Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-02-16
CHAPTER VI-continued.

blown out the light and was in bed
! beside her mother.
When Edith was assured the girl
slept, she crawled out Of the bed and
| lighted the lamp. She tried to collect
her thoughts, to lay a plan for the flu
ture for herself and husband. John
| Pendlehaven had been there! Pendle-
haven the one man in the world she
dreaded the mention of And Tony
had said he would come back tomor-
| row!
She turned and looked at the Sleep
ing face half-hldden in the blankets.
She had stolen this child from her
father. and now she had to escape the
consequences Of her wicked deed. She
had TO go away, and that quickly. II
she had dared to face her husbands
wrath she would have. then and
there. communicated with Paul Pen
| dlehaven.
She reached out and touched Tomb
bel's face.
"Baby. darln', wake up" she said.
IT want TO ask you something y
Tony opened her slumber-laden eyes
and smiled.
Don't go to sleep again" exclaimed
Mrs Devou. hoarseIy. Tell me this.
DO you honest believe what you said
about that thing on the card? About
\ II bein' holy?"
"Yep," asserted Tony. with droop-
ing eyellds.
you don't want to hurt Uriah and
me. do YOU. honey?'
The girl shook her head slowly, ard
doubtful shadow settling in her eyes
seemed 10 make her wider awake
q wouldn't hurt you. darlin'." she
replied az length, but sometimes,
when daddy's beatin' you.' feel like
whackln' the life ont of him. Why
today-"
Edith stopped her by a tug at her
sleeve
IF you swore by that card you
brought. mean II you took an oath
would you keep it?" she asked hoarse-
Is
''You bet would" There was
amazement surprise and eagerness In
| tie AuNliE Nbt&t-
"Dldnt you tell me the Teller said
Jesus was a holy blrdT
Tony nodded.
Mrs. Devon gripped her fingers
about the girls arm
"Mebbe he's I'm the Dirty Mary here.
only you can't see him. baby dearf"
The woman's voice was slyly toned.
| -. L.,
"He's right here" affirmed the girl.
thinking of boys earnest uplifted
face and vibrant assurances.
"Then say after me what I'm
thinkin' Of said Edith.
Tony lifted her eyes TO her mothers.
but drew back when she discovered
how terrible she looked. white like a
dead person.
II swear by the Twin Jesus" began
Edith. and then she paused. "Say It,"
she Kissed
81 swear by the Twin Jesus" Tony
repeated tcarfully.
II swear 10 my murray never 10
say nothin' mean against Urinh De.
Won. my daddy" went on Mrs. Devon
RtiiN itAtfdttu kitlNs TOO. UTMOST
frightened into Ats, She had never
seen her mother look and act so mys.
terlously.
"Now say this, keeT'~' In your mind
= you1l he blasted 20 he'll If you break
your word. I won't never tell that nv
father beat my poor mummy. or that
he's q thief and liar" A thick
| s,ariasu burst
lips and brought an ejaculation from
the girl.
81 swear to II all. honey mummy.
she cried. "You believe me, Edie
: darlin'. don't your"
Eyes. | believe you" replied Edith
duly Crawl into bed. and 20 I,
sleep, baby dear"
Shiyerlngly Tony Devon got hscl
) under the blanket
Then for more than an hour Their
5 was silence on the canal boat. sllenc,
that vas broken only by the nigh
noises outside.
Then. extremely weak, the woman
prepared herself to go out II too
her long time TO write note sh
had 10 leave for Tony. and when tina
was finished. she divided the none
the doctor had left and stole softl
from the boat
/,
II was in the full blaze OF mornin
d. sun that Tonnlbel open ID her eyes an
looked around the cabin. The othe
> bunk was empty. and her mother wa
not I'm the cabin. In her night clothe:
l Tonnibel went to the deck. shoutn
= the name, Edith" her strong youn
! voice repeating itself back from tn
woods IN echoes. Then she went dowr
stairs again and began 20 dreS
! hastily and every moment her fea
: WIS growing. She spied the net
r pinned 10 the lamp handle and stare
3 at II mutely as II dreading 90 know Il
Sontents. bTt she unplnned II with iii