Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-07-14
TIN sorryl I zho42. have given

TIN sorryl shoa&- have given
you--"
His smile vanished. "No. you
shouldn't" he interrupted.
you must be ready 20 drop. Your
breakfast has been waiting for an
hour, for expected you earlier. and
know you're starving"
In her basement room - which.
though cheapIy furnished. was spot
lessly clean-she babe him sit down
while she warmed over his breakfast
on the coal-oil stove. When he had
finished the meal to the last drop and
crumb he sat back in his straight-back
chair and felt through his coat peck
cts. His quest finished. he stared
ruefully at the moist lump of tobacco
In his palm. She sprang up. ran to
cupboard. and in second was back
with a package of smoking tobacco
and book of cigarette papers.
Il thought of it last night" she said
simply. 81 knew you would want to
smoke"
He rolled and lighted a cigarette
took a heavy inhalation and sent the
smoke swirling ceilingward. Then.
lowering his head. he looked steadily
from beneath his thick. jet-black brows
at the starry-eyed woman sitting OPP
poslte him. He felt no love for her.
but a gratitude too deep for words
tugged at his heart. He began to be
uncomfortable.
She walked to the sink with the
stack OF dishes. deposited them aud
returned to where he was standing.
Il told the landlady." she fal-
tered without looking at him, "that l.
that you were my brother"
''No great harm In that, hope. Be
sides there is sort of family resem-
blance. And | certainly have most
commendable brotherly love for you
She became silent. Her dare-
skinned hands relaxed; her shoulders
dropped. After a fey dumb moments
she turned away and opened a door
leading into a dark hall. would you
like to go to your room now?" Her
voice sounded splritless. "Pll show
you the way"
He followed her down the subter-
ranean passage to a narrow stairway
at the rear. up which they climbed
four flights. His room was at the rear
of the top floor. There was but one
window. which gave upon an alley and
commanded fine view of brick wall.
He raised 1t and leaning out found
the cornice of the house was less than
six feet above the sill.
II may need that some time" he
remarked, turning back to Esther.
"rll get the lay of the roof tonight"
She had apparently forgotten her
depression. for she was all tenderness
now and. apologizing for the baroness
of his abode, she left the room.
After locking the door Fitzhugh
stripped to the skin. hung his damp
garments out OF the window In the
hope that chance ray of sunshine
might discover them and curled up on
the bed, which was never intended
for man of his stature. In less than
three minutes be was slumbering
soundly.
II was dusk when he awoke. Feel
ing greatly refreshed. he put on his
clothes. which were almost dry. and
walked downstairs. where he was
greeted by Esther.
at must be pretty late" he re-
marked
Its nearly nine"
"Ninei Why. have had ten hours
sleep"
But you hadn't slept for two
nights"
"Its larger dose than I've taken
In years. almost never sleep more
than FIVE hours out of the twenty-fOur.
feel as though I'm wasting time II l
do | know that's an astonishing state
ment for a tramp to make, but there's
so much In life. even for a tramp"
please don't say that You are not
tramp. and don't like to hear you
say you are"
Don't you want to know who
am?" he asked. suddenly very earnest.
| She shook her head. Mat least
not until you wish to tell me. 1t
doesn't matter to me what you are, or
| what you have been. Look at 1t the
other way about; how much do you
know of me? You know am radical.
you have probably surmlsed l am OF
foreign parentage. and that is all.
think l shall tell you something about
myself. for I can see you want to
know"