Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-03-04

ago, ana Lucy knew uults We'll that
her father had planned that the two
should marry and unite the broad
acres of the Hamptons.
But the young longing for romance
which was in her in spite of the chok'
ing sober business of her life, re-
belied at this. She would not give
herself as well as all her thought and
effort for Roanoke. She wanted to
love somebody, and be loved for her
self as other girls were; she would
not marry Harry because he and her
father considered It a good arrange
ment. SO strongly had this determi
nation seized her that, looking entire
" down that way of thought, she
failed to see that Harry might not be
classed with the colonel in his view
of the plan. She failed to see that II
she had not been heiress to Roanoke
House, or to anything at all, Harry
Hampton would still have been III love
with his cousin Lucy. For Hurry saw
how the young life had hen pressed
into service too harf for it almost
from babyhood; Harry saw how un,
selfish she was aid trustworthy; how
broad-mtnder and warm-hearted; how
she wouk like to be care free and ir-
respoE1ble like other girls O. her age,
opy that the colonel and he estate
were always there. always demanding
her time and her attention. He could
do little to help her as yet, but he
longed to lift the weight and carry II
with her. not away from her, for the
fairy of person was not the sort to
lean on others or to be happy without
her share Of the burden. Yet, Harry
thought. IF might only help her. and
make II all delight instead OF q
labor!"
But Lucy, going about her busy
days, never guessed this. She thought
OF Harry as the boy whom she had
grown up with, to be cared for ten.
derby always because of his misfor.
tune, TO be helped and planned for
and loved indeed, because he was lame
and her cousin. and because he was
dear boy and her best friend. But
as the hero Of her own romance to
come. she refused to think of him at
all. More firmly che refused such an
idea, of course, because her father
had limited that it would complete both
Harry's and his happiness.
Francois, with quick insight, saw as
much as this. and was anxious for the
boy who had been his warm and
steady friend What he did not see
was that Luck was fitting his own
personality into that empty notch of
her imagination where an altar stood
and a candle burned, ready for the
image that was to come above them.
That never entered his mind, for in
his mind Alike was the only woman
living to be considered in such a re.
lation. And, In spite of the selgneur,
in spite of pletro. in spite OF his whole
hearted giving up of her. there was a
happy obstinate corner in the depths
of his soul which yet whispered
against u reason that Ii might be
that Ai.~s loved him, that It might
be. for unheard-of things happened
every day, it might be yet that-with
all honor. with all happiness to those
others whom he loved-he might some
day be free to love her. So that as
he grew to care for and understand
Lucy Hampton more and more. no
faintest dream of caring for her as
he did for Alike came ever into his
mind
On an evening when winter was
wearing away to cold spring. Francois
waltes in the dining-room of Roanoke
House for HE scholar The room had
sweet and stately beauty. a graceful
stiffness like the manners of the
women who first lived In it. a hundred
years before. The carved white wood
work ever the doors was yellowed to
ivory; the mantelpiece. brought from
France in 1882. framed in its huted
pillars. It's garlands and chieeed
nymphs and shepherds, as II under
protest. the rollicking orange of the
t1e. Over mahogany sofa, covered
with slippery horsehair. hung a por-
trait OF the first lady of the manor
and Francois. sitting soldierly erect
in straight chair, smiled as his gaze
fell on it-it was so like yet so unlike
face which he knew. There was the
delicate oval chin and straight nose,
and fair. loose hair. But the portrait
was staid and serious, while Lucy's
face, as this man had seen II, had
kindly eyes and mouth smiling al.
ways He shook his head in gentle
amusement at the grave dignity of the
picture
But no. Madame-you are not SO
charming as your granddaughter, he
said. addressing Il aloud.
And then he stepped across the room
to the fire. ana held his hands to it
and stared into it. The clock licked
firmly. the logs fell apart with soft
sliding sounds, and he stared down al
theW-his thoughts far away--a look
came into his eyes as If they eoncen
trated on something beyond the range
OF sight. the characteristic look Of
Francois, the old look OF dreamer. OF
seer OF visions.
Then Lucy stood in the doorway
semitic, charming from the slippered
feet, locked over the instep to the
shadowy locks Of light hair on her
[ forehead.
Good evening, Monsieur ara
sorry l kept you waiting Hannibal
hurt his foot and ! must find plaster
and hondage for him. But you will
have enough OF my talking even now