Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-07-10
CHAPTER VIII.


commune was very perceptible, at least,
| TO herself. The careful watch she estab-
| lshed over her own words and manner,
however, was too delicately exercised to be
| in any way remarkable. She was bright
and frank as eyer, but she slid easily
| away from any approach of sentimental
| subjects, though talking readily on other
topics. The chief change was an increase
| of animation and a tendency to mock at
what used to touch her. Mrs. L'Estrangt
| only noticed that Nora was in remarkably
| good spirits.
Winton sometimes looked little sur.
| 3rised, and bestowed more of his CONVEX
sation on his older acquaintance than hs
used.
| The quiet weeks went by swiftly, theii
/ monotony broken by occasional dinners
at the houses of the cathedral dignitaries
at Oldbridge, where Nora's songs and
lively talk, and Mrs. L'Estrange's gentle
| tact and sympathetic listening" made
| both welcome guests.
October was more than half over. anc
| hunting had begun-a congenial amuse-
ment which interfered n good deal with
Winton's frequent visits to Brookdale.
The rapid falling of the leaves, and a
succession Of stormy nights, made Mrs.
November and December in town-a pro
position which Nora originally urged.
Mrs. Ruthven wrote ut length, yer,
amiably.
She was detained in town by business,
she said. She was in treaty for a pretty
villa on the Thames, and would be de-
lighted to have Miss LEstranges counsel
and assistance when she set about fur
lishing.
Mr.. Marsden had been 80 good In try
ing to find her Jewels, and had gone to
Amsterdam In search Of them. but all in
vain. Was he at Evesleigh? for no one
seemed to know what had become Of
him.
"Do you know, think it would be very
nice to help Mrs. Ruthven In choosing
aer furniture? Shall l tell her We are
thinking Of going up to town? Perhaps
she would take rooms for U.S." said Nora,
when she had read this letter aloud at
breakfast.
my dear Nora! she would not care fol
| the trouble; and what a price she would
agree to give for rooms! We must be
very prudent: my little savings during
.he latter part of our stay In Germany
will not go far"
"Oh, yes! forgot. You are really
Tonderful woman, Helen; / shall never
be such an economist; but as to not car
Ing for the trouble, do not think you
quite do Mrs. Ruthven justice; you and
Mr.. Winton are always of the same opin-
lon, and think you have caught his
prejudice against her"
Il am not as much fascinated as you
are, and must say. l am a good deal
Influenced by Mark Winton; when l look
back"-she stopped abruptly. Nora, who
longed to hear her "reminiscences, gazed
earnestly at her, and Mrs. L'Estrange.
raising her eyes suddenly, encountered
those Of her stepdaughter fixed upon her.
and colored through her delicate pale skin,
to Nora's great surprise. Some day..
said Mn, L'Estrange, quickly. and with
some confusion, II must tell you my little
history; every one has some touch of ro-
nance In their lives, even SO prosaic
person as I am"
do, dear; tell It to me now"
"Now? Oh, no, must interview cook,
| and plan the dinner; the romance of the
past must give way to the needs of the
present, vulgar though they be; some even
ing. by the freight. l will prose about
/ lays gone by. 1t is fine and calm to-day:
| .et us give Bea holiday, and walk across
| tne park. The meet Is at CrowIand 0atA
and we will see the hounds throw of.
by all means, feel as if wanted to
be in the open air"
! Mrs. L'Estrange went away to her
household duties. Nora sauntered into
the drawing room and sat down Mt tho
piano, but she did not begin to play for
some moments. Was it possible that her
quiet, unselfish step-mother had had thrill.
ing experiences? She was 80 reasonable,
so wise in a simple way, that Nora could
never imagine the Irregularities and re-
dundance which constitute romance gath
ering round her. How good she had al-
ways been! even from her first entrance
into the family. How she had stood be-
tween every one and her husbands nasty
irritation: how much Nora herself owed
to her justice and generosity. What a
good influence she had been, how much
she had endured from her selfish, unsym-
pathetic husband, who looked upon her a.
. elay9 whom hs had bought and who