Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-04-19

BY FRANCIS LYNDE


| please" she returned gravely. What
is your need?"
He stated it concisely Money!
lot OF it."
How singular" she laughed She
got out of the hammock and came to
lean, with her hands behind her.
against the opposite porch post. But
tell me, what would you do with your
pot OF rainbow gold-if you should
find it,"
Brouillard rose and Strengthened
| himself with his arms over his head
like an athlete testing his muscles for
the record-breaking event
What would | do? A number OF
things. But first OF all. think. 10.
buy the privilege of telling some WON
an that l love her"
She was silent for so long a time
that he looked at his watch ana
thought of going. But at the deciding
instant she held him with a low-spo-
ken question.
Does it date back to the hand,cap?
You needn't tell me if you don't want
! to-"
1T does. And there is no reason
| why | shouldn't tell you the simple
fact. When my father died he left me
a debt-a debt Of honor; and it must
be paid. Until it is paid-but | am
sure you understand"
Quite fully" she responded quickly
and now there was no trace of levity
in the sweetly serious tone. is it
much?-so much that you can't"
He nodded and sat down again on
the porch step. Yes, it is big enough
to go in a class by itself--in round
numbers, hundred thousand dollars
"Horrorsl" she gasped. And you
are carrying that milestone? Must you
| carry it?"
IF you knew the circumstances you
would be the first to say that must
carry it. and go on carrying it to the
end of the chapter"
'But-but you'll never be free!"
Not on government salary" he
admitted. las a natter Of fact. it
takes more than half Of the salary to
pay the premiums on-pshaw! Let's
drop il"
She was looking beyond him and her
voice was quick with womanly sympa-
thy when she said IF you could drop
it-but you can't. And it changes ev-
erything for you, distorts everything.
colors your entire life. It's heart
breakingi"
This was dangerous ground for hin
and he knew it. In the ardor of young
manhood he had taken up the vicari-
GUS burden dutifully, and at that time
his remuneration of the things that
other men strove for seemed the light
est of the many fetterings. But now
love for a woman was threatening to
make the remuneration too grievous to
be borne.
How did you know?" he queried Gu
riously. 1T does change things. Id
sell anything I've got. sCve one. for
chance at the freedom that other men
haye-and don't value"
What is the one thing you wouldn't
seI?" she questioned, and Brouillard
chose to discover a gently quickened
interest in the clear-seeing eyes.
My love for the-for some woman.
I'm saving that. you know 1t is the
only capital I'll have when the big
debt is paid"
do you want me to be frivolous
or serious?" she asked, looking down
at him with the grimacing little smile
that always reminded him Of a caress
Il have been wondering. whether she
is or isn't worth the effort-and the
reservation you make. Because it is
all in that. you know. You can do and
be what you want to do and be if
you only want TO hard enough"
He was looking down, chiefly be-
cause he dared not look up, when he
answered soberly: she is worth
it many times over; her price is above
rubies. Money. much or little, wouldn't
be in It."
That is better-much better. Now
we may go on to the ways and means:
they are all In the man, not I'm the
things, not none whatsoever as Tig
would say. Let me show you what
mean. Three times within my recol-
lection my father has been worth con-
siderably more than you owe, and
three times he has-well it's gone
And now he is going to make good
again when the railroad comes"
Brouillard got up.
Il must be going back down the
HILL" he said. And then, without warn
ing; What II should tell you that
the railroad is not coming to the M
quota. Amy?"