The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-05-25
noNoRA's DECISION.


her fair cheeks crimsoned, and the 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 wood
land glade.
"Belton, is it your" she cried.
''Send the children away" said he i'm
patiently. Il want to talk to you"
'They will not disturb us"
''They will disturb me-"
A look of pain came over Honora's
sweet, submissive face.
"Charley," said she to the eldest lad,
stake Katie and Nell to where the black
berries grow. Johnny can carry the
baskets, and see how many berries you
can pick before come"
Charley obeyed without word; but
the defiant glance which he bent on Mr..
Black from beneath his knitted brows
showed that he fully comprehended the
situation of things.
"I hate that mani he said to Katie.
ooh, Charley" cried out the innocent
child, "that's very wicked"
81 can't help it, replied Charlie. "He
is cross, and he scolds Nora; and hate
himl"
In the meantime Bolton Black had
seated himself on the grass beside Ho-
nora. and thrown one arm carelessly
around her waist.
"Nora," said he. "l've made< up my
mind"
Gas to what?'
She looked up fondly into his dark,
handsome Castillan face.
"As to the propriety of our being
married next month. Jennings says I
am to have partnership, and see my
way clear at once. I've spoken to the
agent about the little house in c.
street, and
"Oh, Bolton, do you think that the
house will be large enough?" interrupted
Honora, with a troubled face.
Large enough for what?"
s'For the children. There are four of
them, you know, and"
mo" said Mr.. Black, abruptly. 81
don't think that it will be large enough
Il didn't mean that it should. You
surely cannot intend to burden our
household with your aunt's four chill
dren? They are nothing to me, and
they should be nothing to you. I dare
say can find some excellent institution
where"
81 promised my aunt on her dying bed
that the children should never lack q
mothers 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 sup
ported them out of your slender earn
ings. It is all nonsense 10 keep up this
sort Of thing any longer. The boys are
big enough to work; the girls can
easily be provided fo- in An orphan asy-
lum.
"Oh, Belton-never!"
"Just as you please" said Mr.. Black,
his face growing as hard as adamant.
"But remember one thing, Nora-you
must choose between them and your
lover!"
Honora uttered a sobbing cry.
"Belton, Beltonr' walled she, chow
can you be so hard?"
II am only sensible and practical"
"They are 80 little, 30 helpless. Oh,
I cannot turn them over to the cruel
mercies of the world" pleaded Honora.
''That must be for you to decide"
She sat for moment looking at the
tiny child.fgures that fitted about on
the edge of the wood, listening to their
innocent laughter; then she looked up
into his face.
II have decided" said she. II cannot
leave the children"
Bolton Blacks brow grew dark a.
night.
Every well," said he, rising to his
feet; ''you are aware what that implies?"
Eyes" in . low, tremulous voice.
"And you are willing to abide by it?"
eyes,"
GOOD bye, them" extending q cold
hand.
GOOD by, Belton."
And her eyes followed him with q
vague, fascinated gaze Is he strobe rap
idly ont Of the green glade and was lost
sight Of.
s'Have I done rights" she asked hers
self. with sharp pain ct her heart, and
then, - little Nellie came mp, crying
out, "Non, Nora, me got form in my
Hngerl" and holding up the tiny digit,
with tear-stained cheeks. she caught
the child in her arms and sobbed out,
"God help mel Yes, have done
right, for these little ones have no one
but me"
30 Honoro Leigh went back TO her life
Of patient drudgery and ceaseless toll
once more. And the rich gentleman on
the first floor, who saw her 60 in and
out with her music roll, asked the land
1~dv Who aha wac