Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-22

10 let ner bktin '" nv" o-s
consequences Of her action. Unfortu-
ns,ely her sx-smployer took the mes
SAGE IS An act Of deaance--a challenges
70 him 10 carry out bis threat.
"I,Il do il, y he said to himself. an
teach her what she and her like may
expect when they come prying into
,birps that don't concern them"
The result of this decision was that
next day Nora received summons ad-
dressed TO her as Leonora Adams, and
on the following day appeared in the
District Court to answer to the charge
of breach of contract with her en-
ployer..
The bench, after having heard state.
ment of the case, in which Nora, in
deed, sppeared as a miracle of insu-
bordination, gave verdict for Black
lock. and fixed the damages at ten shil-
liPgs.
"not penny !"
"Do you ask for exemption on the
ground Of poverty ?" asked the magis-
uate.
"No; could pay it easily enough
If | chose, but don't choose"
"Tben | must commit you to prison
for contempt of court"
You can do what you like" replied
Nora, fearful but obstinate; "but no
thing shall induce me to give that wretch
money for behaving like brute to
me-"
For this speech she was warned that
such expressions were libellous, and
that any repetition Of them would In
yolve her in yot deeper trouble. And
so, indignant and unhappy. she was led
away to prison. d,
A version, vogue and inaccurate, Of
these proceedings reached Mr.. Black
locks establishment; but the general
impression was that Miss Adams had
had no money to pay the fine imposed,
and ran some risk Of being imprisoned
for life if she could not raise the sum
demanded, and sympathy, not loud but
deep, was expressed for her.
mot but what she brought it on
herself" said Miss Jones. She was
a fool to fight against him; but she
was very independent and stand-oflish
in her ways"
Most distressed Of all was Wilson.
lie could not wholly defend Nora's be-
hayior in the matter. Mr.. Blackjack
had been trying, but then masters so
often were so that it was not worth get
ting angry about. But, as may already
have been surmised, he was in love
with her, and the thought Of her being
in prison was terrible to him.
81 can't bear it. ! must pay that
money for her, and-and--Oh, If she
would only marry me-"
Next day as Nora, who had scarcely
slept on her hard and narrow prison
bed, was specializing whether it would
not after all be wiser to give IN, pay
the damages, and he restored to free
dom, the door Of her cell opened and
Wilson entered, looking apologize and
uncomfortable.
"Sir," said Nora, with as much
dignity as her red eyes permitted, eli
you come from Mr.. Blackjack"
81 DON'T" be fastened to assure
her. ITS this, Miss Adams. o.
course you may think was taking o
liberty, but couldn't bear to think
Of you being shut up here, for good
ness knows how long, so II ventured
to pay that ten shillings."
A great wave of relief rushed over
Nora's soul. She was free once more
vet had not been obliged to undergo thu
humiliation of "giving in" Wha
could a woman want more, But sht
dissembled.
81 have no doubt you mean kindly
Mr.. Wilson; but really have ne
claim on you, and of course you know
that l refused to pay the money OF
principle, so -"
She paused, not really having logi
cal deduction to make from these facts
"Of course that makes difference.
replied Wilson, looking more nervous
than before, :" ] imagined that, perhaps
just at the time you didn't find it quit
convenient to pay it,"
Nora was sincerely touched at thi:
hesitAtiDg speech.
THAT was kind" she said, with al
accent Of unmistakesble truthfulness
"to spend your hard-esrned none,
for the benefit Of girl Of whom yol
knew nothing but that she was foolisl
and insubordinate. thank you will
all my heart, and | gratefully accep
your generosity"
Don't thank me it was q pleasure
to do it; and as to not knowing any
thing about you-well, Of course
. haven't known you very long, but
has been long enough to-to make m
love you, in fact. You can't 80 bacI
to Blacklock's, you know, and you ma.
not find it quite easy to get anothe
, situation at present; know I'm no
r worthy OF you, but I'm really awful.
t fond Of you, and would give you you
own way in everything; so il 20
! would be my wife, really think "
should get on very WE'LL"
, At the conclusion Of this incoheren
l proposal Nora rose hastily from he
r seat to express the indignation SD
{ ought to have felt at it, bat sat dow
r again in surprised disgust at her ow
; pusillanimity. The indignation WASH
r there.
, She ielt this to be alarming. To b
proposed to by Diapers assistant
r and not to feel iDsulted, showed mora
0 peryersion, & deafness to the mos
sacred instincts Of caste feeling, whic
e at the moment shocked her. She III
s dsrstood now why Lou thought her a
< most if not quite mad. From societ
r point of view her feelings and action
were unconventional to the point Of il
/; sanity.
. She took refuge from contemplate
/ the alarming problem Of her own min
Q by taking up the humorous side OF II
situation.
o Really" she said with q smil
"this is romantic to absurdity To g
IS an offer Of marriage in prison."
/ Wilson took the remark seriously.
a