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

seemed so phantasmal then, every
thing she had put down as a Pigment
of her own imagination, had meant
just this plain fact. All three of
them had wanted the picture For
his own reason, Kerr had turned aside
from the chase, but Harry had stood
with it to the last, and now, when
finally the prize had been assured to
him. Clara had It!
At this moment she had il in her
hand At this moment she knew what
was the aspect of the figure in the pic.
ture, whether it showed a face, and,
II a face, whose F1oras hands open
ed and closed "Oh," she whispered
to the great silence of the great house
awaiting him: where is he7 Why
isn't he here?"
All those terrible things which
might be happening beyond her
reach processioned before her. Had
Clara already snapped the trap of the
law upon Kerr? And if she hadn't
yet. what could be done to hold her
off? Flora turned again to the tele-
phone. Slowly she took down the re-
ceiver and gave into the bright mouth
piece of the instrument the number of
her own house.
Presently the voice of Shima spoke
10 her. Mrs. Britton had gone out to
dinner.
Tell her, Shima," Flora command
ed, tell her to come down on the
earliest train" She hesitated, then
finished in a firm voice. Tell her not
to do anything until she has seen
me"
Shima would tell her-but Mrs.
Britton had been out all day. He did
not know when she would be back.
The words sounded ominous in
Flora's ears. She turned away. Was
everything to be finished just as she
had light enough to move, but before
she had a chance?
The sound of spinning wheels on
the drive started her to fresh hope,
and sent her hurrying down the stair.
II was the phaeton returning from the
last train. Through the open door she
saw the figure of Mrs. Herrick expec-
tant on the veranda. Then the car
rage came into the porte-cochere and
passed With a rush she reached the
veranda, and stood there looking after
It. She wouldn't believe her eyes
she couldn't-that il had returned
again empty.
Mrs. Herrick's voice was asking her,
What shall we do? Shall we serve
dinner now. or wait little longer?"
ooh, it's no use" Flora murmured,
he won't come tonight He'll never
come" She dropped against the tall
porch pillar
my poor child" Mrs. Herrick took
her passive hand If she read in the
profound disbursement of Flora's
face that something more had trans
pired than mere non-appearance, she
did not show it, but waited, alert and
quiet, while they gazed together out
over the dsrkening garden.
It was the time of twilight when the
sky Is so much brighter than the
earth. Across the lawns between the
bushes from hedge to hedge the veil
Of the obscuring light was coming in;
ard through il the avenue Of willows
marched darkly. Their leaves moved
a little. Flora watched the ripple Of
their tops, clear on the bright sky,
and deeper down among mysterious
branches there was a sense of move
ment where the eyes could not see.
There was a curious flick, flick, flick
era progression. a passing from the
far dark end OF the willow avenue to-
ward where IT met the vista Of the
drive. F1ora's eyes, absently, involun.
tarily. followed the movement She
felt Mrs. Herrick'a hand suddenly
close On hers
els some one coming?"
They chung to each other. peering
timorously down the drive. A little
gust Of wind took the garden, and be-
fore the trees had ceased to tremble
and whiten a man had emerged from
their shadow and vas advancing upon
them up the middle Of TIE drive
F1oras heart leaped at sight Of him.
All her impulse was 10 fiy to meet him.
but she feI. Mrs. Herricks hand tight