Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-04-09
CHAPTER TX
THE BROKEN RING.


''Calista, sail Norah, half an hour later,
walking into the infants ward, II have come
to stay with you little
"Io stay with me? My dear Norah! What
has happenedP'
"Nothing. l have left Mr.. Murridge, that
is all. am come to STAY with you"
''fell me, Norah. What is it?'
Nothing" :,
In proof of this assertion she burst into
tears and fell upon her sisters neck.
Tell me. Norah." G.
81 cannot-yet. Write to mother, and
tell her that L. am here-say. if you please,
for holiday. Yes, tell her am here for
holiday"
go into my room dear will be with
you directly, and then you shall tell me as
much as you please"
The sisters room is at the end of the ward,
so that even when she is asleep she is never
rea ly away from her charge It is at once
her bedroom and sitting room, furnished
with a table and easy chair, as well as a
bed. In Calista's case-but this, believe
is matter Of individual taste-there were
books-in case she might find time to read a
ittle-and pictures and work. Here Norah
sat down and took off hat and jacket, won
dering how long people live who are accused
of dreadful and shameful things Al a7it.
Don't ask me why l am here" she said
when Calista. after seeing that every baby
was comfortable, and having examined the
thermometer and looked to the ventilation,
came to her; don't ask me, Calista, because
cannot tell you can tell no one"
You have left Mr.. Murridge dearN
Yes. l have left him l can never
never go back to him again. And, oh, Ca
hsta! l must see Hugh as soon as possible
directly"
He is somewhere in the hospital I will
send for him He can see you in the corr-
dor or somewhere. You are going to tell
him what has happenedg'r -. a., ~
~ am going to tell him, Calista " said
Norah, frigidls, shat it is all over between
U.S. am going to give him back his ring"
ooh, Norah!" sh o.,>,,. .
20 "Please don't ask me why. I cannot tell
you. 1t is not my fault, Calista," she said,
while the tears came again; sit is not my
fault!n I
r. 4Calista remembered Dicks strange words
on Sunday: Whatever happens it will be
her fault"
'sTell me" she said, s'what has Dick donel"
( u cannot tell you" hetA .
Then it was something done by Dick. How
had he coptrived to make mischief betN cen
Mr.. Murridge and Norah. Calls resolved
upon taking the earliest opportunity of see
Ing Master Dick. Unfortunately, the events
OF the next day made that interview impos
slble for some time to come.
The. corridor in the Children's Hospital,
Shadwel, is quiet place for lovers tryst,
though not like a bosky grove, entirely
secluded from observation And there are
no flowers or hedges in it, and the spicy
breezes blow not over cottage gard ms, but
over the London docks. which is, perhaps
the reason why they are sometime, very
highly spiced. One is, however. safe from
being overheard Therefore, when Norah
went out to meet her lover there, she began,
quite comfor ably, to cry.
''Oh, Hugh!" she said. ~ wonder if you
will be sorryw 1',l3 = L3'-
What for, dear?' '4 Esl5lla =
Il wonder whether you will console your
self very soons There are lots Of prettier
and better girls in the world. Oh, you will
soon be happy again without mer' 4-5i--
my dearest child, what do you meana"
Il mean, Hugh, that it is all over Take
back your ring Our engagement is broken
off," .p.--..t ~ 5sE#l'1
Hugh put his hands behind him. efga e
You must take it, Hugh am serious"
VI shall not take it. Norah am serious,
too, 1t takes two to make an engagement,
and two to break it off. I refuse, my dar-
ling" 49, -
Hugh, it must bep'
Tell me why it must be-" - "-i
"Because-because- l cannot tell voui
Oh, Hugh, believe mel I can never marry
you now, and l can never marry any oneI'
I "Why-why-why?'