Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-10-30

clearly for the first time-and yet
that statement is wholly inaccurate.
saw clearly only a splendid sealskin
coat with a sable collar, fashionable
/ hat, two well-gloved hands and thick,
.mpenetrable veil This chance ac-
: quaintanceship was about to end.
could not follow her. spying. to the
clerks desk, and yet | must act with
in the next thirty seconds before the
house porter reached the bag IL /
wished even to go step further. He
! was passing the elevator now. l set
| nay feet Into the Rubicon.
! Madam" / said. this is st. yalen-
| tines night, sacred to the unknown.
It's privileges have been respected
| since Claudlus. beg you to share my
| Ioin OF beef"
The woman started percepubly,
1 glanced up and down the corridor and
then hurried to the elevator. For a
| moment | was at loss to account for
| this instant flight Then | observed
that a second hanson had arrived
and a man was coming in with the
porter through the door. The obse-
quious funkey was in the midst OF a
reply.
Just arrived, sir. in the first han.
som. SIR
| glanced at the elevator, the door
clicked; the escape was by a hairs
thickness turned to follow the man
He was advancing to the clerks desk
! his back toward me. I observed that
he was rather tall and wore a dark
ulster with a strap across the back
| The incident required no reflection
Here was the hurrying stranger OF the
ferry-shed, certainly one OF several
kinds Of dragons to be found at the
heels OF escaping beauties. ] should
presently see to which type OF danger
ous beast he belonged | strolled over
to the big leather settiS opposite the
clerks desk, planted myself IN 1t and
lighted a cigarette. The newcomer
wrote his name IN the register, took
off his coat. and turned | saw then
that he was not an irate father, OBJ
yiously. Ho was either the brother.
or alas, the husband OF this charm
Ing unknown He was a tall young
man, evidently from the south or west
Ills eyes were gray, he wore gold
trimmed spectacles. his nose was
aquiline. his mouth and chin firm and
well cut He was evidently a person
of determination and courage
"Aha," | said behind my cigarette;
there is here certainly snufings OF
battle, but not afar of. However. be-
fore the shouting of the captains begin
to arise. it might simplify matters L
knew whether the Nemesis is brother
or husband
| should arrive at the solution from
his bearing: Monsieur lie Coque or
Dupin would read H. instantly. like a
weather report | looked up at the
mans face He was smilingi Then
the beast was not an avenglng hus-
band. Such one does not smile
when he pursues the faithless. had
all the reeling dramas as authorities
for that He might chuckle in his
throat. or draw his lips into sinister.
fofebodlng curl; but he did not fan
into facial sunshine This man was
the Lord Harry, he was oT to the bar
below for grog, He must 10 the broth.
or, thou--and yet. no. He was too big
! llmbed for a brother. the.types OF the
two were distant as the poles--nor
would q brother be so bedecked with
grins. He would have nothing TO CON
ceal. he would buzz like hornet
hu al No. F,g
der his wing and then take his Scotch
with his eye on her, This dragon was
| evidently less the brother than the
/ husband. but was he not. indeed. the
| husband? Did Pinero draw always
| faithfully from life? A greater than
he had written OF those who smile and
smile.
| Look at Il now: the first domestic
/ wrenehings were old enough to be cal
loused to the fingers. the home was
shattered beyond all hope OF patching.
the woman had gone out over bridges
! that straightway fell In behind her.
| the man followed like an Indian--not
to win her back to his hearth, but for
/ some object more sinister He had
found her at the T'wenty.third street
! ferry and lost her. but here she was,
run fast into pocket. and so he
| smiled and took glass OF grog. There
was time a.plenty for the blow |
thought the husband theory had rather
the better Of the argument
Meanwhile. I was ravenously hun.
CRY. threw away the cigarette. went
into the diniugroom and ordered a
somewhat elaborate dinner EFents
we're marching over me. the good st,
| Valentine slept must dine alone,
| while the unhappy truant trembled
and went hungry. and while. perhaps,
tragedy knottcd the tie strings OF her
mask,
I was Gaming over a cup OF houiilou
when low. merry voice said:
You are not very thoughtful OF a
guest
/ sprang up to confront dainty
figure in gray travelling dress. tive
! merry dark eyes. trace of smiling
| scarlet above defiant chin, and q
mass OF brown hair wound In loose
coils
4 beg you. madam" said. Ito lay
this discourtesy to my meager knowl
edge Of fRiries. thought you van
ished,"
What" she quoted. "and lose the
Join OF beet, the burgundy the salad
My tone was reproduced adorably
Then she sat down opposite me at this
table, as bewitching a madcap as ever