Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-01-23
CHAPTER xl-Continued.

Meriem was all expectancy. What
would these strangers be like? Would
they be as nice to her as had Bwana
and My Dear, or would they be like
the other white folk she had known
cruel and relentless? My Dear assured
her that they all We're gentlefolk and
that she would find them kind, consld-
crate and honorable.
At last the visitors arrived. There
were three men and two wOmen-the
wives of the two older men. The
youngest member of the party was
Hon. Morrison Baynes. a young man
of considerable wealth, who having
exhausted all the possibilities for pleas
ure offered by the capitals of Europe,
had gladly seized upon this opportu-
nifty to turn TO another continent for
excitement and adventure.
Nature had favored him with splen-
did physique and handsome face and
also with sufficient good judgment to
appreciate that, while he might enjoy
the contemplation of his superiority TO
the masses. there was little likelihood
of the masses being equally entranced
by the same cause. And so he easily
maintained the reputation of being a
most democratic and likable fellow,
and, indeed, he was likable. Just a
shade of his egOtism was occasionally
apparent-never sufficient to become a
burden to his associates.
And this, briefly, was the Hon. Mort
son Baynes of luxurious European civ
ilization. What would be the Hon.
Morrison Baynes of central Africa ii
We're difficult to guess.
Meriem at first was shy and reserved
in the presence of strangers. Her
benefactors had seen fit to ignore men,
ton of her strange past, and so she
passed as their ward, whose anteced
ents, not having been mentioned, were
not TO be inquired into. The guests
found her sweet and unassuming,
laughing, vivacious and never-ex-
hausted stOrehOuse of quaint and in
teresting jungle lore.
The Hon. Morrison Baynes found
Meriem most beautiful and charm
ing companion. He was delighted with
her from the first, particularly so,
it is possible. because he had not
thought to find companionship of this
sort upon the African estate of his
London friends. They were together
a great deal as they were the only I'M
married couple in the little company.
Meriem entirely unaccustomed to the
companiOnship of such as BayneS, was
fascinated by him. His tales of the
great, gay cities with which he was IA
milar filed her with admiration and
with wonder. If the Hon. Morrison al
ways shone to advantage in these mar
ratives, Meriem saw in that fact but
a natural consequence to his presence
upon the scene of his story. Wher-
ever Morrison might be he must be
hero. SO thought the girl
With the actual presence and COM
partnership of the young Englishman
the image of Korak became less real.
Where before it had been an aetuality
10 her, she now realized that Korak
was but a memory. To that memory
she still was loyal But what weight
has a memory in the presence of fas-
cinating reality?
And presently she found the features
of Korak slowly dissolving and merg-
ing into those of another and the fig
ure of a tanned, half-naked Tarman-
gani became a khaki-clothed and stur-
dy Englishman astride hunting pony.
The Hon. Morrison Baynes was sit
ting with Meriem upon the veranda
one evening after the others had re-
tired Earlier they had been playing
tennis, a game in which the Hon.
Morrison shOne TO advantage, as. in
truth, he did in most all manly sports.
He was telling her stories of London
and Paris. of balls and banquets. Of
the wonderful women and their won
derful gowns, of the pleasures and
pastimes of the rich and powerful.
Meriem was entranced. His tales
were like fairy stories to this little
Jungle maid. The Hon. Morrison loom
ed large and wonderful and magnifi-
cent In her minds eye. He fascinated
her, and when he drew closer to her
after a short silence and took her hand
she thrilled as one might thrill beneath
the touch of a deity-a thrill of exalta-
ton not unmixed with fear.
He bent his lips close TO her ear.
'Meriem :" he whispered. MY little
Meriem May hope to have the right
TO call you my little MerlemT"
The girl turned wide eyes upward to
his face, but it was in shadow. She
trembled. but she did not draw away
The man put an arm about her and
drew her closer.
81 love you :" he whispered