Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-02-18
: Jane Bunker
cos1rishs TIE Bobbs AerriD Co

tN-Dut never lOuHu Jul
She looked as If she were dying TO
ask. "Have you found out?"
! was so afraid she would that
ended the cross-examlnation hastily by
asking her what she heard from her
mother and signaled Billy to chip into
the conversation and make talk as fast
as he could; and after she'd replied
about her mother-that her GRANDPA
ther was still dying and her mother
dared not leaye-she turned to Billy
as though she had really only just then
become aware Of his presence, and
they soon were chattering away like
magpies and the bushes were mostly
on Billy's cheeks. For which he might
be forgiven. He was Just twenty-five
and she was just sixteen but In three
years-dear me, what a beauty she
was going to be-what man-killerl
left them to themselves, going to
my bedroom on some pretext or an
other while one quarter of an hour fol-
lowed another. and still monsieur did
not return. At nine Claire began TO
be restless; at quarter after she blurt-
ed out, do you suppose anything has
happened to papa2"
| had been supposlng It for half an
hour-he'd had time to make twenty
trips to the telegraph Office and back
but | managed to say reassuringly,
why. what could happenf" and Billy
supported me with a fine courageous
Nothing could have happened-he's
mamie knows how to take care of
himself" and was rewarded with a
look. Even at sixteen Clalre's looks
were valuable-Billy wouldn't have
sold that to another fellow for a ten
Collar bin
The elevator rumbled up, and /
cried, There he Isl think"
George presented me with two
notes and the Information that an au-
tOfnobile was downstairs waiting.
! handed one note to Claire. tore
open the one addressed TO me, and
read:
I'm sending a car for my daughter
VIII you ask Mr.. Rivers to escort her to
the hotel? 1t is necessary that ! say some
few words to you alone. beg you to
await me.
II was signed, "H de Ravenol."
had barely finished this when
heard Claire give a cry. Mamma is
deadl !" and | looked up just In time
to see her throw out her arms anil
swoon away at my feet
People faint away in this story like
the herones of a mld-Victorian ro-
nance, but | can't help II. Anyway.
warned you there was another faint
coming. which faint was. under the
circumstances, natural enough.
To be exact. Claire swooned at my
feet via Bnlys arms. The intention
was all on his side, however-he
caught her as she was regardlessly go
ing and let her down. A light bur
den.
Got any smelling salts2 Quick If
you have. Some water. II you haven't"
he ordered.
| couldn't help an Inward snort at
the cool way in which he took the pro-
/ prietorship of the situation In my
house--a snort tempered with good
natured elderly amusement at his inn
petuosIty and It's jusdhable cause He
was nearly as pale as Claire and
dreadfully agitated. But was already
/ running to the bathroom for the water
/ To revive her. as twenty-four hours
/ previous I'd run for water to assuage
the ammoniacal agonles of her dear
| papa.
| Billy was on his knees. From under
one protruded the note that had
caused the damage ! went down on
/ my knees and applied the wet towel.
Billy fished forth the note and with
out conjunction read II aloud
My child: at was In Frenohl Return 10
! the hotel immediately Ask Mr.. Rivers to
escort you. VOTRE PERE.
Nothing very rve-shattering and not
/ ly she'd been expecting something and
this had keeled her over ON general
principles.
"what was in yoursT" demanded
BiHy.
I reached out and got It or the ta-
Bile where I'd thrown 1t and gave It
/ to him. Nothing about her mother"
said l. This getting her away Is just
u dodge to see me alone"
You're not going tor Billy ex-
claimed with some dlsmay.
l sopped at Claire's face and an.
swered: Il don't know--it depends
on how soon he comes"
Il wouldn't-it isn't safe for yor ="
"You come here the very first thing
10 the morning, and IL don't answer
your ring"
Claire just then stirred. and we
/ thought she was coming to. but she
relapsed again. and Billy doubled up
hts fists and made motion toward the
front door, indicating that Il didn't
answer he would break II In.
That's it--and the very first thing
/ in the morning. don't know what
else TO dO--and--" I leaned over Claire
/ anxiously, and whispered to myself
rather than Billy: This is pretty
bad"
where's that ammonium he de-
manded. making wry face and adding
/ in q whisper: "Do you suppose she
knOwsT"
"Of course not" retorted. you
don't suppose he was such a fool as
- soli l,fS own child how We sAou, him.