Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-02-01

| ..o.N when Norah'S carriage
ESh D@ drove up to the doo1
SNY<2Hrof the house in South
ME- Audley street. The
| AfN footman rang the bell
| ~ and, alighting, she en-
tered the hall, running quickly up
stairs to the drawing room.
Her tall figure was still slight ono
girlish; her blue eyes wore look o.
elation; for her sbeauty had never
aroused greater admiration, her sue
cess had never been more triumphant
than that evening.
"Has baby been all right" she
asked her maid. ooh, and can you
tell me whether Mr.. Fordyce has come
home! 7"
"Mr. Fordyce came home at 10,
was the answer. "He has been in the
study"
Not waiting for the end of the sen.
tence. Norah went downstairs again.
"Too bad, Digby. Shabby not tc
turn up"
She had begun to speak as she
opened the door, but as soon as she
saw his face, stopped abruptly
The room was cloudy with tobacco
smoke. Though the June evening
was hot, the fire. had been lighted and
the CRATE was full of papers burned to
cinders; but what astonished her the
most was Digby's own appearance. As
he stood upright their eyes met for a
moment; then his were cast down
shamefacedly. he had shaved off his
heavy black mustaohe, Transforming
his swarthy, handsome face; he wore
a shooting suit instead Of his evening
clothes. &c
.."What is the matter, Digby ?" she
demanded-''if you really are your
SELF" /. - =
T-I-by heaysn!I can't tell you,
Norah."
Drawing nearer she rested her hand
caressingly on his shoulder.
Anything serious, darling?"
'I've got to make a bolt of it.
There's not a minute tc lose. To.
morrow will be too late. only W ant.
ed to see you. Icouldn'tgo without,
happen what might"
''But don't-I don't understand"
she faltered, gazing into his face in
bewilderment.
"I've played my game and lost ;
that's all. For the last four years 1 We
been heaven help me! 1t will be
all over the town tomorrow. I lost
my last chance to-day. Ny name will
be byword."
Sitting down, she could still stare
up helplessly into his pale, haggard
face. The diamonds in her fair, br own
hair caught the gaslight and sparkled.
"Barford will know everything di.
rectly he gets to the Office tomorrow"
Digby continued. ~ must be out of
the way before then. Norah. I should
like to see the youngster."
Automatic allyshe rose and left the
room, shlvering as she drew her rich
plush cloak round her shoulders. On
her return, she made a charming pic.
ture, standing with the four.months.
old child in her arms Just as she had
taken him from his cot.
poor little beggar "muttered Dig
by, bending over him.
Laying him gently on one of the
large armchairs, Norah faced her hus.
band.
ell can't realize it yet." she said.
II have looked forward to nothing
else the last four years."
"Before-before you married me?"
she demanded. "You knew this when
you first met mel You knew it, and
asked me-"
81 loved you, Norah."
"Love !'"she cried, CONTEMPORARY.
''And You loved me-"
81 loved the man I thought You
were. A man who never existed.
''For heavens sake be merciful !"
he said, buttoning his GOAT.
"You have made me party to your
crimes," she cried, and raising her
hands, trembling with anger, she tore
from her hair the diamond tiara.
''At least word Of forgiveness" he
said, taking up the jewel quietly, and
thrusting it in his jacket pocket. "Just
a word before we part-it will be for.
ever, Norah."
81 can't forgive you. she answered.
cit is no use. could forgive much I;
ii it had begun since our marriage, it
might have been different. But you
deceived me too utterly"
It had fallen upon her like bolt
out of the blue. without warming
sign, at the moment Of her supreme
success. Henceforth she would be
known only as the wife OF adeiaulting
solicitor. - Her Iowa ;seemed to be
'crushed,s together with her hopes.
Long after he had gone, while the
chid lay sleeping on the chair, Norah
stood IN the smoky room, half dazed
by the recent disclosure, till the day
broke, and new era in her life began.
"Ah, Norah, anything up? Where's
DigbyTs>
Major Armistead glanced round the
dining room. He was tall and spare,
the more noticeably because he al.
ways buttoned himself tightly in q
long frock coat. His darkly tanned
face appeared above very high COL
lar; he wore an enormous iron-gray
mustache. Long 9 widower, since
Norah's marriage two yearssgo he had
lodged near Hyde Park. possessing
only small income besides his pen.
sion.
She took his hand and kissed him.
then looked out Of the window.
"a delicious morning after the
rain, she faltered.
"Come, come, you didn't drag me
out before breakfast to tell me it was
| q fine morning. Norab. Little chan