Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-04-29


appointments, through the open door
of which Nora got glimpse into a bed
room fitted up with still more oriental
splendor.
''Nowl We are safe-quite safei
Eugene never intrudes here. We can
talk comfortably"
She pushed Nora into an easy chair,
and, seating herself close beside her,
began nervously.
81 am sorry you failed to get that
letter It would have saved you this
trip
mo. I came to the city independent
" of any expectation Of seeing you.
had believed you were on the stage. /
had given you up for dead. / placed
the child where its proper protectors
would be obliged to care for it, and
then-then- But did not come here
to talk about myself. Tell me all that
you have kept from me SO long,
Amelia"
81 am married"
Mrs. Norcross was not looking ut her
sister now. Her eyes were down-dropt,
and she was nervously twisting heavy
gold bangle around on her wrist.
~ see that for myself. When did
Sibley Fairbanks die?"
81 don't know"
Don't knowI Don't knowI You
must know that he is dead, Amelia?"
'T don't know. OF course he is dead.
| OF course know it. WretchI deserter!
| unnatural monsterl Was to wear the
| willow all my life for q creature who
| deserted me and. his child-left us to
starve or to worse?"
"But how could you marry another
manP How dared you? Did you tell
him the whole truth? Mr.. Norcross,
| mean"
Mrs. Norcross laughed again. There
was none of the silvery merriment in
| the sound that the guests downstairs
had heard before this person had in
/ truded like deaths head at her feast.
1 1t was CHASTITY sort of laugh, and,
leaving her seat, she began pacing the
narrow dressing-room with long rest
less strides. Suddenly she turned
fiercely on Nora:
| "Why did you come here, Nora Hem
| way? Why did you come here to spoil
my beautiful, bright, gay life? The
| child would never miss me. She did not
need me. heard you had married that
the country to live, and was glad"
"Glad, Mellie?"
eyes, glad! glad! glad! For Eugene
Norcross never would have made me his
wife, if he had not believed was abso-
lutely alone in the world. And wrote to
| you, throwing myself on your mercy. ]
told you that my past must be dead and
buried past. begged you to help me
II oil 20 oH
mischances as this that wrote that let
ter. told you all about the money
had put in the bank for the child. You
might have let me be happy, Nora. God
knows have suffered enough in the
past"
"How can one be happy living lie
Nellie? How can you be happy without
letting him know all about Sibley Fair
banks? You were innocent then
Amelia, but you are guilty here-horri
bly, guilty"
"Do you want me to kill you, NoraP J
feel equal to it-quite equal to it-yor
wretched, pulling moralist!'
She stopped in front Of her sister
quivering from head to foot with pas
from her beautiful face, leaving II
|
hands were clinched until the pink nails
penetrated the soft flesh. AS she stood
with her back to the chamber door, sh,
looked quite equal to carrying her wilt
words into execution.
Nora, looking at the wildly excitec
creature more in alarm than in anger
became conscious of third presence
| A dark, stern face was framed momen
i - -, 49,
back, then quickly withdrawn.
"There is some one in therel" sh
said, huskily, pointing toward the bed
room-''some one who has heard ou
talk"
If possible, Amelia's face grew We
paler. She sprang like some beautiful
panther toward the open door, thel
stopped, paralyzed. Her voice soundet
husky and feeble:
"Eugenel You here?"
"I am here, Who is your visitor, Mrs
Norcross?''
"a poor sewing woman"
{ She had disappeared within the room
and pushed the door after her. 1t di
, | not close fully upon its hinges Nor
, | sat still, SO absolutely dazed an
wretched that it never occurred to he
II W pun hcESc11 DcyOuu Cuo reach VI I'll
voices in the next room. Where, il
, deed, in this strange house, should sh
go?
r "You are at home early, Eugene"
? 1t was Amelia's voice. The effort
, make it quite natural and soft wa
pitiably apparent to her sisters torture
ears.
1t was not pleasant voice that al
/ | swered her:
I Eyes, am at home early. 1 cam
e home to give my wife some advice.
There was a concentration of wrath i
the voice that set Nora's heart beatin
! with apprehension.
"Advice for me, Eugene?''
r eyes, Mrs. Norcross, for you.'' The
followed the rustling of some paper
1.-THE next time you write letters col
tanning secrets touching upon your ow
u immaculate past, be more careful. Mr.
Norcross. Doubtless your own pc
q fumed stationery was inadequate
| this bulk but it was a clumsy miStak