Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1893-03-25


you. How can take yoa out-ghas
presents can give you.
Then Nora struggled with the voice
that was barely at command, and sai1,
II am glad you should be happy, Lola,
but do not want to go out more than
do now,o to have any presents from
''You odious little thing. 10. proud
you are. Well, I'll keep my pretty
gifts for those who appreciate them.
Only hope you will be civil to Sir Reg
gle when he comes, and not treat him to
any Of your disagreeabe airs.'
81 am going away tomorrow to stay
with Aunt Lou, so | am not likely to sce
him for some time" almost Whispered
Nora.
"A good thing, too. shall have settled
everything By the time you come back.
Although Sir Reggie is good match, |
suppose there will be some trouble.
Papa is like you; he always makes
difficulties where none exist, and as vo,,
are his favoritc daughter. doubtless ha
will think you ought to be married first,
though l am the Oldest"
Nora did not answer. She was nc
customed to Lolla's outbreaks, which
were generally as unjust as they were
preposterous.
In this instance, too, poor No.a's
heart was too heavily wounded FOR her
to have the courage to aHude to hel
pain. Lola and Nora Trehernc were
the two daughters Of small country
squire Of limited INCOME. Their mother
had died when the girls were very young
and they had been brought up in a rather
haphazard fashion, with nothing but
their own instinct to guide them.
Lola made friend Of everybody,
while Nora, erring-in a different direc-
tion made no friends at all; that is, she
never confdcd the secrets of her own
She was all packed up ready to 60 to
Clifton-where Aunt Lou lived early on
the morrow. Thus, to her intense relief,
she would avoid meeting with her
sisters declared lover. whom. in writ
ing her acceptance Of her suit, Lola had
begged to come over to luncheon on the
following day.
Never before had she felt so thankful
as when the train that was bearing her
from her home glide1 out Of the sta
ton.
Aunt Lou lived in pretty house near
the Suspension Bridge, an there Nora
work she was called upon to do, and
was content and at peace. II only sle
could get off their wedding; if she could
90 back to her home and find Lola
married and installed as mistress in Sir
Reignald's house she would then be able
to face life b-avefy.
Meanwhile she had months re-
prieve.
Poor little Nora she had nocombative
powers; resigned to her fate she had left
the coast absolutely clear, and when Sir
Reggie Breton arrived at the Squire's
house to luncheon, it was to find Lola
alone in the drawing room.awaiting him,
and the basket of roses, still in the
zenith Of their beauty, placed in most
conspicuous position.
He looked round with bewildered
air, as if he did not wholly comprehend
the situation; but then he was so shy,
wnat else could be expectedl
80 good of you to sendsthose lovely
roses-they are divine. SO like you to
remember ones pet flowers. and put the
sentiments that accompanied them SO
:enderly and prettilY."
THE flowers-ah, yes, thesfowers-t
have seen them all grow, ana oiHpsou
knows how to arrange them," said Sir
Reggie, still looking about the room
With an uuc ucomtortable hesitation Of man
ner
"Your sister," he asked at last, ''your
| sister likes these flowers.
"My sister though. them lovely. She
has gone on a visi. to Aunt Lou a;
Clifton; she went yesterday" :
"She saw the flowers aud went"
Lola nodded her head.
"Ah." mut,ered shortly by Sir Reggie,
aud then long pause.
Even Lola was nonplussed, and began
to think there must be some mlssake.
'Oh, see-yes--she thought
I What she thought he did net say, per
haps he did not know; at all eveats, d
| oyr-oSs