Again the glance. Did he tell you
that?"
Flora nodded. The other seemed
intently to consider. "He will come
back. she declared.
Upheld by her friends assurance,
Flora found the endurance necessary
to spend the day, an empty, stagnant
| day, in moving about a house and
garden where few hours ago had
passed such storm of events. She
reviewed them, lived them over again,
but without taking account of them.
Her mind, that had worked so sharply,
was now in allegiance. She lived in
emotion, but with a tantalizing sense
of something unexplained which her
understanding had not the power to
reach out to and grasp. For a day
more she existed under the same roof
with Clara, for Clara stayed on.
At first it seemed to Flora extraord-
mary that she dared, but presently it
began to appear how much more ex-
traordinary it would have been If
Clara had promptly fed. BY waiting
a discreet length of time, as If moth
ing had happened, she put herself in
dubitably on the right side of things.
Indeed, when one thought had she
ever been legally off it?
That was the very horror. Clara
had simply turned the situation over
and seen its market value, and how
enormously she had made it pay!
Flora herself had paid; and she had
seen the evidence that Harry had
paid, paid for his poor little hour of
escape which mere murderer might
have granted him in pity. Yet Clara
could walk beside them, meet them at
dinner with the same smooth face.
chat upon the terrace with the unsus-
pecting Mrs. Herrick, and even face
Flora in a security which had the ap-
pearance of serenity, since she knew
that nothing ever would be told. At
every turn in the days business Flora
kept meeting that placid pres.
ence; and it was not until the end of
the day that she met it primed for de-
parture. Flora was with Mrs. Her
rick, and Clara. coming to seek them
out had an air of casual farewell. The
small, sweet smile she presented be-
hind her misty veil, the delicate
white-gloved hand she offered were
symbols of enduring friendship, as If
she were leaving them only for a few
hours; as il. when Flora returned to
town. she would find Clara waiting
for them in the house But Flora
knew it was only Clara's wonderful
way. This uprising and departure
were her last.
Now all her waiting was for Kerr's
returning. She did not know how she
should face him, but she wanted him.
A telegram came an hour before him,
came to Mrs. Herrick announcing him;
and then himself driven up on the
high seat of the cart, just as daylight
was closing. She and Mrs Herrick
had walked halfway out toward the
rose garden; and, seeing them there,
he stopped the cart in the drive, leap
ed down and ran across the grass.
Both hurried to meet him. The
three encountered like friends, like
intimates, with hand-clasps and hur-
ried glances searching each others
faces.
Did you save IT," Flora asked.
He looked at Mrs. Herrick, hesitat-
ing.
You can tell. she knows" Flora as
sured him.
mo, haven't saved it--not so far"
he said. He had taken off his hat and
the strong light showed on his face
lines of fatigue and anxiety. HE
gave me the slip-no trace of him.
No one saw him come into the city;
nothing turned UP in the goldsmith's
shop. His friend, the blue-eyed
Chinaman, has dropped out Of sight.
haven't made it public" he glanced
at Flora-"but our men think he's
gone by the water route-Lord knows
in what or where! He must have had
this planned for days" He didn't
look at Flora now. He turned his
communication carefully on Mrs. Her
rick. There were seven vessels
sailed that day, and all were search
ed; but there are ways Of smuggling
opium. and why not men7"
They were walking toward the
house. Kerr looked up at the window
where, a short time before, Clara's
face had looked down upon the CON
fusion in the garden.
as that paid woman still here?"
ooh, no; she's gone" Flora looked
at him warningly. But Mrs. Herrick
had caught his tone. why shouldn't
she be?" she demanded with delicate
asperity
Kerr had dropped his monocle. BE