Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-02-20
CHAPTER XIV.
IT fei' tightness grasp my throat,
A IL HuAII Il u L. M. n, IN > "

As It wou d strIngle M"
It is now far past Midnight and still the
storm RACES overhead. Heavy bursts Of
thunderous rain dash against the walls of
the cabin, aud through the opsn doorway
the inky blackneSs of the night looks in
upon her as she Is covering by tho hearth,
her eyes ever fxel on tho motionless form
beside her.
Every now and then she rises TO chafe
the un n ured hanl. to listen for the faint
breathing, to wa.h away tbs marks of
blood upon the wan face. Little by little
she has made him swallow most of the
brandy the Task contained, and now with
q sad heart she sits watching for the dawn.
Will he last till them And even then Is
she sure she can make her way homo in a
hurry? Ard-and-when she gets there
what will her welcome be-what will she
Hay-how give an account of herselff How
Is she to teri them that she has spent the
night-the long, long, terrible night-a one
with him in this hut? Katherine's face
rises before her once again-the bitter scorn
of 1.-THE cruel contemplating wicked
meaning.
A thousand times she assures herself that
no one can dare say word to her preju-
dice when the truth, in Denis shattered
person, lies before them; and yet for all
that she knows that unkind comment will
be made, and shrinks from the thought Of
it with rather undue horror In this dark
hour she remembers how Katherine is mis-
tress of her secret; remembers, too, little
meaning, kindly smiles and innuendoes
from Marcy aud Lady Glandore, and
knows full well that her unhappy affection
for her cousin, il not shouted, has at least
been whispered on the housptOps
Yes, it is all over. This melancholy
night spent here in this desolate cabin will
never be forgotten by her in the world
never. 1t seems to her, in the morbid state
into which. he,now has allen, that for the fu-
ture she w II he sort of outcast, an Irish
pariah, as it were, amongst her tr.b,. One
little drop of comfort falls into her cup of
misery. To morrow---nay, to-day-her
dad is coming to Nentry. To this thought,
which is the very sweetest imaginable to
her solely troubled spirit, she clings eager
ly; in it indeed she has indeed great store
of III ss''--for when did her dad ever think
evil where no evil was?--and if all the
world were against her would not that be
TO him one rna on the more for declaring
himself more openly upon her side-dear,
darling dad
A heavy sigh falls from her, and moving
uneasiiy upon her seat-a heap Of sticks
she suddenly becomes aware that Denis has
his eyes open AMI is looking at her.
SIS that you Duchess
The voice is low, so faint indeed as to be
half inaudible. hut 'lovers' ears are sharp
to hear" and Norah, rising, bends eagerly
over him.
eyes. arm here" she whispers tender
ly. She kneels upon the ground beside
him, and softly, lovingly, lays her cool
hand upon his forehead Il is throbbing
violently; but the wet baniage has evident
ly been OF some use, as the blood has ceased
20 flow. Feeby lifting the unin jured arm,
he draws down the little comforting hand
until it touches his lips.
My leloved, this Is had thing for
you,' he whispers with difficulty. "Can
you not go homer You are giving up too
much for me"
she back, smiling. "I have lost my way.
do you know l can't go; so you see am
not doing very much for you after ALL"
~ know better than that, " the words
came slowly, disconnectedly, and as IL the
utterance of them hurts him. But shall
explain I'll mako them understand il !
last till then-if--'' He breaks Off with a
heavy sigh that is almost n groan, and
makes a vain effort that is very pitiablo in
ono so strong, to change his position.
you arc In psint' says Norah misera-
bly,.
''No. But tired--tired," murmurs he
YEARLY. Then, seeing her about to rise, he
clasps her hand closer. Don't go. Stay
with me. On! daring, II am to die now
after this-with the knowledge that you
love me, IL will be hard-hardp'
do not try 60 talk" entreats sho, rails
ing him with all her strength and so turn
ing him that he will find reiles "Do not
You are only wasting the little power left
you. Now, are you better, more comfort
able9'
Beside him, her.hand still ciasped in hts,
Norah sits quietly, her head bent upon her
knees. And presently on tired thought
kindly sleep descends and conquers ID, and
soon all is forgotten. On, blessed, health
giving inconsistencies, where would the
tired ones of the earth find rest II thou vert
witdrawni
II is dawn as with pang OF acutest fear
she wakes. Nay, more than dawn. The
day Is we'll awake, and on the mountain
tops the first fine clouds of coming morn
are dissolving beneath the suns warm rays
Springing to her feet Norah turns terri
fed glance upon Delaney, 10 find that he