The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-06-14
CHAPTER XIX,

She hos gone and engaged herself u
that man." said Althea, with some bitter
ness; and those words kept repeating them
selves In the mind Of Norris Bergman
through the livelong night.
His heart had gone down with Q sudder
chill. He was depressed and unhappy, bu
yet not entirely without hope.
Her brother Is at the bottom Of it,
Althea had declared, and he believed IT,
VI herself, he felt sure, Carol would never
turn to Ingot, and for tho rest, marriage
need not necessarily follow upon such er
arrangement as might have been brought
about by the cooperation of the two men
No girl Of spirit would be 80 driven, and
that Carol had spirit hc knew, for had she
not defed hor brother when Lyman
snubbed him, and closed the door in his
facet
| 1t was q cross to think that she had ever
tolerated 1ngot, but there was comfort in
knowing that she, too, was unhappy. Her
pale, dropping face had assured him Of that.
Altogether, Norris might have suffered
more than he did that night. He was like
| one who refuses to believe tho ill-tidings
that come to him, and Althca did her best
to keep up his spirits when he saw her
| again.
~ drove around there this morning. she
said, determined to get ut the bottom of
the whole affair, but, unfortunately, Carol
was out. Don't look 80 blue, Norris. I shall
20 again tomorrow, and the day after, and
every day, until I succeed in finding out
what that ogre Of q brother means by
badgering her into taking such step. De-
pend on me to smooth the way for you to
bring about an understanding of your own. !"
But for once Althea overrated her pow-
ers. She did not SEQ Carol when she called
for the second time at the house, and on the
third day Carol came to see her.
The girl was still pale, and quieter than
her WON'T but she spoke Of her engagement
quite as matter Of course.
~ do not expect 1t to be Of long stand
ing" said she. "Mr. Ingot has already
broached the subject Of speedy marriage,
and, while nothing is settled, may say that
I feel bound to yield to his wishes so far as
can"
"Are you really going to let this thing 90
on, Carols 1t will bo the mistake of your
lfe II you do. You are not decciving me
one iota. l know your brother has made
this match because he hates Norris; it Is he,
not ingot, who is hurrying you to the end,
and 1t is moro than unreasonable of hint
is wicked! What right has he to make YOUR
life miserablel II 1t il done with the view
OF sparing him any thing, be assured that
II Will fail Tho penalties which man in
vokes by his own acts will find him out;
therefore, my little martyr, do not think of
sacrihcing yourself to Lyman, no matter
what no may urge. Bc true to yourself,
and to one other"
Miss Everleigh's earnestness had carried
her too far There was an indignant flash
IN tho soft eyes that were raised to meet
hers steadily.
"You are dcceiving yourself, Althea.
Lyman has done nothing-nothing-tO cause
you to speak like that. What am doing is
OF my own free will, not to please him
alone"
"You do not pretend to say that you real
ly care for lngot" cried Althea, incred-
ulously.
mot perhaps rs should, but I shall love
the husband marry, rest assured of that"
declared Carol, with bright pink tinge
waving into her cheeks rs her eyes sought
the floor.
Althea could not know the double mean
ing which those words conveyed. She grew
cold aftcr that. Carol had disappointed
her, SO lot her go the way she had chosen
there should be no moro remonstrances
from her.
The bitterness still ranklcd when Norris
came that evening for the crumb Of comfort
which he hoped to get His sorrowful face
gave Althea pang Of remorso as she told
him what had passed.
II am afraid have been to blame, Norris,
for can not see that she ever loved you,
after oil, and fed the fame in your heart,
know. Can you forgive me for ita'
'Thcre Is nothing to forgive, Althea You
were in no way to blame. l shall 1.-Two and
be mono tho worse for this, I daresay, after
little time"
She looked ut him curiously.
"You are not angry with her''l
"Angry! Althea, you know the secret Of
my heart. I loved her-I love her still
Did she not give herself freely and will
ingly to another man, would love her to
my dying day, but"
He broke off the words that came in tor
rent, choking and rending him, swallowed
down tho painful lump which rose in his
throat, and gave her quivering smile.
~ will be the conqueror when that hap
pens, never fear. Until then, be her
friend, for my sake, will you notl The
worst lies in knowing how utterly unwor-
thy of her no Is. have had some hopes Of
being able to provo him so, and thus saw
ing her, but what you tell me of speedy
marriage may make it impossible"
~ Will bc glad when You 20 into the bank,
Norris" said Althea, with sudden change
OF the subject, regarding him thoughtfully.
Ever since that note of warning, I have
feared more misfortune there. OF course,
you can do nothing until you are regularly
admitted, but shall depend upon your
then"
81 will make your fathers interest my
own until feel assured that every thing is
right"
Miss Everleigh drew long sigh when
she was again alone.
"Why does Fate draw such crooked lines
for some Of usF" she wondered, inly. sour
paths would lie 80 clear and straight II
things only fell out that way. Why did not
Norris fall in love with me, for instance,
instead Of with one who has not the soul to
appreciate his worthl Why must despise
my own weakness, hide it as I may, yet
cherish 1t stilll The wiseacres say that
things always come right in tho end, but II
doubt II that end repays us for the mistakes
we make by the way"
Norris, meantime, was feeling the full
force Of Fate's adverse blow. Hope was
dead at last. She did not love him, she
never had loved him; that point was
band she married and that husband would
be Ingot, unless something speedily hap
pened to prove Ingot the villain he once had
thought him.
Norris was not 80 positive on that point
Of late. With his dislike of the man, he re-
allied that he might have done him in |
justice, but he was none the less unworthy |
Of her, coarse, mean, essentially vulgar in |
bis nature, how could he fail TO repel that |
pure, delicate girl who was yielding so |
blindly--n not nOW aftArward when Il |