The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1895-08-03

was pause while Nora sought in vail
for something TO say.
Did Mrs. L'Estrange tell you l wa.
inclined TO go off straight to India witt
Colonel and Mrs. RomerY
Yes, she did"
But felt could not go without trying
my luck in London. May l tell you why 2
He is going to confde in me" thought
Nora
Certainly, Mr. Winton" she said very
kindly. Perhaps l have some idea why
already"
Winton looked at her steadily, with sur
prise.
You may have, though l doubt it
Another pause, then with an evident effort
Ninton began, growing more composed
and collected as he went on. You may
think me presumptuous ass, but | will
not lose the faiutest chance for any false
pride Miss L'Estrange, though we have
always been good friends. especially when
| first knew you, acknowledge you have
never given me any hope that you would
ever let me be more than a friend. And
lately have imagined, or rather felt, that
you were changed in some way; perhaps
that ought 10 have been enough to silence
me, but, you see. when mans future
hangs on Yes or NO. it is hard to be
content with uncertainty, and there is 4
degree Of sympathy between us on some
subjects. In short, ! cannot leave with
out asking if there is any hope for me,
for" looking straight at her with sol.
emnity, Il love You we'll"
Me" exclaimed Nora, who had listened
n iuprap Siufr anna yarppur VA, S1,ra
you mean me-
'Who else could l mcanE'
"Mr Winton," rising to her feet in the
agony Of that terrible moment, and white
even to her lips, Il have promised to
marry Clifford Marsdcn in February"
Winton also rose and stood before her
a grim, dark expression gathering in his
face.
Il never anticipated this''-he broke off
abruptly. Then | have only to apologize,
which do most humbly, for having in
trudcd myself and my feelings on you. !
shall trouble you no more
There was moments silence
Il am srieycd to grieve YOU said Nora.
in a voice So low and trembling that she
scarce heard herself.
Il believe it, YOU have q kind. true
heart. | was presumptuous in hoping to
win it. God grant Marsden may make
YOU happy. None can wish you all posi-
bile prosperity more warmly than | do
Pray forget that have momentarily dis.
trcSScd YOU" He paused, and looked at
her intently. mora, You are faint! You
tremblc you can hardly stand"
He made Il movement as if to catch and
support her.
no, no." She exclaimed. 'You must 90
You must leave me.'
Il must indeed" returned Winton. nc
took and gently kissed her hand. said soft.
ly, Il will never intrude on YOU again
Good-by, dear, good-by." seized his hat
and was gone. Then Nora sunk upon til,
sofa and buried her face in her hands. heI
heart filled with the blacklist despair. II
he bad come but three weeks, even fort
night ago. What was to become of her;
Could Mark Winton have forsakrr
Helen for her? No; that was impossible
And various important tritlcS. indicative
of his interest in herself from the very
beginning OF their acquaintance. REQUIRED
to her painfully excited memory. Why
why did She allow herself To be 50 easily
mislcd? How did Clifford come to be 50
deceived? Did he indeed believe what
he asserted? Was she not base. to sus
pcct her aiiianced husband of trickerv be-
cause she was miserable herself? And
if as She believed only yesterday, Helen
was attached 10 Wnton, the round OF
wretchclucSs would be complete, WHY
had she been 50 prrcipitatcE Turn which
way she would, she WAS hemmcd in by
the misery she had caused others. How
was she TO bear her life? She must lct
Winton believe in her Indifference TO him
her love for MarSleu. After all her duty
and consideration ought 10 he for the mar
she had promised 10 marry. when she
thought another was Preferred by the
man she loved, Where could she turn fol
counsel or comfort? None could give i
10 her. Her wisest, busiest course, wOulC
be StrictcSt silence as to Winton's amaz
ing avowal. Then there would be no dis
turhamco. Helen would remain on tn,
same friendly terms with Winton, per
haps he might learn to love her. At any
rate, she had always heard that mel
never suffered long from such disappoint
meutS.
1t was all. all too cruel! To think tia
through n mistake SO slight so easy I,
have avoided, she had missed the roat
that led to happiness happiness full. com
plete, soul-satiSfyiug- made him sh,
loved SO well suffer rs bitterly as she die
herself,
1t was an hour of intense, blacklist de
Spa}r. a night of anguish TO which Their,
would be no succeeding dawn. To the sur
rows, as to the joys of youth there ar
no to-morrows In grief it indignant,
rejects the idea of consolation. Of bein:
SO hoartless rs to forget. while the sug
gcStion of prudence in pleasure, lest darl
days may come. is resisted with scornfu
certainty of permanent bliss. To Nori
the only possible mood that could succee,
her present suffering would be the numb
Ness and Indifference of mental death, II
the bitterness of her remorse for her owl
hasty action, she wrung her hands, an,
the splendid cueagement-ring. which
Marsdcn had placed upon her hand in al
ditiou To the Sgnet he still wished her t,
wear, fell 10 the ground unnoticed
At length she tried to think what sh,
had better do to hide herself from tn,
kindly inquiring eyes Of her stcp-mother
She could think OF nothing more origina
than the incNhauStihle cxcuSe-headache
but it would not do to lie down in the SAT,
solitude of her own room No: she daree
not So indulge herself She would so on
and shop. There was plenty To do in tina
way. She rang and called for the ever
ready Watson. and explained that sh,
thought the air would do her good, an,
sailed forth. leaving a message for Mrs
. LEStrange to the effect that Winton ha,
called and could not come to tea