Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-07-19
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I4SAiSSAfSo W HSE biSiOH.
why. Uncle Amos" she said sud
denly, where are you taking me?
We are getting close to Signal"
I'VE are going to Signal" he re-
piled quietly.
What, pray. are you going to do at
Signal?" demanded Helen.
I've a number of things to do
there" returned Rhinelander upper
turbed. But can't do them until we
get there, so why worry about it? I've
been thinking about that model that
we looked at yesterday for your sec
ond dinner gown" he unused. I'm in
clined, Helen, to think it will do very
we'll"
She laughed unblushingly at him.
Leaning forward from her seat. she
shook her gloved finger threateningly
in his face: You're thinking nothing
it's. you know you're not. You think
| don't know when you're trying to fool
me. lou don't give me credit for any
think like suspicion, do you? You're
putting something up. Uncle Amos!
But you haven't deceived me entirely"
We'll, It isn't your fault you don't
know everything that's going on. |
certainly give you credit" he rejoined
brazenly, with making diligent efforts
for two weeks to find out what I've
been doing. But" he leaned for
ward in return to defy her curiosity
hor out hax
The raillery had no end. Helen
haunting him with all sorts of plots
and he brushing aside her questions as
If they were of no more consequence
than mosquitoes. But when the rapidly
moving car. approaching the outskirts
of Signal, swept sharply to the left
instead of taking the highway on the
right toward the village, instinct sent
the happy girls heart into her throat
with a great throb; she half dreamed,
hall suspected what it might all mean.
Khinelander only looked straight
ahead and preserved an unruffled ST.
lence: a silence that Helen, herself,
was not unwilling to break as the car
sped on toward the iron gates that
guarded the entrance to her fathers
former estate. Would 1t turn in there,
she asked herself, or continue on up
the bay road?
The great gates were wide open and
lodgekeeper busted himself close to
one of them. Helen was not left long
in suspense. Apparently. Rhinelander's
driver had had his orders for his en-
ployer gave none. but the heavy car.
scarcely slackening speed, swerved
through the open gates and the lodge
keeper lifted his cap as the party
swept past. Something in his salute
awoke old memories-could he be the
same who had served her father? she
asked herself. THAT man." she re-
marked to Rhinelander, looks exact.
ly like fathers old keeper"
HE ought to-" returned Rhineland-
er, evenly.
"Why so?"
Because he is the same man."
The car drew up before the house
and stopped. What are you going to
do?" asked Helen in an undertone,
make call here?"
YES" answered Rhinelander pre-
pairing to get out while footman. run
ming down the steps, opened the ton.
neau door for him. And" he added,
81 want you to come in with me-"
Helen's brow furrowed a little in
perplexity. But | don't know these
people," she murmured under her
breath.
Rhinelander standing on the ground
while the footman waited at the other
side Of the open tonneau door for
Helen. held out his hand: You'll find
you're mistaken" he said to Helen
convincingly. you know almost every
one here. And even from those you
don't know. can promise you a genu-
inc welcome"
Uncle Amos" demanded Helen,
hurrying with him up the fight of
steps that led to the familiar vesti-
bule, and toward which Rhinelander
seemed Fastening with unusual en-
ergy, what do you mean?"
I'm tell you what. Helen, the mo-
ment you cross the threshold"
Her maid was at her elbow and in
the excitement of the little French
woman, in her sparkling eyes and COM
pressed lips-Helen read more of the
great secret. She drew a deep breath
and standing in the big hall, looked
around: why" she faltered. every
thing seems just as / left it. Am /
dreaming?" She drew her hand faint
ly across her eyes. What does this
mean? These furnishings-every-
thingi Uncle Amos" she cried under
her breath. who lives here? What is
it? What has happened?"
Helen" he took her two hands into
his own. this is now your home Just
as it used to be. And your old friends
are nearly all here to greet you"
A group of servants, men and wom-
en-. stood at the entrance to the dining
room. They were familiar faces to the
agitated girl.
Tears welled into her burning eyes
as she looked into the faces smiling
around her.
Annette" said Rhinelander briskly
to the maid, Miss Holmes wishes to
go to her room" He looked at his
watch. "She will tell you, Briggs" he
added. speaking to her fathers old
butler who stood at hand, when
luncheon is to be served, since from
this moment she gives the orders to
this household. But" he added, with