Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-10-16

Wretched dreams, where the dreamer, all
| burning to attain some joy almost with
in touch. is kept back by impapable bar
| riers, vague obstacles, gossamer to the
| eye. impregnable to the starving spirit.
1t was. she told herself. useless. un-
| naidenly. to grieve so about a man who
was evidently resolved not to renew his
| proposal to her. She had begged to join
! Bea and her governesss in their early
walk; anything was better than sitting
still.
She talked kindly and cheerfully In
German to the little fraulein about her
home and her people, every now and then
falling into silence and bitter thought,
and then with the restlessness of pain,
she wanted to go home and read, tough
book of some kind would draw her out of
herself. She complained of fatigue, and
they returned to the house
Nora went lstlessly upstairs, opened
The drawing-room door and stopped for n
moment. Helen WIS speaking 20 some
one. another step, and she saw her step
mother seated on low chair looking up
to Mr.. Winton, who stood on the hearth
rug leaning his shoulder against the chin
ney-place. She instinctively turned her
face from the light, and assuming by an
effort I'm air of compOsure, advanced to
shake hands with him-a charming figure,
as the reflection of the fire played on her
dark green, close hitting cloth coat. edged
with sable, and n pretty cap of the same
fur crowning her golden brown curls. In
spite of her will and firmly exerted self
control, a vivid blush rose to her cheeks,
which left color enough even when it had
partially faded.
Where is Bea?" asked Mrs. LES
TRANCE when the others had bid each other
yOod-day.
Gone TO take off her things"
Il must bring her to see you." snid
Mrs. L'Estrange. with rather signfi-
,ant look TO Winton.
HE is going then" thought Nora. too
much taken up with the idea TO heed her
step-mother leaving the room.
Il thought you were to sail today"
she said, taking off her cap and parting
the fringe on her brow; the room was
quite too warm. after the cold air, and
she drew chair forward, stii! keeping
Ter back to the windows.
Il have postponed my departure for
week or two" returned Winton; and
! there was an awkward pause, while Nora,
with unsteady fingers, drew off her gloves
md rubbed her hands gently together.
''You seem tired of your holiday
NO" said Winton. taking a step nearer
to her. and looking straight into her eyes.
Il must tell you the truth, even though it
may seem bad taste to do so, at least SO
soon. | am not tired of my holiday. but
wanted TO throw myself into engrossing
work. to deaden the pain of dsappoint-
I'd hope-hOpe that probably had no right
to entertain. yet which l could not resist!'
Nora was silent. Il may seem a tiresome,
persevering blockhead-but, once more.
Nora, offer you my future life! And l
promise, with all my soul. to be your
truest friend. as well as your true lover!
| Shall | go, or stay!
| And Nora-the tears weling over and
hanging ON her lashes-said softly, but
most distinctly: STAY Then she lost
hold on herself and burst into a fit of
weeping.
Good heavens, Nora! cried Winton.
iismayed, you do not accept me against
your will:'
mo, no." she returned, recovering her
self little, but l have been so miser.
able and so foolish"
Tell me- said Winton, bending one
knee on footstool beside her, and taking
her hand gently in his, why did you ac
cept Marsden?"
much; and" with a quick glance from
Of the hand, that mo one else did
"How was thatY'' cried Winton. his
heart beating fast. "You must have felt
| how soon you grew dear to me!-dearer
than anything else on earth or in heaven,
! either"
"Why did you not tell me so before?"
asked Nora, smiling, though her lips still.
.rembled.
afraid. Do you remember, one day, you
bid me good-by at the door, at Brookdale,
and dared to hold your hand closer and
longer than / ought? The words, 4 love
you We're on my lips at that moment. but
| 1t was no time or place to speak them:
and ever after, in some nameless way, you
put me from you, and virtually told me
you would have nothing to do with me-"
Yes. l remember 1t, and l was told
:hat-that you had been engaged to Helen,
and were now hoping to marry herr
who told you this? Marsden?" he
asked, sternly, catching her other hand
| and holding both tight.
Yes" faltered Nora
"Then he is an Internal liar! Why did
you believe him?'
"Why should doubt himT
"Then you should not have doubted
me-
"You would not have me SO cenceited as
% fancy a man must be-very, very fond
IF me-when he never told me so?'
while thought every one must see ]
vas making a fool Of myself"
"Oh, If you wish to keep up a character
.or wisdom" ..... -.
81 don't suppose you believe much in my
wisdom! But. Nora, will you really come
with me to India ITO a wild, remote sta
tion?"
Il am not wise enough to refused But
can't start next week" e.,
II should think not. You will believe
me. when tell you, never loved any
woman but yourself, and give me a place
IN your heart, In returnr'
Il will. Mark" said Nora. aravely.
steadily, with tender solemnity.
So when Mrs. L'Estrange was called
back it was all settled: q very happy party
met at dinner that evening-at which re-
past Miss Beatrice, to her great delight
was allowed to be present, and did good
service by promoting general and very
discursive conversation.
The society papers soon added to their
usual paragraphs mysterious hints as tc
broken engagements. and the false In.
formation disseminated by their contem.
poraries respecting the approaching nup-
tials of a certain popular member of so
ciety, whose domains lay not q hundred
miles from a well-known cathedral town
in the Midlands, etc.
Nora LEstrange and Winton were toe
| much strangers and pilgrims in the world
of London to share the attention be-
| slowed on Mrs. Ruthven and Marsden.
The noise made by the extraordinary theft
of her Jewels had given the pretty widow
| a certain standing in the estimation Of %
ciety, and her marriage with 30 well
known a man as Marsden made her pod