The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-05-13
He caught her to his heart.

Ile CduSil lSt ~ Ills hSalt'
Not worthy, little one 2 he said, look
ing proudly down upon the beautiful face
he forced upward to meet his gaze. "ls
this all? Then let me silence the doubling
lips forever"
And bending still lower his royal head.
he pressed upon the lovely mouth the first
lovers kiss which had ever rested there.
''You love me, darling?' he asked, few
moments later.
II have always loved you, she answered.
'0h, We're, you are so different from all
other men"
The young man laughed frank, joy
Gus laugh, good to hear.
Different in your eyes only, little one, he
answered" @But may they ever remain
in their present state of blindness.
That evening, the betrothal Of the young
master of the house to Sir Vere's ward and
almost daughter was formally announced.
The guests received it with sincere pleas
ure, thoagh scarcely surprise the servants
with loud aeclamations of delight Miss
Nora they had known and loved from child
hood. They need serve no strange and
naughty mistress, to take from her her
place in the old house
--fsut there was one beneath that roof who
heard it with angry and incredulous amaze.
All Helen Struthers secret ambitious hopes
were blighted by the words to which she
listened 50 smilingly--blighted, but not
hopelessiy 50. This she swore, even while
she murmured her honeyed words OF con-
graduation with the rest.
sIs he mad ?" she asked herself--'is he
mad. or can it be that he does not know ?
But she heard his words to-day. She is
but a child. Through her | viii strike to
win
That very night there came a light nap
al Mona Fitxgeralds door.
1T is |. dear, murmured Miss Struth-
ers, in her sweetest tones. May | come
in ?"
Instantly the door WAS thrown open. In
a white wrapper, with her hair unbound
and falling about her ike veil, Nora
smiled her welcome.
Indeed YOU may, she said Il could
not sleep. and was sitting at the open win
dow. dreaming Of my own happiness |
wonder what have done 10 deserve 50
much Ii seems - strange that We're
should love me, when other women are 10
grand. and stately, and beautiful-hke
yourself. Miss Struthers. Do you know !
should have thought he would not have
seen me when you were nearg
We were fond Of each other once, the
elder woman answered, as though uneoR-
scious Of her own words, .but-we quar-
relied He-he was jealous Of me.
A quick spasm Of pain crossed Nora's
face.
aYou mean that you and We're were
once engaged p she asked.
~No--no. no, she replied, hastily.
What have / said ? | meant nothing ex-
oep, that
She stopped suddenly, leaving the sen
setoe unfinished.
DO not let us talk Of it--let Us talk Of
yourself. How You mus, loag To have your
mother with you at such time. DO yun
know | should think you would be tempted
10 forgive all and go TO her
The swces face grew ghastly.
What ean yOu mean 2 she asked My
mother died when was child
~Oh sorgivc me r exclaimed Miss Stru-
shcrs. What have done II is posi-.
bic yuu do not know--possible that the
truth hiss been kept from yoa
sWhat truth what are you saying
Are yoa mad, or am 2
eWe are neither Of as mad. But dare
say no more, have alrsady said FAR, far
too much
sYou have, indeed, nos said ali am a
woman, Ike yourself, Miss S,ruthcrs, and |
demand from you the truth.
.But dare not tell YOU, II they have
kept this secret FROM YOU, they would never
forgive me for revealing il.
sThey shall not know the name Of my
infornacY. Tell me, or VIII 20 to them and
demand the truth You say that my mother
lives, and | mourn for her as dead p
aBecause--because she forsook you when
yea we're baby. oh, have patience and
listen, she added, in quick alarm, for the
girl had fallen back as though stabbed to
the heart. There was some excuse for
her. She had loved man before her mar
riase with your father. who Was desperate
IL Jealous cf him. He was very, very III.
and thought himself dying, aud sent for her.
She asked your father 10 l., her go-to let
her sec him for one half-hOnr--and he ne
fused. Aiterward, another and more ur-
gent messenger came. and she went with
him Your father, when he knew that
she had gone, publicly renounced her, in
his fierce anger. and when, at the end Of a
few hours, she came back. refused her adj
mistanee to her home or child. Doubtless
she then was innocent Of any wrong. For
three years she disappeared, and no one
heard Of her; but the man did not die, and
al the expiration Of thst time--one year
after your fathers death-ihe papers con-
tanned the published account of their mar
rage. You were left as Sir We're Vernon s
ward The Vernon pity has ever been held
stronger than the Vernon love; therefore,
they doubtless have withheld the story from
YOU
But these years of my mothers absence
where did she spend them?
.sCould il be the sweet musical voice
one Of Nora Fitzgeralds chief charm
which put the questions Il sounded hoarse
and harsh.
Miss Struthers shrugged her shoulders
cruelty.
at is the question the world asks, she
replied
The girl fell on her knees. Miss Struth-
ers approached, but she raised her hand,
with her head still bowed, and motioned to
the door
With a glance of triumphant hatred she
went out. leaving Nora alone with her desc
lation, disgrace and misery
An hour ago she had been so happy that
she banished sleep in her joy, so much
sweeter were her waking dreams than those
slumber might bring Now, though she
might seek to purchase oblivion at any
cost, il was denied her.
The Vernon pity has ever been held
stronger than the Vernon love" Why did
these words, with their subtle poison-sting,
ever return to her? and why, in connec-
ton with them, did she hear again every