Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-04-05

winter day romance came suddenly
into the life Of Willis Lamphear. He
had been making purchases at a great
shop in the city. II was in the busy
holiday season. and at one OF the
counters a girl tainted. She was a
little slip of a thing with a white
face and pale gold hair 1t was VIII.
lis who picked her up, crowding be-
hind the counter and lifting her in
his strong arms as if she had been
a feather. He carried her to the ele-
vator and stayed with her until they
reached the eighth floor. where there
was a hospital for employees.
He waited for news OF her and
heard a group of excited girls say,
Poor little thing, her mother died
last week and she is all alone"
willis mind. working slowly.
evolved a plan. I'D like to send her
hom4 In a cab" he said 10 one of the
girls. 1T seems to me that am
partly to blame. Everybody who
shops - sch a crowded season is to
blame. | might have waited until the
rush was over"
The girl looked at him curiously.
You get the cab" she said. and I'll
bring her down when she is better"
At the door of the cab Willis asked
for her number and he blushed and
stammered.
The next day he hunted her up. He
found her on the top floor of a tene-
ment. looking smaller and whittier
than ever, as she lay curled up on
the couch.
She greeted him in a startled way.
Her life had net made her confiding.
IF YOU Will let me look after you
a little" he said to her, I'D feel bet
ter. hate to see little white thing
like you having to struggle. When
you tainted yesterday In the store 1t
came to me that the world was pretty
cruel to girls like YOU"
Her eyes filled with tears. "Peo-
pie do not think" she said. very
much about u.s."
He did not shower things upon her.
Yet he saw to It that she had enough
nourishing food.
She did not dream he was a rich
man. His clothes. his rough hands.
his hesitating manner. gave no i'm.
preston of afiluence.
Yet she chung to him: loved him:
worshiped him. He was not SLOW
Coach Willis" to her. but a wonderful
being of tenderness and strength.
When at last he asked her to marry
him. she would have gone with him
to penury. She did not dream that
his house was. In a sense. a fairy
palace, Plain on the outside, II was
like a rose within.
Spurred by the rapture OF HIS love
for her, Willis demanded from his
shrewd lawyer friend Information as
to the keeping up OF an up-to-date
establishment. A stout maid was
hired TO assist his housekeeper. He
bought a big limousine and an cleo
trio, and when he took the little white
maid home TO his village they rode
in the big car wrapped in furs
But you mustn't be so extrava-
CANT" she told him. thinking ii hired
for the occasion, after this. OF
course. just for our wedding journey
It is all right. but after that you
mustn't"
He smiled in his slow way, and he
laughed a little as he carried her
over the threshold OF her own room.
II was the rose room.
"Oh!" she said, and drew a quick
little breath. "Oh. is II fairyland?"
mo, It is your home" he told her.
She fitted into It like jewel into
fits proper setting She had a city
woman's knowledge of tho proper
thing; and it came about that Willis
Lamphears horne became the center
Of hospitality I'm the town. And VIII
lis took on new dignity. His wife
told him what to get and he bought
It. His clothes. made by city tailor.
fitted hiu, and gave him an air OF
man of the world. He was no longer
"Slow-Coach Willis" the townspeo.
pie were proud of him and Of his pref.
ty wife
But there were some women to
whom Willis success was sour
grapes II wouldn't have had him
with ell his money" they would say
spitefully.
But willis wife knew that she
had won a prize; she had seen be-
Meath tho surface into the heart Of
the man.