St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-11
H0NORA,S DECISION.
Bolton Blacks Brow Grew Dark as
Night.

hclSn was SCdlSo Oll OAAS SApSS' 'NN'A w.
rosy child on her lap and two or three
others scattered around, her fair cheeks
crimson and the braidS of HOMEGROWN
hair shining beneath the cottage bonnet that
she wore. She looked up radiant as her
lovers shadow fell across the tangled ferns
of the woodland glade.
Bolton, is it you?" she cried.
''Send the children away" said he, i'm
patiently; Il want to talk to YOU"
They will not disturb u.s."
''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 baS-
ket. and see how many berries you can pick
before i 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.
''Oh, Charleyl" cried out the innocent
child, ''that is very wicked"
Il can't help it, replied Charley. Hes
cross, and he scolds Nora, and hate him!'
In the meantime Bolton Black had seated
himself on the grass beside HOnOra Leigh,
and thrown one arm carelesSly around her
waist.
Nora" said he, ''Fve made up my
mind"
''As to what?"
''She looked up fondly into his dark,
handsome Castilian face.
''As to the propriety of our being mar
ried next month. Jennings says that / am
to have partnership, and L see my way
clear at once. I've seen 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 troubled face.
Large enough for what?"
''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
didn't mean that it should. You surely
cannot intend to burden our household with
your aunts four children? They are moth
ing to me, and they should be nothing to
you. dare say can find some excellent
institution where"
Il promised my aunt, on her dying bed,
that the children should never lack a
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 supported them out
of your slender earnings. 1t is all nonsense
to keep up this sort of thing any longer.
The bows are big enough to work; the girls
can easily be provided for in an orphan
asylum.
''Oh, Belton-never!'
'tJust 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.
Bolton. BeltOnT' walled she, show can
you be so hard?'
81 am only sensible and practical"
''They are so little, so helpless. Oh, 1
cannot turn them over to the cruel mercies
of the world" pleaded Honora.
''That must be for you to decide"
She sat for minute looking at the tiny
child figures that fitted about on the edge
of the wood, listening to their innocent
laughter; then she looked up INTO his face.
Il have decided" said she, II cannot
leave the children"
Bolton Blacks brow grew dark as night.
Every WELL" said he. rising to his feet;
''you are aware what that inplieS?''
Yes, in a low. tremuiUuS Vnire.
''Are you willing to abide by -
YES"
"Good-by, then" extending a cold hand.
'Good-by, Belton."
And her eyes followed him with vague.
fascinated gaze. as he rode out of the green
glade and was lost to view.
''Have | done right" she asked herself.
with sharp pain at her heart, and then.
as little Nell came up crying out: mora.
Nora. me got a form in me finger" and
holding up the tiny digit with tear-stained
cheeks she caught the child in her arms and
SObbed out, God help me! Yes, l have done
right, fer these ones have no one but me.n
So Honora 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 go in and out with her
little music-roll, asked the landlady who
she was.
''Its Miss Leigh, sir, said the woman:
"a daily governess, and one of the sweet
est, most self-denying young ladies as ever
gave up her life for the benefit of Others
''Humph!" said the rich gentleman.
There are not many such in the world"
k4''NO, sir, indeed there's notr' said Mrs.
Moore.
How the rich gentleman on the first floor
became acquainted with the daily governess
how the children began TO run in and out
OF his room and ask him to tell marvellous
stories of America, from whence he came
and how at last pretty Nora went back to
America with him as his wife. would make
too long recital in detail. Suffice it to say
that such was a fact.
God bless the little onesr' Mr., Bonfield
said; there's room and to spare for them
In my house. And to my thinking there's
no sweeter sound about the house than
childrens voices"
And if anything could make Nora love
her husband more dearly than she had done
before, it would have been these words of
his.
And the years went by, and the little
children grew up into health and beauty.
and Nora, in her satins, had almost forgot
ten the sore straits of her early girlhood.
when one day the past was recalled to her
by most unexpected accident.
''If you please, Mrs. Bonfield:" said the
cook. one day, Tim saws there's moor
family settlin' down in the old cottage by
the gates as is almost starving Sure; saws
to Tim, why don't you tell the missus9'
Says he, What for woald be botherin,
her and they nothin' to her. SAYS |. sThe
hand of her was never closed agin the sick
and the poor, and I'll tell her, Tim, if Won
don't"
You are right, Mary" said Mrs. Bon
field. 81 will go this evening and inquire
into the case"
And with Charley carrying a basket. in
which was piled gOOdly supply of jelly,
wine, homemade bread and hOt-house
grapes, Nora walked to the ruined cottage
at dusk.
nentering the door she perceived a
2aunt form outStretched on a heap of straw.
with fever-gloWiDg cheeks and axac roII;ro