The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-10-06
A HEART OF GOLD.

What does it mean. mother? What
has happened?"
And the speakers great brown eyes
dilated in wonder as the elder woman
echoed her words.
What does it mean? 1t means that
we're rich, child. 1t means that all my
ambitious dreams for you may be real
lied. 1t means that the inheritance
was robbed of by treachery tor 5"
many years is mine ut last, and that
can make lady of my girl"
But none of the gladncSs on her face
was depicted OH the face of her listener.
True, q crimson flush rose to Nora
Fane's cheek. and the red lips quivered.
but it was rs though some sudden fear
had startled rather than sudden Joy be-
wildered her.
"Does-does Arthur know?" she ques-
toned.
Arthur repeated Mrs. Fame, con-
temptuously. Mora, there must be an
end to all that nonsense now; never
approved of il from the first, but you
seemed to have so set your heart on it,
and it wasn't likely you'd have any
pctlci SutiSc, aHu ~ you "iuhS hoh
me my consent. But everything's
changed now. and he'll know without
the telling that he'll have to look else
where for his wifcr'
Elsewhere for his wife," drearily
answered the girl, and there was now
in her voice 4 dcspairing sound. "Oh,
mother, you don't know Arthur. DC
YOU think if he couldn't have me he'd
be willing to take someone else to his
home and his heart? No. no! we are
too much alike for that. You may not
let me marry Arthur, mother, but you
cannot make me marry anyone else. /
love him have loved him all my life.
oh, mother. mother, do not make this
money hateful To me. You may have it
all we will not lay claim to II single
penny. No wealth could make us hap
pier. Only leave us TO each other!'
And, in her pleading. the girl would
have thrown herself upon her mothers
breast, but that her arms rcpulsed her.
and her hard face grew harder as she
answered. with u cruel laugh:
I'm doing what for your best good,
child. and one of these days, when you
have seen something Of the world. you'll
acknowledge it. | married for love,
and look what my lifc's been. | could
not break the letters which held me tn
my home. for, poor and wretched as ]
thought it, it was my all; but to-day
things are different To-day"
"Well. Mrs. Fame. what is to-day n
differing from other days?" interrupted
a bright. CHEEKY voice from the open
a do. hx, la
shadow Of Il new conner whose voice all
dressed the elder woman, but whose
eyes. blue, honest cyes,-sOught the
younger.
With low cry. almost sob, Nora
threw herself in his arms, which opened
with carer %ladncss to clasp the young.
slender figure. and closed about her
with almost rcvercntial tenderness.
.'Why, what's gone wrong, little las
sie?" he exclaimed, in quick concern
II thought, from the few words | heard
Mrs. Fame speak, something good had
happened.
"And so it has," answered the moth
er. YOU'RE more sensible than Nora,
Arthur You will help her to look ut
things properly. We've great piece
of news for YOU, Arthur. My brother
has died without a will. all his property
comes to me, and my Nora will be an
heireSs.'
For moment Arthur Norton's arms
unclaspcd. and his face grew deathly
pale, but the girl chung to him all the
closer.
IL hate it, Arthur hate itr' she
sobbed.
He drew her to him then again, and
lifted his blue eyes questioningly, fear
lessly, Ia Mrs. Fane's face.
Il suppose it's good luck. Mrs. Fame"
he said, '.but since Nora and ! loved.
and were promised each other before all
this was ever dreamed of, don't think
We'll let it make much difference be-
tween us-only I'd rather had my little
lassie all penniless rs she was"
"You don't mean to say you don't see
that now that nonsense must end?"
questioned Mrs. Fame in harsh, abrupt
tones. when / gave my consent to
your marriage with Nora, 1 gave It re-
luctantly enough as things were then;
as they are now, it's simply an absurd
impossibility, and if you're sensible
fellow, as take you TO be, Arthur Nor
ton. you'll persuade Nora of this
Doubtless she'll fret for time. but once
away from these surroundings she'll
soon learn to forget you"
Learn to forget mer' mechanically
echoed the man, with white lips.
Don't believe her, Arthur-don't be-
lieve herr pleaded the voice, which to
his ears was sweetest music; and now
two clinSing arms stole about his neck,
the little nervous fingers tightly inter-
lacing in their grasp, rs though in that
instant she was to be torn from him.
.I'll not give her up easily, Mrs.
little girl better than you know her." he
went on, nerved by the contact of those
warm, loving arms; ''and l know that
she loves me too well to be readily
taught the lesson of forgetfulness."
Again the elder woman laughed-a
bitter, scornful laugh.
..Do you think any man knows q
woman?" she questioned. 81 looked
for more sense from you, Arthur. But
listen-what has the child seen of the
worldp Is she capable of judgingp If
you are SO sure of her, let me take her
away for two years. At the end of that
time, if she's fool enough to want to
come back to the old life, / wipe my
hands of her. But she comes back pen
niless; remember that!'
$50 much the better, Mrs. Fame.
Give her to me now, penniless. Didn't
l think she was penniless when she
made me the richest, happiest man in
all the world, by her sweet prOmiseP
But don't separate US for two years. II
would be cruelp'