Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-01-25

she thought with shame, to judge Of
CIara's honesty when she herself was
leagued with a thief? Clara" she
said humbly, before this upholder Of
the right. Il can't pretend I'm not
suppressing things. I've only asked
you to see me before you do anything
more. Now. you've come. Will you
tell me one thing-did you bring the
picture with your"
Clara weighed it. We'll, If I did"
This was the considering Clara, and
Flora realized whatever she could ex-
pect from her she couldn't expect
mercy. II was another thing she must
appeal to.
Clara" she urged, wait three
days, and you shall have the whole
of it. You have only the picture now.
You shall have the jewel too. Then
you can get the reward and still be
honest"
She let the word fall into the ST.
lence fearfully, as if she were afraid
Clara might detect it's sheer. But
this time Clara neither smiled nor
frowned.
st isn't the reward I'm thinking
about That's really very little. con-
sidering."
Twenty thousand dollars!"
Would that be much to your"
NO" Flora admitted; "at least 1
mean could pay it.
We'll. then" Clara triumphed, why.
the picture alone, if it's worth any
thing, is worth more than that" With
a bird-like lifting of the head she gave
sidelong interrogative glance.
Flora, for a moment, steadily re-
turned the look 1t was coming over
her what Clara meant; a meaning so
simple it was absurd she had not
thought of it before-so hateful that
it was all she could do to face 1t. She
felt tightness in her throat that was
not tears. Shame and anger contended
in her. Oh, for the power to have re-
fused that shameful bargain-to have
scorned IT. She turned away. She
closed her eyes. In her mind she
saw the figure of Kerr moving quietly
about the winding walks with Mrs.
Herrick. She faced sharply about.
What is it worth to you?"
Clara put her off with the last
sweet meekness of her cleverness.
Whatever it's worth to you
and him"
Flora was in command of herself
now. There are some things can
not set a price on. If this is what
vO,, bava oop,a douyv, fOr xua ora ufv,,
ply waiting for you to name It." She
looked over Clara's head. She had
stood abashed when Clara had pus
on the majesty of right, but now 1t
was Clara herself who was abashed,
not at the thing itself, but at the fact
of having to utter 1t. She sat grasp
ing one of her gloves in her doubled
fist; and, leaning forward. with her
eyes like jewels in her little pale face
and the white aura of her veil, waited
as if she thought that by some ST.
lent agency of understanding Flora
would presently take up a pen and
write the desired figure in her check
book.
But Flora stood inexorable, straight
of cleaning hair; and, with her hands
behind her, looked over Clara's head
through the window into the garden.
She would not help Clara gloss over
this ugly fact
A curious grimace distorted Clara's
features, as if with an effort she
gulped something bitter, and then into
the silence her voice fell--a gasp, a
breath-"Fffty thousand"
All sums had become the same to
Flora. even her years income AS If
she were verify afraid Clara might
take it back, she turned precipitately
to a writing-table But Clara had
risen, and though still pale. in meas
ure she seemed to have recovered her
self.
Wait I can't give It to you now.
I will meet you here in two hours ard
bring the picture. You can let me
have it then"
"Oh, two hours!" Flora objected.
But Clara was firm. mo, l can't
bring it sooner 1t will make no differ
ence in your affair" She was painting
in her excitement I'm two hours you