Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-01-18

be on his way now. He might at this
moment be hurrying down the hedged
lane from the station; and when he
should come, and when they two were
face to face. there would be no other
next time" for them. Everything
was crystalizing. getting hard. Every
thing was getting too near the end
to be malleable any more 1t was her
last chance to make him relinQuish
his unworthy purpose; perhaps his
last chance to save himself from cap
tivity. She found she hadn't a thing
left unsaid, an argument left I'M
used.
Beyond the fact of getting him
away safe she didn't think. Beyond
that nothing looked large to her. moth
ing looked definite The returning of
the sapphire itself seemed simple be-
side it, and the fact that her position
in the matter might never be ex-
planned of no importance.
Now while every moment drew her
nearer her greatest moment she
grew more absent more strained,
more restless, more intently listening,
more easily starting at the lightest
sound; until, at last, when the late
day touched the rooms with fiery sun
set colors, her friend, watchful of her
changing mood, ready at every point
to palliate circumstances, drew her
out into the garden.
The wind, which b1d fGllen with ap-
preaching evening, was only whis-
per among the trees. The greenish-
white bodies of statues in the shrub
berry glowed ruddy. Gathering their
skirts from the grass that glittered
with the drops of the last shower,
arm in arm the two women walked
down the broad central gravel drive
between ribbon beds of flowers. From
here numerous paths paved with
white stone went wandering under
SNOWFALL trees and wild apple, losing
themselves in shrubbery. But one
made clear turn across the lawn for
the rose garden, where in the midst a
round pool Of water lay like flaming
bit of the sunset day. Among the
bushes, red and rose and white, the
elder woman in her black, the young
err in her gown more glowing, with a
veil over her hair, walked, and, loiter-
ing, looked down into the water, see
ing their faces reflected, and, behind,
the tangled brambles and the crimson
sky. They did not speak. but at last
their companionship was peaceful. was
perfect.
Loud and shrill and shriller and
more piercing, from the west wing
of the house, overhanging the garden.
the sound reached them-an alarm
that set Flora's heart to leapinG
Startled apart, they listened
Would that be-is that for you7'
81 think it's for me-"
The words came from them bimul-
taneously, and almost at the same in
slant Flora had started acrJss the
lawn. The sight of an aprcIed maid
coming out ON the veranda and peer
ing down the garden set her running
fleetly.
Its a telephone for Miss Gilsey."
the girl said.
"Oh, thank you" Flora painted
She knew so we'll the voice she had
expected at the other end of the
wire that the husky, boyish note
which reached her, attenuated by dis
lance. struck her with dismay and
disappointment
Ella, oh, yes; yes; Ella" What
was she saying? Ella was using the
telephone as if it were a cabinet for
secrets.
CLARA told me you were down
there" she was explaining 81 saw
her this morning, yes. Welr'-and
she could hear Ella draw in her
breath-"Tm so relieved! I thought
you'd be, too. to know. I was per-
fectly right She was after him"
Flora faltered, after whom?"
There flashed through her mind more
than one person that, by this time,
Clara might possibly be after.
why. after papa, of counsel" Elias
injured surprise brought her back to
the romance OF. Judge Butler. Her
voice rose in sheer bewilderment.
"WelI?"
Elias voice rose triumphantly. II
got it out of her myself. l just came
right out to her at last. She seemed
awfully surprised that / knew; but
she owned up TO it, and what do you
think? / bought her off,"
Bought her Off" Flora cried. Each
fact that Ella brought forth seemed
to her more preposterous than the
last
Why, vas, it's too ridiculous; what
do you think she wanted?"
At that question Flora's heart
seemed fairly to stand still. That was
the very question she had been ask
ing herself for days. and asking in
vain.
Elias voice was coming TO her faint
as a voice from another world "She |
wauted that little, little picture-that |
picture of The man called Farrell |
Wand Don't you remember. papa |
mentioned it at supper that evening |
at the club? Isn't it funny she remem- |
bered it all this time? Well she |
wanted it dreadfully, but Harry |
wanted it, too. and papa said he had |
promised it to Harry; but got It first |
and gave 1t to her" Elias voice end |
ed in a high note Of triumph.
FIora's. If anything, rose higher in /
despair ooh, Ella.'
Doesn't it reem ridiculous" Ella /
argued that il she really wanted him |
she'd give him up for that?"
ooh, mol mean yes" Flora STAN