Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-08-13
N0rah's Decision.

." Woo BiOpoN uhd piCbuItSlut blkub bllhI
met Belton Blacks gaze az he paused among
the clustering birches of the wood.
Nora Leigh was seated on the grass, with
one rosy child on her lap and two o three
others scattered round, her fair cheeks Grim.
soned, and braids of bronze-brown hair
shining beneath the cottage bonnet that she
wore.
She looked up radiantly as her lovers
shadow fell across the tangled ferns of the
woodland glade.
"Belton, is it you ?" she cried.
"Send the children away" said he, impa-
tiently; al want to talk TO you.'
"They will not disturb me-
look Of pain came over Honora's sweet,
submissive face.
"Nora," said he, "I've made up my
mind"
She looked up fondly into his dark Castil
Ian face
/" As to the propriety of our being married
next month. Jennygs says | am to have
partnership, and see my way clear at once.
| have spoken to the agent about the little
house in Clinton street, and"
"Oh, Belton, do you think the house will
be large enough :" interrupted Honora, with
a troubled face.
Large enough for what ?"
For the children. There are four of
them, you know, and"
No." said Mr.. Black, abruptly, a don't
think it will be large enough-I don't mean
that it should. You surely cannot intend,
Honora, to burden our household with your
aunt's four children They are nothing to
me, and they should be nothing to you. |
dare say can find some excellent institu-
tion where"
promised my aunt on her dying bed
that the children should never lack moth
er's care" said Honora, who had grown
very pale.
And you have kept your word," broke
in Black, impatiently. "For two years you
have fed, clothed and supported them out
OF your slender earnings. It's all nonsense
to keep up this sort of thing any longer.
The boys are big enough to work the girls
can easily be provided for in an orphan
asylum. Nora, you must choose between
me and them"
"They are so little and so helpless. Oh,
| cannot turn them over to the hard and
cruel mercies of the world I" pleaded
Honora.
She sat for a moment, looking at the tiny
child figures as they fitted about upon the
edge of the wood, listening to their innocent
al have decided" she said; al can't
leave the children
Bolton Blacks brow grew dark as mid
night. Goodbye, then," he said extending
cold hand.
Goodbye, Belton."
And her eyes followed him with vague,
fascinated gaze, as he strobe out of the
green glade and was lost to view.
Have done right ?" she asked herself,
with sharp pain at the heart and then as
little Nelly came up crying, Nora, Nora,
me got form in me fnger" and holding
up the tiny digit, with tear-stained cheeks,
she caught the child in her arms, and
sobbed out
"God help me Yes, have done right
for these orphan little ones have no one
but me-"
So Honora Leigh went back to her life of
patient drudgery and ceaseless toll once
more. And the rich gentleman on the first
iioor, who saw her go in and out with her
little satchel of books and roll of music,
asked her landlady who she was.
d It's Miss Leigh, sir" said the woman,
ga daily governess, and one of the sweetest
self-denying young ladies as ever gave up
her life for the benefit of Others"
Humphl" said the rich gentleman
There are not many such in the world"
No, sir; indeed there's not |" said Mrs.
Moore.
How the rich gentleman on the first floor
became acquainted with the daily COVER
ness, how the children began to run in and
out OF his room, and ask him to tell them
marvellous stories of America, whence he
came, and how at last pretty Honora went
back to America with him as his wife,
would make too long recital in detail.
Suffice it to say that such was the fact.
"God bless the little ones," Mr. Bonfeld
said; Z" there's room and TO spare for them
in my home. And to my thinking, there is
no sweeter sound about house than child
ren's voices.'
And the years went by and the little
children grew up into health and beauty
and Honora, in her satins, had almost for
gotten the sore straits of her early girlhood,
when one day the past was recalled to her
by most unexpected accident.
Z" II you please, Mrs. Honora," said the
cook one day, an honest, warm-hearted Mile.
sian, there's poor family sittliu' down in
the old cottage by the gates as is most
starvin,."
q will go this evening and inquire into
the cause" said Mrs. Bonfeld.
And with Charley carrying a basket in
which was piled up goodly supply of jelly,
wine, home-bread and hot-house grapes,
Honora walked to the ruined cottage.
Alas for the squalor and poverty of the
wretched place-a candle burning on the
hearth, gaunt form outstretched on heap
OF straw, with fever-glowing cheeks and
eyes rolling restlessly in their sockets, while
by the door sat faded woman, rocking
child to and fro in her lap.
" | hope we're not intruding, ma am" said
she, with something of a lady's courtesy and
accent " but my husband could not go any
further. We are on our way to Omaha,
where he thought he could get employ
You are quite welcome to stay here"
said Mrs. Bondeld gently; sand will send
you some things from the house to make
you comfortable. Your husbands name
is"
"Black, ma'am, Bolton Black. We've
had bad luck, and he thought perhaps he
might do better here" sighed the woman.
Honora Bonfelds heart beat violently as
she advanced a pace or two toward the
wretched heap of straw where the yellow
flicker of the candle light family illumin
ated face which she would scarcely have
recognized face of Belton Black.
lie died the next night, and never knew
that the compassionate eyes of his old sweet