The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-02-11

The poor girl shrank back from the sew
eral curious eyes condemning her. and
covered her white face with Two shaking
hands,
Arthur turned defantly upon the intrud-
ers, but the curtain had instantly dropped.
If only he might have told them she was
his promised wife, and saved her from cer-
sure by the protecting mgis OF his name
and love.
"Forgiye me-" he groaned hoarsely
''Norah, believe me-"
She turned upon him her lowell, flashing
eyes in withering scorn.
81 will never forgive you-ncycr You
did it purposelY. Nov that you have
blighted my life, hope you are satisfied. =
With just that stinging contempt, and
the disdain of young queen, she opened
the window and disappeared In the frosty,
November night. mad with pain and
shame
Next day came cool, ,contemptuous note
from Walter Ermonde. begging her or rath-
er commanding her to release him.
after the discovery of last night" he
wrote, your sense of delicacy will perceive
how impossible it is that our engagement
should go on"
With burning, foyerlsh cheeks Norah
wrapped the cowardly missiye around her
engagement ring, and returned both 10 him
without a word.
All her pride rose in aims. 1t was her
mother who wept at this sad blight OH her
only child's name. NOrah rent about her
usual duties with more proudly crested
head and brilliant eyes.
There was nothing of the sad, humbled
miscreant in the proud, beautiful girl who
several times passed Walter Ermonde, and
Maude Edgewcrth, the gay, fashionable
butterfly, out riding together.
Norah's heart cried out with passionate
yearning, but not for this man who had so
gladly and lightly resigned her. but for the
old faith, the beautiful dream forever dis.
PEELED.
Spurred on by malicious, ,enylous tongues
the scandal grew to huge proportions, vilely
distorted.
II ever Norah yielded to grief It was IN
the privacy of her own room.
Her suppressed agony was horrible. At
times 1t seemed unbearable, and the paling
face of her mother almost drove the poor
girl wild.
Sometimes, coming upon her suddenly,
she found the dim eyes red with weeping.
or her mother on her knees. seeking solace
In prayer,
No less than the girl, wronged By his
madness, did the wealthy young arlstocrat
suffer.
All In his power was done to stem the
tide of scandal, bu; his assertions and
threats were useless az pebbles to hold the
ebbing tide.
If only he might see and plead with
Norah.
Gladly, indeed, would he have made her
his wifs, but she 4ternly refused to see
him.
Whenever he called, It was her mother
who met HIM with reproachful eyes.
One cold, gray afternoon Norah was
was called into the pompous proprietor's s
office, and requested to resign, as the other
shopgirls refused TO remain If she did.
She knew then what that meant.
Discharged here, where elsa could she
secure employmentP
What would become Of herself and Wild
owed mother?
Her head was bent in bitter thought as
she walked quickly against the rough, Bit
ing wind.
Suddenly gay laugh made her glance
swiftly up, just as spirited team dashed
by.
Nesting among the warm furs was a
party OF four, among them Walter Err
monde, and the woman who still held him
) in her spell
a sudden, sharp pain crossed Norah's
) eyes.
The agony and resentment In her heart
made her step unsteady an instant.
The world swan around and round In a
mocking whir.
She would have fallen had not strong
arm reached out and steadied her.
Before she fully realized 1t, she was
walking along the pavement, leaning on
, Arthur Newton's arm, while the wild wind
. whistled around them both.
, When she did realize with whom she
was walking, by whom protected, she
, sprung from him as il he had been adder
instead of tall, handsome young fellow,
richly wrapped IN sealskin, and looking
down upon her with sad, passionate eyes.
, "Norah, will you never forgive meP'' he
, asked, reproachfully. "Will YOU not let
me atone If you are once my wife"
. 81 hate and scorn YOU" she retorted.
= Don I eyer speak to me again. forbid
! you. Have l not already suffered wrong
> and shame enough on your account? Now
D leave me. l would sooner fall than he in
debted to you for assistance"
4 "Oh, Norah, on NV honor as a gentle
man"
4. With stnging little laugh OF bitter de.
rision, she turned away and left him stand.
; ing there with love, agony and resentment
9 mingled in his brow n eyes
'.IIow shall tell mother?" she cried in
I audibly. oh, mother, mother, what will
: become of us! N-no, cannot tell her to.
: day. will tell her have taken half
holiday, and tomorrow VIII, perhaps, get
a work; but where?
+ The haughtiest hdy in the land would
have sprung to grasp the chance OF mArri-
q age with the millionaire's son.
d Under happier circumstances Norah
o Gray might haYe been proud to win him;
hut as vet her heart was tortured with the
Il remnant of an unworthy love; her pride
e and resentment in arms against the man
who had ruined her peace.
i In his elegant home, Arthur Newton