Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-07-18

with back to her. little man Of fur
tive presence oddly like the Japanese
whom Kitchener had bowled over in
the woods that morning.
She had hardly appeared by the
window when the man in evening
dress nodded pleasantly, as if termi-
mating "a casual conversation, and the
other stepped. instantly yet without
apparent haste, down to the lawn and
quickly disappeared amid the shad-
ows of shrubbsry.
The incident made little impression
upon her. But she was relieved TO
see the remaining guest turn and leis-
urely saunter away.
AS he rounded the farther corner
of the house, shaft of light from an
other window identified his profile,
Enthusiastically as Baron HurOki's
A light footstep sounded behind her
she reused in dismay, striving to calm
g. heart in panic.
"Mees Channingl"
Patria all but gigglee with the reac-
ton from her fear lest Captain Parr
had found her there, in a mood all too
melting.
SIS K you, Senior de Lima? How
fortunate haven't had a real chance
to speak to sou tonight. but now"
Patria was startled to find De Lima
so close beside her; his breath famed
her cheek.
"Mees Channing-Patria- love
you'll"
'Ah, but please
''No-listen to me. 1 beg you will
marry me. am mad about you"
"You are mad indeed, Senior de
Lima, to imagine I'd ever marry any
one but an American"
"You will forget that-in my arms y
Patria uttered slight cry. De
Lima had taken unto himself one of
her hands and was covering it with
kisses.
AS if in answer to that cry, she
heard De Limas half smothered ex-
clamatiOn of annoyance, felt her hand
abruptly released. and discovered Cap
tain Parr standing almost between
them.
Pardon, Miss Claiming, but this is
my dance, isn't it?"
She laughed a little, almost hyster-
ically: rs it, Captain Parr? Why, yes.
of course it is! How stupid of me
You will forgive me, Senior de LimaT
The Mexican recovered admirably,
stepping back with bow.
The music ceased; their flying feet
were stilled; Patria awOke as from
dream. A faint suggestion of APP
plauSe made her appreciate that they
had had the floor practically to them
selves.
Her embarrassment was such that
she never knew just what 1t was she
said TO Captain Parr as they hastily,
by way of another window, sought the
refuge of the veranda.
She never. indeed, could quite re-
call what passed between them in the
course of the next few minutes.
A footman found them with the in
formation that Patria was wanted on
tut teitEL OhE. Lung ulSlduCe CdIliuS
from New York.
A little dazed by the conflict of her
senses, she responded mechanically.
A moment later she was in the Ii
brary-quite by herself-with a re-
ceiver TO her ear. Then a voice fall
tered through the night, a voice most
clear, yet strangely faint, iterating her
and over.
She managed to make the speaker
that she was Patria.
"Peter Ripley speaking-your guar
dian. The nations welfare rests with
you. And l am dying"
On the echo Of that last word the
report of a pistol shot reverberated
over the wire, so loudly and seemingly
so near at hand that it might have
been fired in the room adjoining that
wherein Patria stood.
Almost instantly it was echoed by
another report.
observation-disclosures