Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-08-07


Nora's imagination a week before, and
had, indeed, been more quietly cheerful
than was her wont, since she had had a
letter with foreign stamp, which Nora
shrewdly suspected was from Winton. She
was little dreamy that evening, and
found 1t difficult to fix her mind on what
size was reading. Il suppose We shall
have rain and fogs, now that the fine
weather has broken up. I really think
i should prefer country to town, in rain
and Storm" she said, laying down her
book. II feel quite tired out"
YES" returned Mrs. L'Estrange, when
she had counted some stitches, ''but then
there are fewer resources than in town.
Hero one can turn into q picture gallery,
and find summer or autumnal sunshine
for n shilling; besides"
"Mr. Marsden," announced the ex-but-
Ter, In his best style.
II thought you were at Chedworth"
"Oh! am 80 glad to see your were the
eIclamations which greeted him.
"Obliged to come up to town on busL
ness" was his vague explanation. "Ar-
rived yesterday. Have been torn to pieces
by lawyers all day, and am como to lay
ny mangled remains at your feet" He
drew chair to the coy freside as hs
spoke.
"And do you go back tomorrow" ask
Cd Nora, who was reused and pleased by
his sudden appearance.
Tomorrow Nor tomorrow, nor to-
morrow" cried Marsden. ut is dull at
Chedworth, desperately dull. The hunt
ing no great things, the shooting no bet
ter: but the house is crammed with bucolic
chums Of that excellent fellow Dorring-
ton, and, in short, here I am, and here ]
shall stay"
Lady Dorrington will be very vexed.
l had letter from her yesterday, saying
how much better everything went since
you had Joined them"
Il am glad she knew my value
"And how is Mrs. RuthvenT returned
Nora.
"Oh! quite we'll and blooming. She Is
fast recovering her misfortunes."
Captain Shirley was here on Sunday"
remarked Mrs. L'Estrange, ''and was
saying he had never seen her look so Ill
and depressed since he had known her."
Shirley? How did that fellow come to
call upon you?" asked Marsden. 81 don't
know why it is, but 1 can't stand Shir-
ley" he added thoughtfully. "And Win
ton, where is heY'
"In Florence"
Florence? He IL not the sort of mai.
I should imagine would like Florence"
Il don't think he doss," said Nora. He
went there to see some Indian friends SO
far on their way"
~ did not think he would have been 81.
ready to leave London just now." and he
gave an expressive glance to Mrs. LES
TRANCE which she did not see, but Nora
did
Then he asked for Bea, and talked Of
the child in terms that delighted the
mother.
Nora thought Marsden had never seem
ed SO nice and sympathetic. He wns
Quieter and graver than usual, and she
felt the relief his presence brought to the
monotony of her thoughts most welcome
At length, with apologies for having kept
them up so late. he bid them good night
and drove straight back to his hotel
without even an attempt to find if there
was any one at his club to play a game Of
cards or billiards with him. His spirits
lord sat lightly on his throne. Marsden
was little given to think, or trouble him.
self about the future. but with all his
airy carelessness the last year had been
contrived to clear himself. He could
defy Mrs. Ruthven, her lynx-eyed solicit.
ors, and her watchful led-captain Shir.
ley. He owed her nothing. A little love
making, more or less. did not count with
SO experienced a coquette. He was per.
fectly free to shake her off if he chose,
and he did choose. Good heavens! Com.
pare her with the fresh, natural, girlish
elegance of Nora L'Estrange. The arch,
delicate animation Of the one, the studied
graces, the veiled yet perceptible passion
Of the other. And Nora had been un.
doubtedly glad to SEQ him. How sweet
the candid welcome Of her eyes, how un.
conscious her frank, gracious pleasure |
Yes, it would be his delightful lot to wax. |
en- her from the slumber Of childhood to |
the fullness Of womanhood-the power OF |
loving! Yet there was certain strength |
and individuality about his young kins- |
woman that warned him she was no mere !
waxen doll, to be bent as he chose accord. |
ing to his will. She had ideas Of her own
-tolerably clear and defined. This would |
but give piQuancy and variety to their /
intercourse. Heavens! how lovely those
eyes of hers would be with the light OF |
love beaming from their hazel depths
Then she would be content to wait, with |
him. till the Evesleigh estates were free
from all membranes before they launch
ed into the costly, heavy style of exist
ence suited to his position. And before
the fever of anticipation let him sleep
Marsden made more good resolutions than
he had ever formed in his life before
Only give him this fair, fresh, delicate
darling. and he would be a new man. with
hopes and aspirations higher and better
than had ever before dawned upon his
mind.
81 have done my best to carry out youi
wrote Shirley to his suzerain,
Mrs. Ruthven, 'and have even arrived at
the distinction of being admitted to the |
drawing room of Miss LEstrange at af-
ternoon tea time. This enables me to as |
sure you that Marsden almost lives in
what you term the shabby lodgings Of |
his relatives. have nN nst him there |
but I can trace that be has |
always been there last night, and Il ex- |
pected this evening. Evesleigh, / find, |
too, Is to be let for a term Of years
ave, think. Old Shepherd, Of Calcutta |
you remember the firm, desperately rich |
peoples looking for country place. and
t has been offered to his solicitor. II |
seems to me that this indicates intentions |
widely different from anything you anti !
cipated, and points more to q marriage for |
love than one for, let US say, money and |
love. I have met Marsden more than |
once lounging in Pail Mall and Regent |
street as if he had nothing on earth to do, |
which certainly does not look like the ur-
gent business he asserted called him to
town. However, you, no doubt, have in
formation which may throw totally diff
ferent light on these ambiguous proceed
ings. 1 can only give you the result of
my observations. Take II At what It II
WORTH"
This letter was the last pebble on the
.airn Of hopes and fears, desires, doubts ]
and silent stingin2 anger. which had been