Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-04-16
CHAPTER I.
A Chance Encounter.
coPYSCnT sos ~ mr. Bo655 MERRILL co.

Chance Encounter.
"Don't you know. boy, you ought
not to get in my way?
The tide was at its ebb: the boats
stranded afar. and the lad addressed
had started, with a fish-h his wage
IN one hand, to walk TO shore. when.
passing into the shadow OF the ram
part OF the Governors Mount. from
the opposite direction white horse
swung suddenly around a corner OF
the stone masonry and bore directly
UPON him. He had but time 10 step
aside; as IL was. the animal grazed
his shoulder. and the boy, about to
give utterance TO a natural remon-
STRANGE. lifted his eyes TO the offend
er. The words we're not forthcoming:
surprised. he gazed at tiny girl. OF
about eleven. perched fairy-Iike on the
broad back OF the heavy steed
Don't you know you ought not TO
get in my way?" she repeated I'm
periously
The boy, tall. dark unkempt as a
young savage, shifted awkwardly; his
black eyes. restless enough ordinarily.
expressed a sudden shyness in the
presence OF this unexpected and
dainty creature
didn't see you" he half STAN
mered
Well, YOU should have" And again
the little lady frowned. shook her dis
ordered golden curls disapprovingly
and gazed at him. look of censure
ia her brown eyes. But perhaps you
don't know who am" she went on
with lift OF the patrician doIliike
features Il don't think you do, or
you wouldn't stand there like a
BOBBY. without taking Off your hat"
More embarrassed. he removed a
worn cap while she continued to re-
gard him with the reverse OF ap.
proval Il am the Comtesse Elise.
she observed. "the daughter OF the
Governor of the Mount"
Oh" said the boy. and his glance
shifted to the most important aud in
sistent feature of the landscape.
Carrying it's clustered burden OF
houses and palaces. great rock
reared itself from tho monotony OF
the bare and binding sands Now an
oasis In the desert, ere night was
over he knew the in-rushing waters
would convert II into an island; claim
IL Tor the sea A strange Kingdom,
yet mighty one. u belonged alter
nateiy 10 the land and to the ocean.
With the sky. however. II enjoyed
perpetual afIiliation. TO- the heavens
we're ever wooing II. now winding
pretty ribbons OF light about It's air
drawn castles. then kissing II with
the tender, soft red glow OF celestial
fervor.
Yes: ! live right on top among the
clouds. in castle. with dungeons un-
derneath. where my father puts the
bad people who don't like the mobiles
and King Louis XVI hut where.
categorieally. do you Iiye?"
Ills gaze turned from the points
and turrets and the clouds she spoke
or seemed to finger about the
lofty summit--to the mainland. per
haps a mite distant
There he said, aud specifically
Indicated dark fringe. like cloud
on the lowlands
''in the woods! How odd" She
looked at him With faint interest
AMI don't the bears bother your
Once when | wanted to see what the
woods were like. my nurse told me
they were filled with terrible bears
who would eat up little girls. don't
have nurse any more" irrelevantly.
only governess who came from the
court of Versailles. and Beppo. DO
you know Benpo2"
No"
4 don't like him.. she connded
lie is always listening, But why do
y0r live In the woods"
Becausel The reason failed him
: And didn't you ever live anywhere
elses"
A shadow crossed tue dark young
face, Once. he said.
4 suppose the bears know Won. :.
she speculated. and that is the rea-
son they let you alone. Or. perhaps.
they are like the wolf in the fairy.
tale. Did you ever hear of the kind,
hearted wolf?"
He shook his head
MY nurse used TO tell Il TO me.
Well. once there was a boy who was
an orphan and everybody hated him.
So he went to live in the forest and
there he met a woh Where are YOU
going. little boy said the wolf. No
whore. said the boy; I nave no home
NO home said the kind hearted
wolf. then come with me. and you
shall share my cave Isn't that d
nice story?"
He looked at her la puzzled man
----~>~sN~-~~~J~~~-~-~-~~~