The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-12-04
HONORA'S DECISION.
Fer Wise Choice Between Duty
and a Lover.

1t was pretty and picturesque sight
that met Bolton Blacks gaze as he
paused among the clustering birci,es OF
the wood. Nora Leigh was seated on the
grass, with one rosy chilli on her lap
and two or three scattered around. her
fair cheeks crimson and the braids OF
bronze-brown hair shining beneath the
cottage bonnet that she wore She
looked up radiant rs her lovers shadow
fell across the tangled ferns of the wood
land glade.
'.Belton, is it you?" she cried.
''Send the children away" said he.
impatiently; 81 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
basket. and see how many berries you
can pick before come"
Charley obeyed without word; but
the defiant glance winch he bent on Mr..
Black from beneath his knitted brows
showed that he fully comprehended the
situation of things.
Il hate that man, he said to Katie.
'Oh. Charleyr' cried out the innocent
child, "that is very wicked"
Il can't help it" replied Charley.
~'He's cross. and he scolds Nora, and
hate him.
In the meantime Bolton Black had
seated himself on the grass beside Homo
IA Leigh. and Thrown one arm careless
1y around her waist.
mora" said he, II haye made up
my mind"
LAS to what?"
She looked up fondiy into his dark,
handsome Castilian face
LAS to the propriety of our being
married next month. Jennings saws
that am to have a partnership. and /
see my way clear az once. I've spoken
to the agent about the little house in
C street. and
''Oh. Bolton. do YOU think that the
housewife be large enough?" interrupted
uonora, with a troubled face.
Large enough for what?"
''For the children. There are four OF
them. you know. and"
NO. said MIR. Black. abruptly. 81
don't think that it will be large enough
=! didn't mean that it should. You
surely can not intend to burden our
household with your aunt's four chill
dren? They ere notiing to me. and
they should be nothing to you. l dare
say can find some excellent institution
where"
Il promised my aunt on her diving
bed that the children should never lack
a mother 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. 1t is all nonsense to keep up this
sort of thing any longer. The boys are
big enough to work; the girls can easily
be provided for in an orphan asylum"
ION, BSlton-never"
stJust 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 sobbing cry.
''Belton, Beltonr' walled she, how
can YOU be SO hard?"
Il am only sensible and practical"
''They are SO little, SO helpless. Oh,
] can not turn them over to the cruel
merciesof the world" pleaded Honora.
THAT must be for you to decide
She sat for q 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.
i have decided" said she. 81 can
not leave the children
Bolton Blacks brow grew as dark as
night.
Every WELL" said he, rising to his
feet; You are aware what that i'm
plies?"
Yes, in low, tremulous voice.
Are you willing to abide by it?''
s.Yes.s'
'Good-by. them extending . cold
hand.
.,Good-5y, Belton.'
And her eyes followed him with .
vague, fascinating gaze, as he strobe
out Of the green glade and was lost to
view.
'tHave I done righta" she asked her
eef, with Q sharp pain at her heart.
and then. as little Nell came up crying
out; ':Nora, Nora, me got . form in my
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, I have done right, for
these ones have no one but me-"