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

would suppose, now that you had seer
something of the world. you'd have
learned little common sense. There.
not another girl in England would re
fuse the chance of being peers wife. "
Mrs. Fane's voice had lost none of it
harshncss, her face none of its hardness
though twelve long months had come
and gone since wealth had come to hel
SO unexpectedly.
But if with her Time had wrought nc
change, not so was it with the girl, who
sat tightly locking her fingers, hel
great brown eyes resting not OH the
speakers face, but out away through
the open window, even to the little cot
tage which the thought of home evel
brought to her mental vision-the cot
tage where now was only lonely man,
waiting and watching.
Yet, was it as hard for him rs for her;
He at least might be left in silence
thought, and prayer. She was dragged
into the whirl which was wearing hel
out body and soul. The tire was in bel
voice as she answered:
.'Why will you persist, motherp
tell you there is but one man l will
marry. His name you already know"
and, with quiet dignity, she rose and
left the room.
No need of further argument, it could
only bring pain. A fierce anger darted
into the elder woman's eyes. Words,
she could have met and
might have hoped to overcome, but this
quiet, reSOlute firmness baffled her.
"She drives me to itr she muttered
to herself, in reference to some hidden
thought. "She drives me to it! But one
day she'll thank income day, when
she's Lord Erlesmere's wife"
The next few weeks were strangely
undisturbed to Nora. She even found
some pleasure in Lord Erlesmere's So
ciety, since he no longer pressed his
suit, and her mother seemed grown more
tender. and once even had spoken to
her of Arthur, and kindly. too.
Poor child! 1t was the calm proceed
ing the storm.
She entered the breakfast-room one
morning. to find her mother reading an
open letter. cruel smile of Satisfaction
on her thin lips.
"It's from Arthur Norton" she said,
noting her daughters entrance, but
not glancing up from the page. He is
to be married next month, and writes,
asking me To let YOU know. wrote
him, last month, though didn't think
it worth while to mention it at the
time"
LET me see his letter"
Was it Nora who spoke? All the
young gladness had gone from her voice,
and her face was utterly colorless.
"YOu can't see it. There is something
here he asks me not to show you, but
will read the part that refers to you-.l
see now you were right, Mrs. Fame,
Nora and | were not suited to each
other. She was toe visionary, too imagi.
native, for me. need practical hard.
working wife; but it took absence and
a hard wrench to learn this. I'm GLAD
for what you tell me of her prospects
The day got your letter asked Esther
Ford to be my wife, and tell my little
sweetheart that was that hope she vii
be as happy in her new life as l am"
1t was the girls mother who read the
natural sounding lines, and no doubt Of
their truth and authenticity entered No
ra's mind.
He had promised to watch and wait
Thus he kept his promise!
The blow stunned her. She staggered
from the room, holding both hands be
fore her, like one suddenly grown blind
while her mother looking after her
murmured again:
.'She drives me to it. She will thanh
me yet"
"Nora, Lord Erlesmere wants his an
swer. Child, do you wish Arthur Nor
ton to know that you are breaking YOU
heart for himp"
Three weeks had passed since the
reading of the letter which had felled q
one blow hope and happiness.
The girl glanced up listlessly: Sh'
had grown wan and thin, and the brown
eyes were full of inexpressible sadness
Can you not leave ME alone?" sh'
asked, YEARLY.
But in the end Mrs. Fame gained he
way.
What mattered it now to Nora wha
the future held for her? No one bu
herself knew how, through all the long
silent watches of each night, sleep re
fused to come to her. and she lay, witt
wide-open eyes, staring into the dark
ness until the dawn broke, and sh'
would fall into restless, troubled slum
ber-no one save herself and God, ant
oven to Him She made no prayer. Wha
could prayer avail?
1t was the night preceding her wed
ding. Her wedding-dress lay folded OF
lounge beside her bed. 1t was to b
her travcling-dress as well. The wed
ding robes in which her mother wOul'
have bedecked her beauty she resolute
ly refused to wear. The marriage wa
to take place at twelve, yet ut five, Will
the first rays of the breaking dawn wer
in the east, she rose and dressed.
Her eyes were bright and feverish, he
cheek crimson, and she smiled for tn
first time in many weeks rs she fastene'
the buttons of her dress and tied tn
dainty hat beneath her chin. Then sh
drew on her gloves.
What was She about to do? Had tn
uiSht SCciIlcu 81 WIZ III hOi "onoAe''S'
that she had mistaken the hour? or wa
it the fire of delirious fever burning il
her eyes?
Softly she opened the door - tn
household were silent and asleep. Soft
ly she stole down the stairs and Opene
the outer portal. standing at last in tn
open mir of the bright summer morning
Then she walked on, with quick, firn
steps, crossing street after street, unit
she reached the Midland Station.
Here she entered, and learned tina
the train would leave within an hou
for the place to which she wished to &c
She bought her ticket and took he
seat. She smiled again as she felt tn
train in motion. The long day wor
away.
She had not tasted fOod-fOOd-sh
had not thought of it. Night fell, bu
the brown eyes never closed. 1t SCENE
to her she must not miss one revOlutio
of the wheels which were bearing he
onward.
1t was not yet six o'clock when be