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

wv
satin and lace, the walls dclscateIy thse1
and hung with rare paintings. tnblcs u
csn0srcs laden with hooks and costly nrsc-
a-brac. AN open piano, furniture uphoi-
stercsl i'm satin and ~plush-and pacing up
and down the vclvet-covcrrsl floor, n toll,
slender figure. with the qucenly Rracc OF
"a woman. the innocent face of u chiiu'
hut a face devoid, just now, at every truce
of c~hildhood's iight-hcartcd happihcss'
AMI instinct with IL pain-a hopeless. nm
satisfied ycarning (which only n wouhan's
heart can hear and know.
For awhile she kept mp her restless walk
i'm silence; then pausing bcforc one OF the
long. ~lacc~iraped windows, stood with her
hands claspcd. her lovely face appraised To
the wintry sky without, while her soreiy-
burtlcncd heart ovcrfioweN upon hcr hrs.
sob. why did they ever take mc from
my peaceful home! Why did they not let
me remain where l was 'coutclttesi ana
happy. knowing and wanting nothing fur
Their, What cruel kindness, tn bring me
into this new phase OF life, which l had
hitherto neither known of nor desired,
ami which. with it's Implying rules and
limitations. has only served tn rear "a wall
between my heart and the happiness and
love il Graves! Better. far better. the
freedom of contcntcd poverty, with all it's
merely physical privatiOns, than tine gall
ing bondage of this gilded misery"
A soft tap at the door checked her
wild outburst. and at the same time ~
gently modulatcd voice called:
"May I come i'm, dear"
For answer Nora Leroy stcpIsd quickly
tn shc d-or and opened IL.
Certainly you can come in, mothcr!'
she replied. in n voice which though gentle
and courteous, lacked the true ring of af-
lection between mother and child. .'This
house is yours, and there is no room where
you have not the rightt to enter"
But would willingly waive the right
at any time. rather than Distress or disturb
you, darling" was the tender reply, as
MIR. Leroy took the girls cold, nervclcss
hand carcssingly bctwccn her own. "Why,
how cold You are! and i'm this warm ROOM.
What is the cause Of It: Tome nearer I"
..It seems as il ] were cold clear
i Sn%%Se.. =, rs Be led N :" wi s.,~' a Srir Isr"G src
of camel coal sparklcd chcerily in the
polished CRATE. Then. as Mrs. Leroy
motioncd her to take the seat, and sink
ing down on n low hassock at her feet.
laid her arms i'm her mothers lap and
bowed her face upon them.
Mother she said at last N. "a low
voice. without raising her head. ''is there
riage with Stanley Knight
"No way i'm which you Gan please me sd
well. my daughter; no way In which your
was the gentle but decisive, answer. "His
mother was my dcars'st friend, Nora, and
were in ~",r cradle. and each If ms made
:. solemn pledge to the other that i'm the
event of either of us dying. the survivor
wouId ItbtllINilIy CstTTy ouk Nu1IS aDlttEsACus
Stanley, who was three years older than
you. was always aught to speak of you as
his little wife; and when that awful day
came and yon were stolen from me, hc
gricvcd and cried for you for days. After
lei long years of mourning for you as dead
and now. since through his Instrument
atty yosI have been found and restored to
us-it leaves no other way open, In honor,
hut for you tai ratify the pledge made for
you. Stanley Is all TINT IN good and worthy:
you cannot urge one fault against him."
II grant IL, mothcr!' exclaimed Nora,
s srs:"s hf fault hs' Of : aiiefd a'G not, ca% Ssps lowe aMe
him. II is not" But a flame of color
swept over her face. and her voice for-
ut is, my dear am SUR. Of it!' inter
you have let your fancy stray beyond your
every sentiment of fliai love !, and duty,
TO return to your righiful allegiance.
with passion and twill You
suffer these long years of anRnishcd
you permit me tai experience the rapture
of having you restored TO me. only to deal
me this cruel blow-this bitter di~sappoint-
to my solemn pledge? Stanley is willing
refuse to viniicate your m,oti,cr's wor1i OF
honor and bring the greatest happiness YOU
can confer upon my life -" long hcrcaved
Death silence, while the slender form
uuivered as III i'm the throcs of mortal
agony; then Nora's white face was up-
lifted. her cold, trembling hands sounght
and claspcd her mothers almost convul-
sively.
You have won, motilcr-bc il as you
ay-bu l feel as il l were bidding an
eternal farewell to every hope of happi-
ness and joy. 1 respect and admire STAN
ley Knight. but l do not love linn. nor slo ]
believe he really loves me-"
~ on have hardly had time tai he ac-
quaiuted yet. Nora, he has been away so
much since yoii came hoIne." replied Mrs.
Leroy. with u smile of utter content. s'But
he has assured me OF his regard for YOU
your marriage will, him will insur,. you a
Mother" Nora said. breaking the
silence that followed this remark shaw,
you amy hope now that my cousin Alice
may yet bc found"
II have. indeed replied Mrs. Leroy
with animation. alt was tn bc kept "a So
crct from you. Nora, hut that il the object
of Stanley's present journcy-thc follow
ing up of IA clcw that may result i'm moth
ing. or may Justify that hope. Alice was
my dead sisters only child. and l lovet
her next To you. She had been in m,
care only three months when you were
both stolen. Dear little Allie. next to- ths
joy l felt at clasping You in my arms once
more. would he my delight In having hel
restored"
Were va amy like each other"
Every much SO: indeed. you wers. some
times taken for sisters; but Allie WA
darker than you. You had golden hal
then, but IL has grown darker. And 20,