The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1900-09-20


Kate Marshall, call
AS Nora stood by the table, in her
pretty pink morning dress, her brown
hair rolled back from her face, and
rosebudS in the braids, almost any
one would have called her beautiful.
But Kate Marshall was more than
beautiful. She was a slender. grace
full girl, with an exquisitely fair face,
dark lustrous hair, and dark blue
eyes, that mirrored every changing
emotion.
Nora had grown up half to love her
in her sunny moods, half to fear her
when she expressed distrust of dear
est friends. This morning Nora felt
as if she almost disliked Kate for
speaking so Of Walter Fielding. She
almost dreaded to leave home. though
she said to herself again and again.
it was not through any fear Of trust
ing Walter in her absence.
When her lover came that evening
be demonstrated at first, but when No
ra told him that her aunt was i'll, and
needed her, he promised to try and be
contented, if she would write to him
every other day.
"As for me-" he said, laughlingly, II
shall not limit myself. l might send
you a letter in the morning, and be so
forgetful as to send another at night"
Nora blushed, and thought it would
be mistake she could easily forgive.
Just then Kate passed the door
Nora called her in, saying:
Here is Cousin Kate, too, lamenting
that she must stay alone. l had not
thought before that l was of so much
consequences Now l shall put her I'M
der your especial care. Walter, and
you must not let her get lonesome"
Walter promised. and Kate thanked
him with a merry smile that glowed
into beauty on her bright face.
When he went away Nora followed
him out on the porch where he lin
gered 20 bid her tender goodbye.
Kate stood by the open window I'M
til they parted, and she heard Nora
coming back through the hail.
She threw herself on lounge as
Nora entered the room, and, half sup
pressing a yawn, she said:
"Well, if it takes all lovers so long
to say goodbye, heaven save me from
a lovcrw
Nora FASTENED to explain.
at will be two months before we see
each other again, dear Kate, and L
had so much to say to him. l didn't
think you would be waiting for me-"
.sOh, that doesn't matter! You know
/ always wait for you, and | had a
good comfortable place here on the
lounge But look, Nora, your dress Is
damp from the night air. You must
come up stairs right away"
And Nora followed her cousin up to
the pleasant little room which they oc-
cupied together.
Kate was soon nestled down among
the snowy pillows, but Nora fingered
longer than usual before the little
dressing table, taking down her hair
before the mirror.
Isn't it strange that he can think
my face really beautiful?' she said
partly to herself and partly to Kate.
Men always think the women they
love the most beautiful ON earth.
said Kate, with a little accent OF Dit
terncss. 'The only question III my
mind is how long man will love one
woman"
'Now you are thinking of what L
said this morning. said Nora. Il am
tempted to be angry with YOU
"Wcll, we will let time show. my
dear Nora. l am sure l hope Walter
Fielding will prove himself above sus-
picion, but it doesn't answer to trust
everybody too much out of sight.
Il couldn't love any one L could not
trust to the end of the EARTH" cried
Nora. "If Walter cannot De true to
me in absence, l should not cry over
his detection"
Don't get excited, Nora" Kate re-
: piled. softly, "for l may be mistaken,
of course"
And l,ora kissed her cousin in token
of amity.
For the first few days of her absence
Nora had each day letter; then, only
one for two or three days; then, one in
a week, and, finally, they ceased alto
gether.
Kate's gosslpy letter referred very