, 1879-12-29

Lord kilderm leaned gloonlily against
the trunk of the tree under which they
both had been standing. He must go
lovely Irish hills and dales -ud his fair
IRISH love, hehind him, and his hea, t
rebelled hotlv.
Little did Nora Chreen,an know how
near the truth her remark about his
marry ing some one of his own rank
came. He thought now of III his pa
rents hopes aud plans, laid upon his
marriage to Llly Laura Belmont. a
reignipg London belle. and whose es-
tate Joined that of their own. He knew
his fathers heart was fixed upon this
marriage. and he beg .u to think he
might as well marry Lady Laura. since
he could not have the one true love of
his heart.
And so next day he was whirled away
to London, and reached home just in
time to greet Lady Laura Belmont, who
had been calm. on his mother, and
was making her dieu just as he arrived.
When Lady Lal "a was gone, and his
mother had lang uidly expressed her Joy
at his return, 81 said to him, with a
little more amin Ition than she generally
use6,-
And now, Audley, do pay little
more attention to Laura Belmont, and
try to come to an understanding with
her, as you have been away from her
side too long already. 1t is a wonder
some one Las not carried off the prize
which you might claim as your own il
you would but say the word
He did not tell her he had said the
"word " to little girl away in Ireland,
butinstead made an impatient gesture as
he went to dress; for tonight he was to
attend Lady Liura and mis- mother to the
opera, mis- mother having gained reluc-
tant consent from him, and with a sigh
he resigned himself to fate. Away in the
little Irish village in which was her
home, Nora Chreeman sat Ia her cham
Der, with her head leaning on her hand,
which rested on the sill of the open
window. The scent of many flowers
tioated up to her as she sat there, think
ing of those happy moments spent with
Lord Kilderm. She gave him up
bravely, but she found it much harder
to bear than she thought. But Nora
Chreeman knew, and she knew rightly,
too, that she could never have been
happy as Lord Kilderm's wife. Happy
in his love she might have been; but
she knew too we'll bis aristocratic par
ents would never have opened their
doors to one of so humble birth az hers,
no matter how much of lady she
might be; and she was lady to the ends
of her tinger-tips; for had not Lord
Kilderm told her time and again, that
she was as much of a lady as any of the
proud danes who swept through his
mothers drawing-room in silks and vel
vets? But although of honest, respect
able parentage, Nora had 10 blue blood
in her veins, and she knew full we'll
that she never could have reconciled
her mind that she had been the cause
of Audley Kilderm's separation from
his parents. She knew if Lord Kill
derm had been sure Of her love for him
he would never have left her till she
to become his, and so she
had resolved never to let him know how
wholly her heart was his.
There was pitiful little droop about
the corners of her sweet mouth since
Lord Kiiderm left her, and she per-
formed her tasks with patient heart,
and in manner devoid of all the old,
laughing way which characterized her
before she ever saw Lord Kilderm.
Lord Kilderm was holding Lady
Laura Belmont's fan, opera-glass, and
divers other articles belonging to that
young lady, in private
box at the opera, and looking with lam
guild interest on the scene being enacted
on the stage below. The play was
Faust, and although every one was
raving about Marguerites beauty and
exquisite acting, his thoughts were far
away in little Irish village. He could
endure it no longer. and, although Nora
had, that day, hidden him not to come
again, he was going to see her once
more; once again to plead for her love,
once again to look in her dear eyes,
and if she refused, then-why, then,
and look of utter misery came into
his handsome dark eyes, he would ask
Lady Laura to be his wife before the
season was over. He might as we'll
make some one happy, for he knew
Laura Belmont did not look upon him
with unfavorable eyes; and since they
all wished it, if Nora Chreeman would
not marry him, why he
Lord Kilderm, this is the third
time have spoken to you without re-
ceiving reply. What are you dream
ing OFF,"
Lady Laura's voice broke in upon
his revery. He gave sudden start,
and then put his absorbing thoughts
out of his mind, and was devoted at
tention to Laura Belmont for the rest of
the evening.
Probably if he had never seen the
beautiful face of Nora Chreeman he
might have loved Laura Belmont; he
1;Lo1 bor vorv rounh 40 IL waa for al.