The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-02-23

s..1sS nvy's "H" = WI" '"'
Once more kissing her tendcriy, Mrs.
Leroy placed Nora i'm the chair and WITH
But tho moment the door closed behind
her the excited girl sprung from her scat
and paced mp and down In " paro~Ss" OF
"Thrrs. day.y" she repeated, under her
breath. "And then the words must a.
iaae has brossit me! oh, how GLADLY
he found, all hi. wealth and Iuxury for
the priceless boon Of Allan's love-! How
gladly would ! change places with her,
that boon that would mako earth a lever
paradise: And yet, what am ! SAYING
An I the m"ss eo~id .", Ia s,,s most @s i I'm
gratitude, that ! can feel mo panR at such
an alternative: no throb. Of that mystic
and esteem my new-found mothers; hut
Is dumb and dead within me: THAT
sends forth no answering thrill TO her
voice, or even her carcss. And yet i have
a heart. God help me, know IL; a heart
voicc-that will receive it's death blow
when the words are spoken that sever me
another. / must sec him once morc-hoid
his hand and look into his eyes, bid him
farewell for this world, and then take mp
my burden and hear IL as ] best may"
While the words were on her lips she
heard the distant tinkle of the hell, and "a
later footsteps coming aiongt the
corridor, h.a"ss a Is'T,.e y, ."e .ce Won. Miss
NORA" announced the mnid,
her knock. and placing "a card in Nora's
NShow him up here was the answer.
Thcn with locked hands and face pallid
a. death she stood and awaited him..
An eager stop i'm the corridor without
and then the door opened and he came i'm
and still worthless as "a statue she silently
extendcd her hands. -
them and pressing them tn his lips. "1s
his my answer: ] had not dared to
ait is i'm farewell. Allan!' came from
the cold lips. ~ havs, given my pledge.
l have spoken the words that have raised
time il will he sin even to lookr"
sNora 2" he calculated almost wildly, his
own face ~ white as hers. ut cannot he
"Evcrything is possible save happi:
nessz'' she interrupted, with a gesture Of
terins in her iiiatcd eyes, and deepening
the pallor of her face: 'lf you ever loved
me let this agony he short! IL is my
whose cntrcaty every other consideration,
hope. wish, desire, must yield! IL Is fate.
and ! can no longer strive against II! God
bless YOU, and farcwcll-an eternal fare
well".
Her hand lay in his cold and nervclcss
S SsM snsf OVER %f a IL a: s.., p psc m.;,s en- s s..s.sf me-
look upon her and i'm silence left the
room.
ness of n doomed victim hoping for ~ re-
prieve, until the last echo of his football
had subsidized; then she turned tn leave
the ROOM, took one step forward, and fell
To the floor like n stone.
Two weary days dragged by, and then.
S.%Ss" ssc ss seal n. Of a ias,c T. read N !. through
with a quick startled glance, and then ut
tered "a low. agitated exclamation.
"What u the matter Nora askesi.iook-
"No-that is. IL is from Stanley; lac will
he here Tomorrow ;hIt there il something
very strange. l must Inc alone tn think il
She rose abruptly as she spoke and hur.
ras@ AWAY sS,, s cSscI, In IN f rar '" ,1,cm ann
The day passed. and she did not reap
pear, hut the servant brought Nora IL low
ing note. asking that she would not dis
turb her, and also that she might be the
first to meet Stanley and his companion
on their arrival the next day.
Morning came. following "a ~slceplcss
night to both Nora and her mother, and
wearing slowly on brought the hour when
~ ring at thu door announced the return
of the traveller.
In her own room Nora heard her
mothers step tottcring, either from weak
ness or intense excitement, AS she went
down To meet the guests, FOR she had seen
from her window that two forms alighted
Then for awhile all was still, and then /,
step approached her door, and "a knock
fell upon IL.
Springing To open IL, quivcring with cx.
citemcn. Nora confronted her mother, hci
face instinct with an expression that told
the girl the truth before her lips could
utter it-tliat sent "a wave of cNultant joy
through her heart.
~ know what you would tell me
mother" she said. leading her in ant
placing her lovingly i'm "a chair. ~ am
not your child-but she is und- am
simply your niece.
at is indeed so,' replied Mrs. Leroy
EVERY link is perfect i'm this case. Sh'
has my darlinR's golden hair and blue
through, thcs. long years. She has tli'
the lockct which was preserved and whicl
Stanley described in his letter the othcI
day. and you. my dearest niece"
"Could go down IN my knees and bless
YOU" exclaimed the excited girl, falling
ou her knees beside her chair and twinlus
her arms around her waist. "For. unlcs,
I greatly mistake, l read still more i'm you
face: that Stanley, since hc has met tin
dear girl to whom I chccrfully ans
thankfully abslicatc my place, loving 20,
more 4, dearest friend. as aunt than 1 eve
could as mothcr-is far more willing ant
eager tai carry out the III made in hi
name. and l am free free to"
"Ies. dearest, free to be happy Al youl
heart dcsirss." was the welcome answer
AS the two wotnc were claslDed in cacl
others arms. "iou shall only bc less dca
To me that she AN your own fortune !
ample"
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