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

fculty now than let yourself be indis-
solubly linked to a man you do not like
though why you do not l cannot under
stand.
There was a prolonged silence, while
Nora's sobs subsidized. and she gradually
-egained her elf-possess!on.
At the Duchess of ministers dover
house there was not unmixed joy on the
\ receipt of a carefully composed letter
| from Mrs. Ruthven, announcing her en-
gagement TO Marsden.
| Lady Dorrington could not make 1t out
| She was not SO carried away by her eager
ness for fresh betrothal as to lose sight
of the probable injustice to Nora, whose
proud, high spirited letter had touched her
and, more still. had inspired her with
hopes that the mischief was not irrepara-
| BILE. She FASTENED with Mrs. Ruthven's
| epistle to Lord Dorrington.
We'll, my DEAR" said that sapient no
bleman, when he had slowly perused 1t,
that brother of yours is a clever fellow.
How he manages to get rid of one wom-
an and secure another in the twinkling of
| an eye is beyond me altogether. Mrs.
Ruthven is wisely vague on the subject"
'.Clifford's momentary engagement to
| Miss L'Estrange seems to have originated
| in Misrepresentation on all sides; and
| feel assured that she, too, will see the
wisdom of setting an unwilling hance
I sree.''
Perhaps SO; but l doubt il Clifford
ever undertook anything against his will,
| unless under pressure of some tremendous
necessity: and what the necessity was
for his marrying Nora L'Estrange l can.
lot see"
Depend upon it, my letter is at the
. root of this very prudent change of front,
returned her ladyship. Il feel anxious
about Nora, however. l think l had bet
ter run to town and see for myself how
matters stand. You return to Chedworth
o-morrow. l will explain to my aunt
that l am compelled to go to town the
same afternoon instead OF remaining the
couple of days l promised"
1t followed, of course, that my lady car
ried out her plans, and, having had a short
interview with Mrs. Ruthven and found
her brother was still absent at Ewes
leigh, she dispatched telegram to Mrs.
L'Estrange, whom she wished to see
alone.
Mrs. L'Estrange had been out early,
having walked with Bea and her govern
ess to a music class which that young
| lady attended. and doing some shopping
IN her way back.
The dignified master of the house hav-
| ing gone to dinner, the door was opened by
the slavery of the establishment, and
Mrs. L'Estrange found the telegram on
| the drawing room table.
As Nora was not there, and the mes
| sage boded nothing pleasant, Mrs. LES
| TRANCE went downstairs at once, and
| meeting her own maid in the hall, she
told her she was obliged to go out again,
| In case Miss L'Estrange asked, and set
| forth to keep the appointment.
| The bell sounded more than once during
| the sacred hour of rest and refreshment,
but the task of answering was left to the
neat little house maid, whose lot 1t was to
| serve more than one master.
Nora meanwhile employed herself in
her own room She shrunk from meeting
Winton alone, and he might come any
day; so, while Helen was out she kept in
! Ter special stronghold.
She had been greatly disappointed that
lay. The morning post had brought her
nothing from Marsden: so. with a sinking
heart, she had set herself to compose o
letter to him.
She had written "Dear Clifford" and
sat looking at the words in a sort of de-
spair as to how she would attack her ter
rible subject, when the servant of the
house brought her a letter, at the sight of
which her heart stood still; the writing
was Marsden's.
lsked.
"Yes'm, she is in the drawing -room.'
Nora tore open the envelope and glanced
at the contents before rushing to confide
hem to her step-mother.
Nora" it began-''l think 1 see the re-
ief in your eyes-thOse sweet truthful
eyes l love so well-when you read these
words-I give you back your promise and
set you free. There is that in you,
know not what, which forbids me to sham
generosity. l give you up, because
cannot help it. A tremendous necessity,
necessity / cannot explain, compels me-
No words can express the agony of bit
terness and humiliation it costs me to re-
ease you, for l love you as passionately
rs ever, as l did from the first, when you
1nconsciously cast spell over me that
has been my ruin. Yet II has been all
my own fault. l do not blame you. If
we're to write forever. 1 could say no
more. You never loved me, but l should
not the less have insisted on your keeping
rour promise to be my wife. Now l re-
lounce you, and hope never to see you
lgain! You will give yourself to another,
If course-I would rather know you were
Iafe In your grave out Of reach where
zone could touch you. So good-byI No
,ne will ever love you so entirely, SO in
:ensely, as do, though curse the hour
irst saw you. If it be possible you should
ever regret me, 1 would break every law,
every bond, to come to you. But this II
badness! Yours-still utterly yours.
"CLIFFORD MARSDEN."
In the first infinite relief of finding her
,elf free, Nora did not quite take in the
of . h ofy OF lnR
impulse was to rush with her great It'd
ngs to Helen She few down stairs and
nto the drawing room. Mrs. L'Estrange's
armchair was In front of the fire and
Nora just saw, as she thought, the dark
inc of her dress at one side, as II her feet
we're on the fender.
"Oh. Helen! dear Helen! Clifford re-
eases me. Thank GoI, l am free, quite
freev' she cried In Joyous agitation.
She had scarce uttered the words when
figure started up from the chair and
Winton confronted her.
Nora stood still and dumb, the open let.
ter in her hand. feeling dazed and help
less in the crushing confusion which had
so suddenly overwhelmed her.
Has Marsden then released you at
-FOUR own request?" cried Winton, i'm |
petuously, and coming forward quickly,
forgetting in the supreme excitement OF
the moment all conventionality; while to
Nora it seemed equally natural to answer
with an emphatic "Yes, oh, yes! Wher
is Helen? thought she was hereW
$50 did l." returned Winton, recovering
his self-possession and his reserve.
called to-to say good-by, and trust you
will forgive my inopportune presence, my
unguarded, and fear very presumptuous.
question. NV sincere interest in-in your
welfare must be my excuse"
"You are very kind, L Oh, where IL |
Helen? must go and look for her." Be
fore Wilmot could stop her. had he beeD |
90 disposed, she had fed.