Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-09-25
CHAPTER XIy-(Contipued1


cost you much," said Marsden. bitterly.
Clifford" said Nora, determined to be
brave and honest, feeling her courage re-
viving with the sincerity of her resolu-
ton, II will be true, though il hurts me
horribly to speak the truth to you. You
ought not to throw away consideration
Of prudence, perhaps duty. for the sake
Of q girl who does not, can not, love You
as you ought to be loved for making such
sacrifices. l ought not to have promised
what / did. Can you ever forgive me. II
/ beg of you to give up the idea of mar
rying me? l should disappoint you. fear
I shouldY'
"Forgive your repeated Marsden
quietly, "neverv' His hand. which lay
on the sofa cushions. clinched itself tight.
''If you persist in breaking with me. il
you attempt to juggle me-but you are
too wise, too kindly! My sister talks Of
what she does not understand. l GER
tainly will not attempt to reside at Ewes
leigh, and throw open my house TO the
country for some time. but l am by no
means in the straits she imagines or in
vents; and even if / were. no amount OF
fortune, no advantages would atone to me
for you-l love you-I want you-and
nothing shall separate u.s."
But, Clifford. shall you be happy with
me. if l cannot love you as you do me-"
Love as l do?" cried Marsden, start
Ing up to take hasty turn, and throwing
himself on the sofa again. That YOU
never can! Nature forbids it! But you
shall be my wife, and give me what ten
derness you can.
Nora began to feel indignant ut his tone.
"If you really loved me, you should
think of my happiness as well as your
own"
81 do! only care to make you happy!
But / don't want any one else TO make
you happy Nora! it cannot be possible
that after your solemn promise to me,
you want to draw back? There is some
thing l do not understand here; some
thing more than Isabel's letter.
"Her letter brought on a climax; but
have been uneasy for some time. fright
ened at the responsibilities l was going
to undertake; frightened at my own
want of affection for you; though l do
like you, and | am miserable at making
you unhappy"
"Then save your misery and my un-
happiness! Marry me: marry me willing
ly-for marry me you must
"Are you so resolved?' asked Nora
changing color and feeling alarmingly
faint.
L
on the solution of the riddle" said Mars
den, rising and confronting her. You
may not love me; but you love some one
elseY'
Nora was silent. Falsehood in every
shape was abhorrent to her, yet truth in
this case was terrible; how could she con-
fess her weakness! Marsden's eyes. full
Of deadly rage. were fixed on her. Il am
right? You do not reply!' Then Nora,
with a sudden flash of courage, deter
mined that all cOncealment should be
swept away. "YOu are right, Clifford"
she said. coloring crimson, throat and
cheeks and ears. But l thought l had
got over it all, that it would trouble me
no more; and l do humbly pray you to for
give me for deceiving you. as well as
myself"
Forgive you! OF course, forgive you,
my sweetest, my darlingv' he exclaimd.
II only want you to love me now. IL
you will but give me the fragments which
remain, / am .atisfied! l will even bless
that solemn rectangular prig Winton, for
trampling the divine pearl of your ten.
derness under his feet, so that it may
come to me in any shape"
"Why do you imagine-what makes you
think of Mr.. Winton?" faltered Nora,
vaguely distressed by his tone, and shock.
ed beyond description at the notion OF
having betrayed herself.
"Who else could it be? Unless, indeed,
some very juvenile affair, with Teutonic
baron or graf aboard" he laughed. harsh
ly. II do not mind Winton. He never
could love as l do. He has a sort of
chilled shot detachment to your pretty
step mother, which may"
''There you are mistaken" interrupted
ha
tons did you believe her engaged toy
Marsden turned and looked sharply at
her. "You have been exchanging con.
fdences with Mrs. L L'Estrange?" he said.
II have received hers"
1T was Black Winton who was for
a while engaged to her; but your friend
was attached to her, tool! returned Mars
den.
"You told me-you implied-he was en-
gagged" murmured Nora
"Oh, see You mean deceived youi
l really cannot remember what / said
only what l believed. But that is of no
consequence. l want you to understand
me. Nora. I will not give you up. I
hold you to your promise. Keep it. and
I'll gladly devote my life to you. Break
it-no, l will not believe that! I'll not
think Of It! Nora. do not desert me! All
you. If you shake me of, I know I shall
go to the devil, and it will be the worse
for you. ! know what I am capable of
1 could be damnably cruel"
DO not suppose you can frighten me-"
cried Nora, reused to anger by the shadow
OF q threat 81 care too much for you not
to feel infinite pain in disappointing you
but will not submit to be bulliedr'
''Great heavensI You misunderstood
me. do not know what l am saying,
Nora! You must not be faithless. Look
here, am utterly dependent on you for
my future. have no hope, no life, apart
from you, and I hold you to your promise,
a. cling to salvation. On your head be
II whatever becomes Of me without you!
Ny love! my soul! do not turn from me
l will never give you up. claim you
whatever happens.
The profound supplication of his voice,
the entreaty of his speaking eyes.
shook Nora's heart. Had she. indeed. any
right to turn from one to whom she
seemed so essential?
DO not decide anything to-day. Cliff
ford" she said in a low voice. She was
uegInning to feel quite exhausted
Think over all have said. and SO will
f what you have urged"
Il will do anything you like. save one
hing" he interrupted, 'but no reflection
will change me- l see all this has been
100 much for you. will leave you for
the present, and in a day or two trust
to find you reconciled to the dreadful al
Tentative of keeping your promise to me-"
Nora bent her head in silence, and after
looking at her for a minute or two with
glance of mingled anger and admiration,
CLIFFORD said with n abort lau1h: