The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-02
NORA'S LOVERS.

NURAS LUV Lib,
rrEoPLE who talk so much about their
SEgA talents being wasted very seldom
ES*s have many to waste" says Nora, her
rosy lip curling disdainfully.
1t is June; the hedges are gay with pink
roses and sweet with the perfume of cream
coored heneysuckle. Slowly the girl walks
through the mingling clover, tall buttereups
and long grass, dropping sarcasms over her
shoulder to her companion. who is COM
PEELED by the narrownesS of the path 10 fol
low behind His long pale face is framed
in fair hair, which falls over his shoulders
from under large hat that wants only os-
trich plUmes to be a yeritable Gainsborough.
He Las large dreamy eyes, and his face is as
smooth as the white hands which hold an
open beautifully bound volume with esthetic
Hberality of margin.
Nora's tart remark is followed by silence
which continues until the poet clears his
throat and rustles leaf; then she halts.
81 do hoIe," she says emphatically, THAT
you are not going to read aDym OF thatF
ANY more of that?" he questions, with
ominouS calm. THAT what?"
Nora shrugs her shoulders and pulls
buttercup.
I'VE lave had our last quarrel" she de-
clareS, holding the yellow petals against her
hand.
II hope so, am sure" says he; "mine is
a nature that needs repose and calm"
at is nature wholly unsuited 10 mine
of that l am surel We are entirely I'M
suited for each other. like man to be
manly, and | could not be content with the
prospect of having TO spend my lie in
watching YOU write SwinburneaEd-Wate
verses aud hearing you read them!'
But" says the poet, raising his brows,
II cannot live without your
swell, / couldn't live with you; so there
Your aunt wishes it," he urges, in the
same low even tone.
''She is not the person most concerned
No; as | have already told you, II L ever
marry at all, you are not the man, or like
the man. Why can't you leave me- m, alone?
Why do you 60 on prosecuting me-"
The poet folds his arms and looks at the
lovely indignant little face.
DO not lie rash; you will find few men as
generous as l.
Nora. with laughter in her eyes. turns to
lock at him; but the popularity of his ex-
preston checks her mockery. This time he
las not spoken in oyerWeening vanity, but
with mysterious meaning. Under her steady
gaze of surprise faint tinge of color spreads
over his face.
Il should like to know exactly what you
mean" she says very quietly, but with a
dangerous smile in each blue eye; will you
be coed enough TO explain yourselfY
ScrOpe dues not reply; he seems extremely
uncomfortable and forces feeble smile.
Nora, uncompromiSing, angry, faces him
still.
Il am neither old nor ugly" she says;
"my parents we're poor, but honest and well
born; l am not penniless, thanks TO my god
mother. Pray, where does your generosity
come in ?"
Nil Scrope gazes blankly into the dis
lance and murmuTs that he did not mean
anything.
$50 ike you," says Nora, with toss of
her head and, without another word, she
resumes her walk through the field TO the
low, green gate of lawn, by the side OF a
delightful old house with many windows
overlooking sweet confusion of fragrant
flowers and shrubs.
At window facing the green gate stands
a benign matron, supported on either side
by a comedy, healthy, vigorous son.
"They come in one after the other. says
Ton, the elder boy, as Nora and the poet
approach. - Shall l never cease to wish
that that man would cut his hsir?'
- He may do as he pleases," says Fred,
If he VIII leave off dangling after Nora"
What is your objection to him?' the
mother asks politely.
j." Oh, I.!want Nora to marry a man-not a
feeble intaLion Of one-though indeed |
dun'twant her to marry at ALL"
: Nora has only the very faintest recolec-
ton Of herdead parents. She has lived with
her aunt so long that she does not remem-
Der any other home; and ever since she
came she has been the pet and playmate Of
.the bOyS-fOr they have no sisters, and Nora
has always been a bewitchug little maid.
II !" Auntie" has resided in this quiet little
village during the last few years-She finds
it suits both her health and finances better
than town; and few months ago Mr.
Horace Scrope, poet-iutroduced by the rec
I tor, warm friend of the manipulating in
love with Nora, sought and obtained from
3her only guardian permission TO WOO and
win. He has quite misiuterpreted Nora'S
natural kindness and the patience with
which SIZE has listened to his povtical uni
ties of the utter and the intense and at
tributes her refusal of him to maiden shy
ness, girlish perversty-to anything indeed
but the real cause.
As they cross the lawn, Mr.. Scrope sees
tue faces of his natural enemies, the boys,
who have parodied his poems and carica-
tured his face and figure in an Infinite va
riety of ways.
Il will enter the house only for a brief
farewell, ".he says. 1t may be some time
before see you again; am going to Lon
don Tomorrow"
The boys are delighted at the news of
G1ClOpb Dul EltdSult
gives place to.@regret few moments Later
When they learn he means to return.
!; Nora says gooG-by cOolly enough; certain
words Of Scr0pe's are ranking in her bosom.
Tom is quick TO notice her unusual quiet
Hess.
r. What is 1t makes you sad?
How many apples have you had >"
She answered.: only seven"
%: "And you are sure you've had no more
My little maid 81 quOth L;
81 ooh, sir, my mother gave me four
: r., But they were In pe'
He says, with ludicrous imitation of Horace
SerOpe.
- :. Toni" cries his mother, in a tone of re-
: buke; and he retreats with his brother.
Then Nora and her aunt look rather shyly
at each other
I. F q Auntie dear, why did you want me to
Il my dear, I thought he was fond of
you II think so still"
Nora meditates, then, repeating the poets
generous" speech, asks her aunt for an in
deportation,
.,s' Ny dear Nora, what generosity could
there be in marrying yon?" asks Mrs.
Stnmer.= Don't think about the ungallant
: speech. BY the way you know Tower
Courtsg Tower Court is the great house of
: the neIghhQFhoQd, which has been closed
: since the death Of the old baronet few
a distant relative. Tile owner is coming
Home" Mrs. Stalner continues sat last he
means to take possession. 1t was only to-
! day that learned that the new Baronet was
John ChaIteris !;
=.:. e says Nora, seeming very little in
tereSted.
g Why Nora, surely you remember
: Jack ?''3,:- -:
II :N0ra,s eyes suddenly light up. She does,
Indeed remember the big. strong, merry
boy, whose ralhping used TO disturb the
quiet of aunty's town house, who brought
]. foreign: stamps for Tom and Fred, mended
her dolls and aunty's work-bDx, aud taught
/: them. all how. to make .toifee. Could she
ever forget the boy for whom she cried so
= bftterly-:wteu: lie Lad; :tUgo away from En-
/: gland :.in:saareh of a livelihood, his parents
: being very. poor in those days?
+ THAT is IA turn of fortunes wheel" says
/ Nora !: ~: = -
Il a week later a tennis net is stretched
+ across the lawn, and Tom is disporting him
+ self in a eomiealfashi6n inopposition to Fred
and Nora, when. suddenly the raekets are
+ thrown: aside and: the; boys rush down the
/. path TO- the green gate. on which is:leanifg a
young man whom they have been expecting
1 ever since they lleardfof his arrival at
/; Tower Court 1t is Jack Charters, looking