The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-26
he do less ?

When he had gone my lady still kept up the
pleasant little fiction that she half an
Invalid; and Mrs. For ,ter complained of
headache, and expressed a wish to lie down,
Nora was asked to go and keep Lady Tudor
company in her stead.
Very lovely my lady looked she lay on
couch in her boudoT, her cheeks delcately
flushed, her lips sweety smiling.
She begged Nora, to be seated close beside
her, saying, in her most winning tones
'It is so kind of you to come and sit with
me- dear. 1 shall quite enjoy having you"
What can do for your Nora asked, try
ing hard not to speak stiffly.
'Oh, my dear, don't want you to do any
thing, except just sit by me, and talk to me
little, if you will be so good! 1 am all I'M
nereved with my terrible adventure of this
morning. All! Miss Drummond, you cannot
conceive what my feelings were. I really
think Should quite have lost my senses with
terror, if Sir Basil had not been with me. But
he was so kind and gentle, couldn't but feel
comforted. There few like him.
Nora set her lips in a resolute line.
In her heart she was quite sure my lady
had sent for her simply that she might talk
to her about Sir Basil; and she was deter
mined she should nave the conversation to
herself as much possible.
She wasn't going to be compelled to dis
cuss Sir BasiPs virtues with this haughtily
triumphant woman who had won him.
Il suppose it is scarcely secret to you,
Miss Drummond, that I to marry Sir
Bas1?' went on the soft, dulcet tones.
indeed! 1 did not know, but I am not
surprised, SAID Nora, seeing that reply OF
some sort was expected.
Eyes; it is all settled, and the marriage will
take place almost Immediately. We have
SIMPLY waited out of respect to the memory
OF my late husband; but there is really No
need for any further delay, and Sir Basil has
been so patient that I feel it would not be
1alr to keep him waiting much longer now"
My lady paused as though expecting some
comment from Nora: but as none came, she
went on, as softly and sWeetly as ever
m mil +aI1i
that Sir Basil and I were deeply attached to
each other before married Sir Robert; but
well, I am afraid L was very cruel to him. 1
suppose 1 was a gay, giddy girl and didn't
realize his worth then L do now. Anyway,
refused him; you would hardly believe it,
perhaps, Miss Drummond, but 1 did. 1 re-
fused him, and almost broke his heart.
Some men would simply have gone away
ana married another girl just out of pique;
put Sir Basil is not like that. He is quite
dlfferent from all the other men I have ever
kRoWn. He is so much more true and noble.
EEe has kept single for my sake even though
l was married; and, now that 1 am free he
comes back to me and offers all the old,
deep love l thought so little Of years ago. All,
Miss Drummond, am wiser now!
Nora murmured some cold COMMONPLACE
just word OF two, and no more.
Lady Tudor, however, seemed in noWise
chlHeo by her lack of sympathy, but suffered
ner condolences to flow as unreservedly as
though Nora had been the most sympathetic
of listeners.
Sir Basil pleads so very earnestly for an
early day now, that L feel 1 really have no
right to refuse him. 1 think we shall go to
Italy for the honeymoon, but we haven't quite
decided; and, after that Sir Basil is most
anxious for me to go to Dorincourt 1 have
never been there, but ne is very proud of it,
and ne tells me it is lovely place You have
seen it, think, Miss Drummond?"
Yes, Lady Tudor
And it is very charming?"
thought it handsome house; yes it is
very handsome, and the park is fine"
lou must come and visit me there Miss
Drummond,' said my lady very animatedlv
and favoring Nora, as she spoke. with the
sweetest OF smiles. Il should be most happy
to have YOU.
1T is very kind of you to say So" Nora
forced her cold lips to say.
1t was indeed an effort for she was almost
beside herself with pain
10 have to sit by that fair, smiling woman
and listen to her words of insolent exultation
was intolerable anguish
~ she suspects care for him. she thought
am sure she does. Otherwise she would
never trouble to talk like this to me All
surely he has not told her what L said on that
wretched ST. Valentines Day!"
She chided herself for fearing this even for
single moment.
NOW that the msts engendered by preju-
olce, had cleared away from her mental Wis
ION she knew that there was no truer gen
tlenan on earth than Sir Basil Brooke
ne would never repeat those dy-uttered
words, not even to the woman he meant to
make his WIFE, ~
nevertheless, it was very, very bitter to
nave TO reflect that she had once been asked
10 reign as mistress in the splendid home to
Which she was now being invited as a suest
IN spirit of insolent patronage
She might well feel a bitter pang at her
heart as she listened to the smooth tones of
my lady's voice. -
CHAPTER XII
Caught by the Tide