The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-10-16
SELECT STORY.
NORTON BLAKE'S DILE NINA.

"ls it true, Norton7 Is your uncle |
really dying"
The speakers eyes were sparkling,
her checks flushed, her fingers toying
with the white robes of baby upon
her knee, her intonaton that of elated
triumph.
Words and manner struck Norton
Blake sharply. He threw down the
Telegram with short "Yes."
"Are you sorry?' Mrs Blake asked,
in tart surprise. "Why, you've wish
ed thousand times were mistress of
the Court, and now there's baby. Shant
| feel proud when ! see him in velvet
knickerbocker's riding about that beau.
,iful park on white pony y
Norton regarded her with amaze
ment-her speech sounded so utterly
heartlcss.
Sorry" he repeated, slowly. "Sure-
ly, Myra, you forget that my uncle has
filed fathers place to me from my
childhood"
''Oh, no, don't, she retorted, with
a disagreeable laugh; ''nor the ilial re-
spect YOU have always shown him.
Also, | remember your many aspira
tions that Providence would allow the
same--a caamity-to end this miser-
able conccalment. Really, Norton,
you have neither courage TO face the
consequences of your own actions, nor
to grip the deliverance Fortune sends
you
With muttered imprecation, Nor
ton Blake left the room. Experience
hal taught him the futilty of arguing
with his wife but through the ensu-
ing long journey be had leisure in
which to ponder over and debate the
truth of her words. The sudden shock
of his relatives danger had acted like
a douche of cold water on the physical
organization of drunkard, recalling
him to himself, but singing him with
a sense of his own degradation.
Treated by his uncle with an indul-
gence shown by few parents, he had
idled at school and scraped through
college. He was no prohigate-neith-
er gained nor drank yet his fatal pro
peDsity of snatching the moments
pleasure, leaving care for the morrow,
had blighted the sunny prospect of
life whose crowning folly he was too
cowardly to vow.
During long vacation-supposed
by his uncle to be passed with a tutor
in Scotland-he met, at fashionable
watering place, girl-woman. rather
whose blue.eyed, golden-haired charms
and practiced graces had bewidered
and caplivated his youthful fancy. His
superior IN years aud knowledge of the
world, but beneath him in birth and
education, she was too keenly alive to
the social advantages derivable from
an alliance with the heir of an old and
wealthy country family to let him slip
through her fingers. By arlihce, cajol-
cry, and threats of appealing to the
elder Mr.. Blake--the best thing which
could have happened to him, had he
but known it-she accomplished her
purpose, and he married her. His col
lege life had ended, and fearing lest
his rash act should be discovered, he
persuaded his uncle that :. continent
tour was the fitting interlude between
it and settling down to the active duties
of LIE.
The couple were at Heidelberg when
the news of Mr.. Blake's illness arrived.
II betokened some latent good in Nor
tons character that, although these
tidings might have been supposed to
solve his difficulties, they awakened in
his breast but feeling of sorrowful
remorse, leavened perhaps, by satisfac-
ton that, owing to the season being
wiuter,and the tender age of her child,
his wife was debarred from accompany.
ing him from England.
As the first misery lessened came the
remembrance Of a forgotten complica
ton in his affairs. Mr. Blake's house
hold numbered another member be
sides his nephew. This was the orphan
daughter of an old fellow officer, to
whom Mr.. Blake had given the shelter
of his home and the affection of faith
er. That Norton aud Helen Vennt
should be united-so sharing equally
the wealth and station he must in time
resign--was his dearest wish. A taci
understanding to that effect had exist
ed for some time. No definite prom
ises had been exchanged, but No,tol
knew what was expected of him on hi,
return.
Also, that were his uncle alive whel
he reached The Court, the disclosure o
his marriage would be certainly fol
lowed by disinheritance were h
dead, it would deprive Helen of hom'
and fortune. Whichever way he look
ed he saw nothing but trouble ahead
How he cursed his weak, infatuated fol
ly as the train whirled him through tn
dark night, the bowling wind ant
dreary, up-piled snow!
Nights silence brooded over Tn
Court as Norton drew up to the famiI
lar door. Only a watch-dog's bayin
broke the stiffness. Brilliant moor
B beams silvered the sharp snow crystal
9 covering lawn and flower beds rudd
. freight from within touched with iri
descent tints those clustered on wiz
9 dow sill and pane. So had he see
the old house wrapped inits snow mar
9a tie on many winter night, Its III
changed beauty awakened yearnin
p pain as for something passed beyon
his reach forever-somethlng nvalue
before, whose loss brought shame, re
morse, misgivng.
The warmth rushed ont to meet hin
as the heavy door opened, More rec
ly fell the freight on the oaken-pane
ed hall than on the snow without.
flickered softly on lIelen's burnishe
head as she greeted him with ou
stretched hands, tender, shining, we
lcnminp ewes. checks carminnd wit