Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-02-27
CHAPTER XXVII.

CHAPTER XXVII.
But the soul
Whence the love comes all rayase leaves
vainly the nesh fades soul makes all things
new"
"why, how is this' Look up, my lamb;
my precious. Why Norahl Why Duchess"
The Squire. as he holds his daughters in.
sensible body to his heart, appears at his
wits end. He is bending over her, and is
looking with heart-broken anxiety into the
white, worn face. Then suddenly he lifts
his head and gazes sternly at Madam
across her body.
what have you done to her?" he asks,
fercely. II lent her to you. l trusted
you. And you Is this the way you
give her back 10 mey' He pauses here and
looks so Indignantly arounl him that as
Nancy Blake afterward expressed it, they
all went into their shoes. Had none of
you compassion on her, after all she had
just gone throughy' This, of course, is
nos understood BY any of them, and he
turns back again TO Madam. ANSWER
me, )" he says. What have you done to
my daughters"
Nancy Blake and Lady Glandore are do
ing what they can for Norah, while Madam
taxes a step forward and confronts her
brother-in- law.
''Oh, man" she cries, in broken accents,
"Tou have her She is there within your
arm But i Where is my songn
Their, Is tragedy IN her whole air.
Have you not heard them Has she not
told your" exclaims the Squire, startled
They told me TO break it 10 you, but /
thought Norah would have been able to
Why, they are bringing him here. He has
been hurt-and-n
HE is deadn' says Madam in low, but
piercing tone.
"BleSs me, my dear creature, no. Not
bit of it. Far from it, | hope. He
There, now, Norahr' as the girl opened her
eyes. Come, now, there's good grill
That's right now! Look up at your old
dad He" turning again to Madam twas
attacked, it appears, by one of those
damned Land Leaguers. | really beg your
pardon, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES (vith
an airy gesture lit was one of those
damned rascals who fred at him, and the
bullet hit him, and his arm There,
now, that's my own girl again. Why,
Noddlekins, TO think of you fainting at the
sight OF your old father
''Oh, his arm. What of his armY' asks
the poor motaer detractedly.
'lt-pm afraid it broken" says the
Squire, gently. "But hasn't Norah told
you?n
''Norah! No." They oil draw closer to-
gether. ''What does she know of ity''
''Why, bless my heart, everything"
says the Squire, looking proudly down
upon the Luchess, who now, safe in the
shelter of his embrace and somewhat forti-
fed by the wine that Lady Glandore had
insisted ON her drinking, is list ming with
some composure to her fathers tale "Why
it was Norah who found him in that
ruffian's grasp, and somehow saved him.
don't quite know all about it myself yet.
hut, anyhow, she must have succeeded in
dragging hum into a sort of a hut that is in
the woods, and there she STAYED with him
all night nursing him and binding up his
wounds misunderstanding him up from
the cold with her own poor little pettcoats.
Pom my soulr' says the Squire, two tears
stealing down his cheeks, 'she's heroine,
that's what she is, though | say it of my
own flesh and blood. I"
ooh, Norahl But why didn't you tell
us, darling" says Madam, taking the girl
in her arms and kissing her somewhat re-
proachfully. ITO know he was alive
Here the door is pushed open very gent
ly, and the butler thrusts in his hoary head.
IF We please, Madam, they've brought
the masther, " he begins, genuine fear and
sorrow in his tone.
Bring him in here" says the Squire.
hastily. And send another messenger for
the do tor. ~
He is quite conscious as they bring him
in his improvised couch, door covered
with oats, and his first word is for the
mother who bends over him in speeches.
grief.
Dear mother! Ii NIGH. have been
worse" he says feebly, with a touching at
tempt at the old lightness of manner: and |
then his gaze wanders ''Norahyr he asks
''She is here" says Madam. drawing |
her eagerly forward; and, indeed. no pres. |
sure is needed She is at his side almost as /
soon as her name passes his lips, with love.
unforbidden, in her eyes It seems TO her !
now as though nothing matters. and that
for this one supreme moment he IL still her
own. The influence OF the past night.
when he was given so utterly into her
keeping, is still upon her, and regardless of
all eyes they are very kindly ones) she
kneels down beside him and resses her lips
TO his hand
"You are better" she says softly. low
fully. The morrow may give him TO
katherine. The morrow may, nay IL
shall, take her away forever, back TO her
old home, but just now she will hold him
as her own
MotnerP says Denis turning to Madam
with some excitement 'she is worn out.
exhausted. Don't you sec itg Take her
away; give her into your charge See TO
her rs you love me. But for her, III
de ceases somewhat suddenly, and falls
backward, whereupon the doctor, who hax