The Irish standard., 1893-05-06

rnere staring INTO the men1sed ne, now.
folding her hands patiently, now twist
ing and twining the slim white fingers
about each other in q perfect passion of
unrest She was reminded Of her where
abouts by harsh but not disrespectful
voice in the door of the cabin, asking,
supposedly:
''You here yet, missy?"
She sprang up quickly, and, turning
her back upon the bright blaze, an
swered, promptly:
/ Eyes, am here yet, waiting for you
to SEQ me home"
II thought Mars John promised to
see you homer"
It was evident this humble house
holder did not relish turning out again
in the raw air. He shuf1ed slowly
| towards her.
II let him 60 without me.' said Nora,
family.
'You oughtn' t'had done that, Miss
Idly. Mr.. Johns younger than oil
Isham, and safer guide in the dark.
But I don't begrudge the trouble, my
chill; not me. Come on, then; we don't
want no questions asked bout this
days doings"
mo, we don't want any questions
i asked. Come on, Isham. You shall
just put me on the other size of the
bayou. Then can go alone" Nora an
swered, 1narveling at her own powers
of assimilation.
It was either an easier journey made
under the old mans guidance, or the
wild tumult in her heart and brain
triumphed to the point of obliterating
all physical sensations.
She was at home, in her own room,
with Celeste kneeling before her I'M
| buttoning her dew-dampened boots. be-
! fore she clearly realized her departure
from the cabin.
''Mr Lorimer has been to the door
twice to inquire about madame's head
ACHE The last time I told him it ached
so badly that it might be best for him
: to sleep in another apartment tonight.
So he left his regrets, and said if you
needed him I was to knock at the door
just across the hall"
'sThank you, Celeste. shall not need
him.
She closed her lids upon the hot,
crowding tears. The French woman's
astuteness had saved her scene. Even
for her there was cause of gratitude
left in a. world which had suddenly
turned black-oh, so black!
CHAPTER VIII.
r
no longer. Bah, the provincials! Mime.
Lorimer, the old one insists upon
plasters! AS if Tin fierce aside)
''broken hearts could be plastered to-
gether like broken cups The hand
some Mr.. Lorimer, the one who is SO
we'll satisfied with his name that he re-
peats it twice, wishes you to be cupped
and sacrificed; the young men Richard
and Raphael look stupid and disconso-
late. Mr.. Lorimer says-your Mr.. Lor-
inner, of course--th.t he insists on your
either admitting him or the doctor.
The doctor has been to the house twice
in these two days. And the child Her
vailing maddens them. They are not
used to children"
''Nor to being bullied out of their
rights by children's nurses. Celeste,
leave the room. You have lied to me-"
This startling interruption came from
John Lorimer himself. He had opened
the door softly. fearful of disturbing his
wife, whom Celeste, five minutes be-
FORE had represented as abed with no
decrease of the neuralgia attack which
had rendered her invisible to all the
household, excepting herself, for TIVE
days now.
"Lied! monsieur?''
eyes, led
"By madame's orders, monsieur,
with a shrug more insolent than any
words.
*What lie has she told you?' Nora
asked, laying down the pen she had
held suspended while listening to
Celeste.
She folded her hands and leaned back
YEARLY in her chair. If he must have
scene, as well then as at any other
time.
''She told me you were abed-that
you were suffering"
II have suffered acutely, in the last
two days.
"And yet I find you writing. FROM
the number of Uncovered sheets on
your desk, you have been at it for
hours
81 believe / have. Yes-hours," she
answered, abstractedly.
t'Too i'll to admit me to your room,
yet well enough to write for hours on a
stretch! Nora, you must think am a
very patient man.
mo, don't think l ever laid that
charge at your door"
He had seated himself in chair on
the other side of the table from her. He
had wanted to take her in his arms at
the moment Celeste's abominable face
had disappeared. She had repulsed him
gently, but Enthusiastically. He extended
one of his long brown hands now and
laid it over hers, as it lay stretched out
upon the pile Of papers before her.
Without any petulant haste, she quietly
withdrew hers and locked it's fingers in
the girdle of her loose wrapper.