Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-10-09
CHAPTER XVI

A day had passed-two-three-
Marsden had made no sign.
Nora began TO hope he was wise enough
to preceive that it would not be for his
own happiness to insist on marrying
girl who was so reluctant TO be his wife.
After some consideration, she wrote
sensible, dignified letter to Lady DorrinS-
ton. rebutting her accusations and assur'
ing her that, SO far from wishing to mar
her brothers prospects by holding him 10
his engagement she had earnestly begSec
him to set her free.
Christmas had gone by, to Bea lnhhlte
disappointment, without the presence OF
her favorite, Marsden. There was a
pause in the little drama of their lives!
This interval was first broken by n few
lines from Winton to Mrs. l. LEstranGe, IN
which he asked her to fix an hour when
she could see him, as he was in town for
a short time. and, if she adhered to her
intention of returning to Brookdale early
in January, il would be his only oppor-
tunity of wishing her good-by. as he hoped
to complete his business and sail for lndla
the end of the month.
Nora accepted this note as notice to be
out of the way. and felt truly grateful tc
Winton for sparing her the pain of ar
encounter.
idea of the truth. Though she liked Mark
Winton, she thought Marsden would be
more suitable husband for Nora. lie
WAS bright and companionable, while
Mark was older than his years, sobered
too by life of steady work and serious
responsibility. Nora could not be so much
attracted by 4 man too much IN earnest
for civil speeches or implied compliments,
or any of the gallant trickery IN which
Marsden excelled-who differed from and
argued with her as he would with COM
rade of his own sex, and to crown all. had
looks to boast of beyond good hgure and
gentleman-like air
However, she made out very little IRON
their tete-a -tete interview.
Winton looked worn and gaunt, but
seemed very glad to see her. and to hnd
her alone. He spoke freely enough of his
own affairs, of the division he had made
of his uncle's bequest with the deceased's :
Craudchild, and of his own approaching
departure. of herself and her little daugh-
ter. in even a kindlier tone than usual;
but not until he rose to take leave, after
refusing her invitation to dinner. did
he mention Nora. Then he asked calmly
And Miss L'Estrange; l hope she Is
well?"
"Yes: very Well
"And when does the wedding take
placer"
Il am not quite s.-e-
81 thought it .-as fixed for the begin
ming of February!"
"Yes; :i-., was talked of; but we do moi
quite L 3ow yet
care you pleased with the marriaGe!'
he asked, looking at her very searchingly.
"Certainly, am. 1t is Il good marriage,
from worldly point of view; and then
Clifford Marsden is SO utterly devoted
that think dear Nora's happiness is sure
to be his first consideration"
"It ought to be-" very gravely. but,
Mrs L'Estrange, Marsden's financial po-
sition ought to be looked into carefully
before the marrge takes place. Mars
den of Evesleigh sounds like grand al
lance, but he is a good deal dipped, OF
course. he may have cleared himself. Miss
L'Estrange has no guardian, believer
mo. Colonel L'Estrange, after max
Ing many wills, which he destroyed, final
" died intestate: our good friend, Mr..
Barton, the Colonel's solicitor, has man
aged everything for US, and l have got
into the habit of looking on Lord Dor
rington as an informal guardian: but he
cannot, or will not, interfere now, because
he. or rather Lady Dorrington, is so dis
pleased with the proposed marriage"
"Ha, l feared so. Lady Dorrington
was, | think, anxious her brother should
secure Mrs. Ruthven's fortune. This
must be n source of annoyance to Nora
/ mean Miss L'Estrange-who is, l sup
pose. attached to Marsden; he is a sort
of fellow TO please girls fancy" There
was tinge of bitterness in his tone.
"Oh, yes of cOursei But Nora Is no
sentimentalist, you know"
II do She is something better. Well,
good morning, Mrs. L'Estrange."
I'VE shall see you again, though? You
will not go without saying good-by to
Nora and poor little Bea"
Wuton hesitated.
81 should like to shake hands with Miss
LEstrange once more he said slowly.
AS to Rea, you must keep me posted up
in your own and her doings-if you con
slider me her informal guardian l shall be
pleased"
"You are very good-you always wer
good. Mark" cried Mrs. L'Estrange,
warmed out of formality. But you ars
not going away forever! India is SO
accessible now; you can come to and fro,
and
India is the best place for me-" he in.
terrupted. somewhat grimly. ''There !
have work TO do; here there are no ties
TO keep me! l shall come and say good-by
before | start" He shook hands cordial
ly and left her.
Mrs. L'Estrange hurried upstairs to re-
port proceedings to Nora, who was pre-
tending to read in her own room, where
she was fond of retiring, finding the re-
-traint even of her step-mother's kindly
presence irksOme in her present overtaxed
condition of ,nind-consumed as she was
by perpetual anxiety respecting her own
position and intolerable regret for what
she had lost by mere misapprehension. or,
worse still, the deliberate misleading.
And Mr. Winton is to leave SO soon!'
she exclaimed, growing very white. as her
step mother ceased speaking. why does
he hurry away?"
Il cannot imagine! He seems anxious
to get back to his work. and to think there
is no place for him in England"
Nora was silent, and Mrs. L'Estrnngt
continued to speak, repeating Winton's
kind words, volunteering to be Bea's guar
dian. Suddenly she broke out, as If she
had not heard what her step-mother had
been saying:
1t is cruel of Clifford to keep me wait
ing so long-so Iong-for his decision. 1t
Will be five days tomorrow since he left
NE! And l cannot bear this horrible
anxiety Helen! Ought l to marry him
when l have such dOubts-such reluc.
tance? Am 1 weaker than other people,
that cannot see the right thing to do
and do it? Would Clifford really breah
his heart about me? What shall l do
Helen! Oh, what shall dor
She burst into passion of tears, which
absolutely frightened her step-mother, te
whom she had scarcely ever-even In her
childish days-displayed such strong
0motiona