The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-26
CHAPTER I.
Valentines Morning.


IND, Nora, the very first man
YOU meet cried pretty Meg
..NnNzEzJ Emerson, leaning out Of her
&Sx$kNS chamber window. and laugh
NMWk{b, ing roguishly at someone be-
S2Ny& low.
tainly," a clear,
blithe voice replied.
1.-THE very first man-be ne
butcher. baker. candlestickmaker, priest or
king He's to be your valentine.
Certainly" said the clear, blithe voice
again; and then the owner Of 1t stepped from
the shadow of the porch into the bright rep
ruary sunshne-a girl Of twenty, dressed tor
walking. with a pugnacious-looking Irish
terrier at her heels.
"Good-bye, Meg" she called. throwing
kiss to the girl whose pretty face was pleas
antIy framed by the old-faShioned window
II consider it abominaby mean Of you to let
me go by myself; but forgive you. Go back
to bed, you lazy little thing, and get your
beauty Sleep
Meg laughed and closed the window.
Nora Drummond walked brisldy down the
garden-path. and out into the road.
1t was early in the morning; the sun was
shining brightly; the air. though cold, was
clear, and everything in nature was giving
signs of approaching spring.
Nora felt pleasant exhilaration in all her
veins as she walked swiftly along the smooth
She was very glad she had insisted on
coming out.
It was really almost sin to lie IN oeo on
such pleasant morning.
Her errand, too, was pleasant one, for she
was going to the railway station to meet a
horse which her uncle was kindly sending
down for her use, in order that she might
have the pleasure of a little riding-a little
hunting even-while she was in Leicester
shire with her friend, Meg Emerson.
The horse was to come by the early train,
and DR.. Emerson-Meg' father-had wanted
to send his man to the station to fetch it; but
Nora would not hear OF this.
The doctors man was always busy IN the
morning, as she knew.
She would go herself just to be quite sure
her dear velvet was all right after it's
tourney; and then one of the men at the
Station would bring it home.
It was sc early when she got to the station,
that there was no one in sight-neither man
nor boy.
minutes but Nora was in the happiest of
humors, and didn't mind the waiting
She thought it no hardship to walk up and
down the platform of the little country
station with the dog at her heels.
There was no one to admire her, but assur-
ed1v she was a fitting object for admira-
ton.
ANYONE might have found it a pleasure to
,ooL at her as she paced, with firm, free
tread I'D and down the platform on that
hright St Valentines morning.
She had graceful figure, a little over the
middle height, and II looked 1lS pest IN the
nrettv and stylishly-made garment of grey
Scotch tweed she was wearing.
Her boots and gloves were of the daintiest,
I'D her hat was perfect triumph of good
taste and simple elegance.
She never spent much upon her wardrobe;
;nSeed she couldn't, for she had only the
arIy modest income of fifty pounds year
~ her own, and for anything beyond that,
e VI vas dependent on her only living relative
an uncle, who, although a gentleman and a
an,ntrv squire, had sad ado to make both
ends meet.
nevertheless, there was always that air of
,,.tinction which the French call chic about
uIs.a Drummond, as anyone must have ad-
n Mite who saw her pacing the platform of
~ little country station.
tnS face was beautiful, though at first
.;aht it was not quite easy to tell where the
seecial beauty lay.
pNot a regular featured face by any means,
I'D envious detractors might have found
nienty in it to criticize.
But Nora Drummonds face was beautiful,
nevertheless.
Her eye was grey and bright, and quick in
turning; and, moreover, it was fringed by
such dark lashes. that in some lights it seem
I'd darker than it really was: her teeth were