Morris tribune., 1883-04-07
NORAH BURKE'S TRIAL.


Pretty Norah Burke sat at her spin.
ming in the doorway of her fathers cab
in. There was pretty smile on her
face, and she looked as if she felt well
pleased with the world. The cabin was
very humble, and the furniture quite az
much so, but every thing looked neat
and clean. To confess the truth, Noraii
was just at that moment thinking OF
Mike Driscoll, who had long been her
favored lover. Mike was the neatest
dancer and the smartest fellow in the
parish, and he had that morning assured
Norah that things had gone SO well with
during the past year that he should feel
justified in marrying by Christmas.
"What fine boy Mike is, to be sure!'
thought Norah, "and how lucky am!
Pm sure | don't know what he should
see in mel"
Norah turned coquettish glance at
the mirror behind her, and seemed not
altogether dissatisfied with what she
saw reflected back.
every, pretty, upon my word III a
mans voice, suddenly diverted her at
tention.
Looking quickly in the direction of
the voice, Norah beheld man who she
had always hated. 1t was Jacob Tay'
the agent of the Earl'of Peterborough,
from whom her father, i'll common with
the rest of his townsmen, rented their
cabins.
Norah at once dropped her gay man.
ner, and became suddenly reserved.
GLOW do you do this fine evening,
pretty Norah?" said the new conner,
casting glance of admiration at the
young girl.
81 am we'll enough" said Norah, tart
ly, at the same time resuming her spin
ming, and not deigning to look at the
man who stood before her. Indeed, he
was not sufficiently attractive to make a
young girl desire second glance. Inn
agine a man somewhat under the middle
size, inclining to stoutness, with a face
scanned with more wrinkles than his age
(forty.fve) ordinarily brings-a nose of
huge proportions, and look of repul-
sive cunning about his eyes. Such was
Jacob Taylor, the agent of the earl. 1t
may be added that he had distinguished
himself by his oppression and exactlons,
and was generally hated and feared by
the villagers.
NAY, pretty Norah, don't be quite so
waspish," he:saids. lin answer to the young
girls not over-polite words. "you don't
know what favorite you are with me. -
II never asked to be your fayorite, J"
said Norah just lifting her eyes sufficient
ly to cast a ccntemptuOus glance at the
man standing before her.
~ know that, Norah. You know
love goes where it is sent, not where it
is asked for"
81 wish you wouldn't talk to me about
such things, Mr.. Taylor" said Norah,
tossing her head.
"Such things as what, my pretty Nor
ah?"
"Idon't want yo1 to call me your pref
ty Norah. Pm not your Norah at all.
It's about love that l don't want you to
be talking to me-"
"And why shouldn't 1! Wasn't you
made to be loved~
mot by you, Mr.. Taylor"
"That is where you are mistaken,
Norah. But this is only tritling. l
came over to talk to you. seriously. The
fact is, Norah, I've been loving you for
long time, and though at first |
wouldn't yield to it, being entitled, as
you know, to look higher"
Norah's Zip curled contemptuously-
but this Taylor did not observe.
"Being entitled as say, to look high
err, resisted it for good while. But it
is no use resisting the heart, Norah-and
that's what found out. So I've come
here to offer to make you Mrs. Taylor"
"Its quite useless" said Norah short
The selEcomplacent smile faded from
the face of the agent, and his counte-
nance became dark, but moment alter
he thought to himself that after all it
was only the girls coquetry, and she
would smile upon his suit if he only per-
severed.
"You must give me leave to doubt
that, pretty Norah," said he. land let
this be the token that you and are des-
tined to become nearer related"
With this he bent swiftly over, and
was about to press his lips to her 2eachy
cheek, when she, divining his intention,
struck him a tingling blow upon the
cheek, and screamed:
"Mikel Mike save me from this man"
and Mike himself bounded over the
"What's the matter, Norah dearF
asked Mike, looking tenderly at his be-
trothed.
"It's that man, Mike"
"And what has he done?" pursued
Mike, looking darkly at the agent, who
quailed before him.
"What has he done, Norah? Tell me
quick"
"He hasn't done anything, but he
tried to kiss me-"
leave this place. sir, instantly" said
Mike, addressing Taylor in menaclng
tone, "and you'd better not be after
coming back~
The agent fell back foot or two, but
seemed disposed to maintain his ground,
nevertheless.
"What right have you to order me OH,
Mike Driscoll?" he demanded. 81 have
as much a right here as yourself"
"Do you ask for what right, Mr.. Tay-
lor? Sure, and it's the right of an honest
man, which you are not"
(Which l am not?" almost screamed
the agent"
''Thats what said, Mr.. Taylor" said
Hike, firmly"
Here Norah CHANGED to remember the
agents power in right of his Office, and
dreading lest he should do Mike mis-
chief, said:
Don't say any more, Mike. 1t isn't
best to provoke him."
"You'd best take the advice of mis-
tress Norah, Mike Driscoll," said the
agent sneeringly.
''That I will, In everything but this"
wasthe.surdy.reply; "but as for you, Mr..
Taylor, don't you go away thinking Pm
afraid of you, for amt And now you've
stayed long enough. Leave this house
at once, and when you think of Norah
Burke again, think of her as the prom
ised wife Of Mike Driscoll, and that
when you insult her you insult him
too"
"Your promised wifa?" exclaimed the
agent, to whom this was very unpleas-
ant piece of information. els this true,
Norah Burke2"
"He speaks the truth, Mr.. Taylor, and
we are neither of us ashamed to own it. !"
81 wish YOU joy" said the agent,
mockingly, bowling low as he spoke.
1--WE no doubt Pm in your way, SO l
will wish you very gvvd evening"
After he had Withdrawn Norah said
anxiously, "I'm afraid, Mike he is
meaning you mischief. Did you notice