Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-03-03


munication notifying me that my wife
-Ciaire's mother--is probably III with
a fatal illness and ] am leaving for
California Immediately. My child
knows nothing Of her mothers Illness
and the reason OF my so sudden depar-
fure. l am concealing II from her by
saying that 1t is diplomatic business
which calls me away. 1t would be
cruelty to subject her so sensitive ma
ture to anxiety and shock of long Jour-
ney when she could not hope to see
her mother alive.
Il implore you in human kindness
take pity on her once more and shell
ter her for few days. keeping from
her the knowledge Of this calamity
that threatens her. I shall commune
cate with you in few days. My
gratitude" etc.
And Claire followed It in an hourl"
Mrs. Delario whispered.
did he bring herr
"No--he sent her In a carriage. OF
course he didn't bring herl He didn't
take any chances of my refusing 70
keep her for him."
Poor child" I exclaimed. "She
was devoted to her mother-it will be
a terrible blow to her."
Mrs. DeIario suited at me-takins
the letter from my hand and CHANGING
at 1t before she answered: you don't
think for a minute there's anything the
matter with Claire's mother, do your
There isnt?'
"Why, of course not Oh.
know" she answered the question she
must have read in>my face. 81 psyche
metrized this note as soon as I got it,.
That man can't deceive mel feel
scheme and plot all over it"
She held 1t a moment in a testing
sort of way, running her fingers back
and forth over 1t, then placed it In my
hand, asking: Cant you feel the oc
cult infiuencesf" and looked as II she
expected me to reply that could feel
the occult influences. plain as any
thing. Which ! couldn't. She seemed
disappointed and put the letter into
its envelope and that into her hand
bag, remarking: Its part of scheme
he's working. haven't made out the
rest of tim not clear on 1t yet,
though know it's something-tricky."
"And you think he didn't go to Cali
fornia?'
I'm sure he didn't can't see
journey for him--I mean an immediate
journey. There are Journeys all around
him-he travels a great deal-but
don't see anything for today-for to-
morrow; there's nothing like that near.
But 1 do get the word-clairaudient
ly-'Hiding.' That doesn't help things
very much for us, If he isP'
"or for Clairei"
mo. But please don't think I'm not
willing to do oil can for the child
for her own sake. But having her
thrust on me In this mysterious
way
She broke Off and looked at me help
lessly and l finished for her: HAS up
set YOU"
Terribly I'm nearly distracted
And that isn't ALL mean Claire's be-
ing thrust on me; there's a new man
come on the scene-Pm more troubled
about him than almost anything else"
"A new man? When did he APP
pearl"
Last night--just after / got back
from here and was waiting for mon
sieur; so l let him in" and she de-
scribed the very man who had just
been to see me, and who was either a
thief or Baron Won Follow-up for the
Emperor William, as Billy had called
him. He had reached Mrs. Delario as
he had me, through Claire, saying she
had disappeared.
.'And what's your impression of this
new mann" asked. / was beginning
to take some little stock In her impress
sions, partly because they conceded
with my own; partly because / was
clutching at anything that might help.
"Trouble-trouble for monsieur. I
get the word clairaudiently. You see,
I'm so upset-why, my dear, 1t isn't
any more possible for me to do my
work-get my readings right-in an at
mosphere of confusion-and fear and
anxiety--than 1t is for you TO do your
work-write, and compose beautiful
things. You couldn't, could your You
couldn't write, If you were all upsetr
/ admitted shouldn't expect to pro-
duce much of my own line of goods
under like circumstances and having
won this from me, she laid her hand on
my arm in an appealing way and said:
"It's why came to you'll didn't know
what else to do or where to turn for
advice. What am to 90 about Claire?"
was sure didn't know. but asked
some trite question about how she
seemed to be taking it.
"The poor child went into Mysteries
the minute she got in the housed l
had to put her to bed Pm afraid she's
In for sickness nervous break
down."
GRO BE CONTINUED