Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-08-29

Out was he not faithful and true?"
cried 1i, Nora, infinitely surprised.
Anere might have been q mistake
somewhere! but it all came hard enough
o on, me- returned Mrs. LEstrange.
Anefe was gentleman in our neighbor-
hood VINO wished me to marry him-a
very good FELLOW. l was inclined to like
iiim' out after Mark made me believe he
Aoseo me thought of no one else, and I
refused my first admirer Then Mark
went away to India. He wrote to me
once or twice. Then came my great sor-
row: My dear father died, leaving barely
sumclent to pay his debts. 1 was yery
Irlenoless, we had lived away from all
QUE reiatlons, and waited and waited for
letter from Mark, but none came for
more IMAM year. Then / had curious
eplstle' bidding me farewell, aud express
sing deep regret for any pain he might
nave caused me, but that marriage was
OUT OF the question for him. l never re-
piled. l felt that chapter was closed for
ever. That was just after i went to live
with Miss Webster-an engagement Mrs.
Atherley got for me-
L could never have believed that such
a man as Mr.. Winton would have acted
SO basely," exclaimed Nora. her heart
beating, her eyes lit up with indignation.
"HoW can you-'
But, Nora," interrupted Mrs. LES
TRANCE, quickly, cit was not Red Mark,
whom you know, who behaved in this
way! do not fancy he ever was in love
in his life. Oh, no! It,was his cousin.
Our friend was always true and steady.
l we'll remember when, owing to the
similarity of name, some knowledge of
his Cousins engagement to me reached
him, he warned me against throwing
away certainty for a will-o'- the-wisp,
as, no doubt, l did. All! that was a
dreadful time. Its bitterness and morti-
tcation sting me still! My life, under it's
new conditions, was dreary and trying
enough to make me very grateful to your
father for giving me the chance of leaving
it-and you know the rest
Ihen--" Nora paused, and, chang
ing her sentence, observed, "Do you
know, l fancied, at one time, that YOU
would marry Mr.. Winton?''
Mrs. L'Estrange laughed softly
THAT is curious she; said, ''for I
fancied you and he were taking to each
other, until after the Evesleigh ball
when q sort of change came to both of
YOU"
There was a pause of few minutes.
The light died out of Morals eyes-the
color from her cheek. At length she
said:
''Then you would not marry Mr.. Win
ton?"
at is extremely unlikely he would even
ask me-" said Mrs. L'Estrange, laughing.
''And as to me, all ideas Of love or matri-
mony are over forever. Bea is, and will be,
my only love. l want no more"
A dull sense of despair numhed Morals
heart; it was a few seconds before she
could collect herself to say
''Do you think Clifford Marsden knew
all this?"
Eyes; imagined he did. He was very
friendly with Mark and continued to be
after our friend Red Mark, went out to
India. My fiance, as fancied him to be,
did not go till after. He was appointed
to regiment stationed at Delhi, and. I
believe, was very unfortunate and weak.
Mr.. Winton gave me an account of his
later life. He died two years ago. l had
not heard anything of him for long time,
and l was grieved to think of his wasted
life! How well it is that the future is
hidden from us! There, dear, is the
whole history"
The whole history! Mrs. L'Estrange
little dreamed what Il sting it left in her
step-daughter's soul Was Clifford Mars
denis memory really defective? Or, had
he misrepresented facts? Surely he was
too much of a gentleman to do so? At
any rate, she (Nora) had been juggled
out of the best chance of happiness ever
offered her; for she now felt convinced
Mark Winton had loved her from the
first.
Dear Helen.'' she said, rising with an
effort, 81 have kept you up too late; let us
go to bed. What an extraordinary jum-
BILE life ISL
eyes. Is it not incomprehensible? ?"
returned Mrs. L'Estrange, kissing her.
"You look dreadfully pale and tired,
Nora"
.Incomprehensible!" the word kept re-
peating itself in fiery syllables all night
long: strive as she would. Nora could hear
nothing else, think of nothing else. What
an incomprehensible destiny that which
doomed her and the man that loved her
we'll. as she now believed, to separation
forever!
Was she deceived or only inadvertently
misled? If deceived she would never,
never forgive. And she must find out.
CHAPTER XIV.
The balmy air of Torquay- did wonders
for Mrs. Ruthven, and her own resolute
ga gerness to regain health and strength
still more.
The attentions and inquiries of various
noble and distinguished inyallds, soJourn-
ing. like herself, in that famous resort,
soothed and satisfied her. Lady BORING
ton had written glowing eulogiums and
recommendations of her friend and guest.
and all things promised fair for the en-
suing spring campaign. But though
sweet and placid to those few favored
visitors who were admitted ito her pres
ence. the real vivifying influence which
was bringing back energy fB.her system