The Opelousas courier., 1899-01-14
NORAH'S SACRIFICE,

"Ah, how pretty she ISL he said
"Was there yer such a pretty lass
dye think, Norah?"
Perhaps not" said Norah; and she
took her milking pals and followed
May, going on before with a light steI
and a gay song, toward the meadow
where the COWS browsed. But when
she was quite out of hearing of Ned
Wilton, sitting perched upon the stile,
she muttered to herself: "Pretty.
pretty! pretty! All, they ring the
changes upon that, these men, as the
OLD Dell-rlnger that knew but his one
u used to do, dawn in the church
tower. Pretty! pretty! pretty! It's
never good; it's never honest: it's
never true It's always pretty -
linen she stopped and looked up and
said with a culver of passionate grief
IN her voice: "Oh. I'd give the world
Just to hear Ned Wilton call me pret.
ty! What a fool l ann and she went
on with her pals toward the cows
Brown Bess and Lily White and
Pretty Polly.
certainly Norah vas not pretty; and
what there was in her face the man
on the stile would have been the last
10 see. Had she been a queen, many
wouid nave seen something strangely
lalr n regular in her face. Had she
zee only a rich gentleman's daughter
some one might have dreamed of
those deep blue eyes and that pure
prov Q T hers; but red, and white, and
iat, n dimples, were the recognized
beauties OF the locality, as indeed thew
are all over the world, to snch folk
as ner lot was cast among; and Noroh
was spoken of as plain" Two wears
before, she had taken into her foolish
mead to like Ned Wilton very much.
n he, the farmers son, had thoupht
well enough of the dairy-maid to saw
some very pleasant things to her. She
mad had a sweet dream, but Nav Brit
tons coming broke it. Her beauty
was very bright and rare, and Ned
forgot the nice girl he had been so
OF chatting with, for the pretty
one, who smiled and glanced at him.
b was not as good as Norah: she
mad not half her e]arnestness and con
stancy; but the face was all to Ned
SO May Britton wore a little Main
gold ring that he had given her. and
promised to be his wife in midsum-
mer.
Ihey lived upon the coast Of Lin
c%olnshire, and it was years ago.. None
OF them knew how to write more than
names. The farmers deenest
ore was the market price of grain.
1he girls slept together in an upper
room of the house, and on her we'd
ding v May spread out gown and
shoes and cheap white veil, and, dane
ing about them, boosted that when
the morrow's sun had set she would
mistress of the house and Norah
her servant. And Norah, thinking of
che old grandmother who had begged
ner not to lose so good a place, said
nothing, but stood silent, pale-faced
and wan, and felt a bitter hate rising
IN e heart. Ned was away at the
town and would not be back before
next morning-the morning of his
wedding. The old folks were asleep
below. How easy it would be in the
oead OF night to do this beautiful,
ooasting creature some, harm-to mar
ner beauty or even to end her life!
The thoughts grew so and were 60
horrible that Norah could not be SIRE
herself. May, watching her, saw
only a deadly whiteness creep over
her lips, and with the first touch Of
pity in her heart folded her veil
away, and said, unwisely enough.
but meaning it kindly:
mo doubt the next wedding will he
yours, Norah."
Then Norah, without a look, turned
and left the room. She ought to be
from herself, for fendish
thoughts possessed her; and. longing
Tor solitude, she climbed a ladder thai
lead to the tiled roof. and, seeking the
shelter Of the great chimney, sat down
its shadow and looked up at the
Sky. 1t was calm and full of stars.
Its peacefulness had an instant in
duence on her. Repentant tears be-
gan to flow. She prayed as simple
children pray: please make me
good" And all the hate for May left
her heart, and her love for Ned-ber
yearning. aching love for him-soft-
sned into a sort Of tender memory.
Soon, with her white, well-developed
arms under her head, she
'lept, under the canopy of the stars.
At last she began to dream. They
we're going to church-May and Ned
Ind she heard the wedding bells; but
soing In at the door she saw, instead
II gayly-dressed guests, mourners all
n black, and a coffin before the altar,
Ind gave a scream and Weakened.
Bells We're ringing. but not wedding