Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-05-09
The MaTtlet Seal.
BY JEANETTE H. wALwoRTH.

y
to have you so close to me. l don't
know how / lived through the days
without you-how existed, believing
that you would never come back to me.
My wife that was lost and is found!''
"Hushr'
She drew herself closer to his heart
by clasping her arms about his neck
Her lips were upon his check, her soft
breath stirred his hair. They sat very
quiet, recognizing in that mute COM
munion how much they really were to
each other. Once he caught in a half
whisper the plaintive refrain:
"Poor Ida! and poor, poor Dennis! If
could only do somethingI"
Even then her opportunity was COM
ing to her. A knock at the door, and
one of the hotel walters stood before
them.
A lady wanted to see Mrs. Lorimer,
alone.
But don't know anybody herc"-
she turned perplexedly towards John
'outside the people used to know; and
If it is any of them, they have come
from pure curiosity"
81 think the lady is in trouble. She
wears black veil, and her voice is
Wcth, IhS "ulJCE NO1uhlCCTCIlR ny way
of enlightenment.
Can it be"
"Show the lady up" said John Lori
mer, peremptorily.
"Why should she come to me? To
rcproach me? To curse me? How can
face her, John, this desolate grip"
John took her in his arms and kissed
her gravely on the forehead:
Dear wife, bear in mind that you
only obeyed an memorable necessity.
You have nothing to finch from. She
asked to see you alone. wish could
help you; but cannot"
Ida Fairbanks found Nora standing
calm and collected by the bare white
marble comfortable. But at sight of
| that desolate figure, with its impene-
trable black veil dropping in heavy
| folds about her majestic form. Nora s
composure forsook her entirely. She
held out both hands imploringly as she
| bhcti
'N.'u have como here ~ tell me lha'
you hate me. You have come here to
curse me for wrecking your happiness.
could not help It'll The clew was in
| my hands. What would you have done?'
YEARLY. She had thrown back her
veil, and stood looking at Nora with
haggard eyes and lips that twitched
convulsively:
81 started with Ninette thought ]
would bring her here to plead with you
for her father; but-but-a friend met
us and insisted upon my leaving the
child with Mr.. Lorimer until had seer
II "a, Z Il
ing good-by to him-giving him up g
second time-lnst time"
| "Why? Oh, why?"
Nora was kneeling by the arm of the
chair into which she had forced her Wis
itor. "Surely it is not his wishP"
mo; it is not his wish. Poor Dennis
But do you not see how shocking it is
to be thinking of anything but--himp'
She put her hands to her head, perplex
edly. Il am so tired of thlnking-sc
tired of trying to straighten things out!'
"You wanted me to do something fol-
you?" Nora bent her head gently anG
kissed the white blue-veined hand thai
rested on the arm of the chair. my
heart aches for you! Oh, say that yor
forgive me!'
Forgive you? Do you suppose
think you liked to do it? Oh, dear, no
1t must have been horriblel And YOU
Ninette's aunt-the 'Norrie' she loves Sc
dearly still. But-don't you see?-Den
mis- must not have brother-in-law il
the penitentiary for life. ! believe they
think that will be the sentence-unles
unless" She shuddered, closed he
eyes, and her head dropped heavil,
back against the chair
Nora sprang to her feet in alarm
Ida opened her eyes slowly:
II have not tainted. don't know
how to faint. I came to ask you to d.
something. l feel as if you We're thu
only one they would listen to. l wisl
Dennis had not followed me here. Hi
face comes between me and Sibley.
ought not to think of thing but m,
= poor boy until-until procure his par
DON"
''Pardon!" Nora took up the wor
feverishly. "a pardon from the gov
ernor?"
Ida looked at her anxiously. Eyes
You could do it. She was your sister
Your wishes would carry weight Yo
loved her child-his child. l though
for Ninette's sake, perhaps"
Nora laid her hand over the girl
quiVering lips as softly as a fallin
flower petal. poor, suffering sister, 70
your sakel''
= A rush of feet, shrill, childis
treble, and Ninette, held aloft in Der
mis- strong arms, was before them, flu
tering her small handkerchief fra1
e tically. He tells me to cry good newi
4 H0pel HOPPER
Both women turned appealing eye
on Dennis. The torture of another me
= ments suspense could not be borne.
"a clew," he said, huskily, "but d
believe it will lead to Sibley's vindic,
ton"
RI Then, addressing himself now to Id;
o now to Nora, he went on, excitedly:
"I was sitting in the square, waitin
for you. dear. I had allowed Ninette I
, wander off the length of bench wit
some respectable-loolking youngste
when, all of a sudden, commotion {
some sort carried every idler in IL