Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-09-19


tnat cannot see the right thing to do
ana do it? Would Clifford really break
MS heart about me? What shall l do.
de!en! Oh, what shall do?'' f3
one burst into passion of tears, which
absolutely frightened her step-mother, to
Wnom she had scarcely ever-eyen in her
childish days-displayed such strong
emotions
Dear Nora" she cried, caressing her,
II 1t dlstresses you so dreadfully, do not
marry Mr.. Marsden! Better face the diff
tculty now than let yourself be indis-
soluoly linked to man you do not like
though why you do not cannot under
stand.
There was prolonged silence, while
Nora's sobs subsidized, and she gradually
regained her self-possession.
At the Duchess of ministers dover
house there was not unmixed joy on the
receipt of carefully composed letter
from Mrs. Ruthven, announcing her en-
gagement to Marsden.
Lady Darlington could not make it 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 Darlington.
"Well, my DEAR" said that sapient no.
bleman, when he had slowly perused it,
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 misapprehension on all sides; and l
feel assured that she, too, will see the
wisdom of setting an unwilling tance
free"
perhaps so; but I doubt if 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 can
not 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 had bet
ter run to town and see for myself how
matters stand. You return to Chedworth
tomorrow. l will explain to my aunt
that l am compelled to go to town the
same afternoon instead of remaining the
couple Of days promised.
It followed, of course, that my lady car
ried out her plans, and, having had short
interview with Mrs. Ruthyen and found
her brother was still absent at Ewes
leigh, she dispatched a telegram to Mrs.
IIEstrange, 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
on her way back. sE
The dignifed master of the house hay
ing gone to dinner, the door was opened by
the slavery" of the establishment, and
Mrs. LEstrange found the telegram on
the drawing room table.
AS Nora was not there, and the mes
sage BODIED 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 it was to
serve more than one master.
Nora meanwhile employed herself in
ber own room. She shrunk from meeting
Winton alone, and he might come any
day: SO. while Helen was out she kept IN
her special stronghold.
She had been greatly disappointed that
day. The morning post had brought her
nothing from Marsden; SO, with sinking
heart she had set herself to compose
letter to him.
she had written ''Dcar Clifford" and
sat looking at the words in sort of de-
snair 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.
"Has Mrs. LEstrange come in!" she
asked.
..Yes'm, she is in the drawing-room."
Nora tore open the envelope and glanced
Mt the contents before rushing to confide
them to her step-mother
s.Nora," it began-"I think see the re-
lief in your eyes-those sweet truthful
eyes 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 t.. IA tIeiilcuuouS AcSCSSits.
a necessity I cannot explain, compels me.
No words can express the agony of BIT
terness and humiliation it costs me to re-
lease you, for love you as passlonateiy
rs ever, as l did from the first, when you
unconsciously cast a spell over me that
has been my ruin. Yet it has been all
nv own fault. do not blame you. Ii
were TO write forever. could say no
more. You never loved me, but should
NOT the less have insisted on your keeping
your promise to be my wife. Now | re-
nounce you, and hope never to see you
arainl You will give yourself to another.
of course-I would rather know YOU We're
safe in your grave out Of reach where
Zone could touch you. So Good-by! No
one will ever love you so entirely, so in
tcnsely. as do, though curse the hour
first saw you. !. If it be possible you should
ever regret me, | would break every law,
every bond. to come to you. But TINS IS
- ,,x>..f vourS-Stili utterly yours.