Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-12-17
n " ~
lNORA'S JEST
BY NARY CECIL HAY
From
Darkness
To Light
aassssecoooooaaasa

chickens, and-ah, even perhaps a tall,
brown horse like Borak himself! Then
why had she colored and looked so sad
at the mention of her home?
Il ought not to have asked that" con-
fessed Nora, humbly, until | had tried
to make you take me as a friend
Presently" said Helen, laying her
hand on the girls shoulder, you will see
how little you win be tempted 10 make
me a friend, however / may wish to call
you SO. My-my home is a good way of,
Miss st. George, through many ugly,
noisy streets; and l have no dogs, no cat
even, and there is no one but myself.
Then" observed Nora, speaking very
earnestly-"I can only beg that some day
you will let me come when you know me
better, for | am very lonely, too, and |
have had a lonely home
Some day. echoed Helen-and smiled
then, for she could never guess what that
coming was to mean.
Miss Archer" cried gay voice at the
door, as it was opened little way and
a head was popped n. now dc you like
your new pupil? Is not she beauti--
Nora, never dreamed Of seeing you herel
They'll thought they told me you
were resting
Willoughby Foster was in the room
now, shaking both Nora's hands at once,
and looking into her face with the most
eager delight and unfeigned admiration.
Il am so glad to see you, so rejoiced TO
welcome you in my mothers house. /
cannot tell you what a joyful day this
seems to me. All the way from Guild
ford the train seemed crawling like a
snail. Poynz said it was delightful, and
went to sleep; but l was aggravated to
madness, knowing you would come before
l was here to welcome you. Nora, you
have grown more beautiful even since
we parted a week ago."
And older" Nora supplemented,
standing back against the heavy, colorless
curtain, with the easy grace which be-
longed to her. DO you and Mr.. Poynz
live together?"
"No; but Poynz is often down at Hea-
ton, and he was coming up to-day. Where
are the girls?"
"Who are the girls?" inquired Nora,
with a laugh in her eyes.
Sisters, of course. They We're not
surely" He paused, and turned to
Miss Archer.
1.-The Misses Foster are at home" she
announced, in that manner of quiet apa-
thy which grows on solitary natures, as
the moss grows on solitary graves.
What are their names, Mr.. FoSter?'
asked Nora, still with the smile in her
eyes; Il understood that one was Little
girl who would learn with me; and now
cannot tC i them apart"
fTrrbar- arf11lI1, Il
viii, in his cordial way, 'only Gena is
calmer and cleverer-Genevieve her name
is, but we call her Gena. Indeed, call
her Jenny sometimes, but she objects to
that elegant abbreviation. The other
your fellow-pupil, dear-is Victoria.
suppose the second bell will ring in min
ute or two. | must dress like lightning.
Once more, Nora, dear, it is delightful to
see you here. Good-by now for five min
utes."
.'Mr. Foster thinks" observed Miss
Archer, after he was gone, that you will
dine with them, and he will be disap-
pointed" And then she looked into the
girls face, with a power of scrutiny
which grows natural to a skillful teacher:
and, almost as easily as she had read
Nora's simple Inconsistencies of any
thing beyond the old childish friendship
What change would it make in the beau
tiful, girlsh face when it should be
known at last?
But these thoughts, of which Nora was
so unconscious, were not allowed to lin
ger on this evening, for Nora chatted
pleasantly to the goyerness, now quantity,
now with unexpected thoughtfulness, yet
always with a charm which made Helen
Archer wonder much.
Have you really finished tea, Miss st.
George? You were so hungry, you said"
Il have really finished. What are We
to do nOw?"
I'VE must so to the drawing room.'
Nora followed Miss Archer up the
staircase, and into large, high room,
with tiny white chairs and couches sprin-
Killed. over pale green carpet, like mush-
rooms on a smooth patch of pasture land
Miss Archer sat down near the wall, and
resumed the knitting she had brought
from the school room, but Nora went at
once to one of the windows, and looked
between the closed curtains.
II wonder what it is all like" she said.
as if speaking to herself.
A rustling sound behind never disturb
ed Nora in that gaze which showed her
so little; and it was with a start that she
dropped the curtain when Miss Foster,
passing close beside her. pointrdly re-
Quested her to do so.
''One likes ones drawing room to be
private property" Genevieye said, mot
thrown open TO the street in this blaze
of light
"S;+ 5av.p Mis- g. C.oorr-o soiJ +l a
lady of the house, in a mixed tone, COM
pounded of the desire to be genial and
please her Son--whose vexation had been
very apparent at dinner through Nora's
nOn-appearance-and the desire to be
frigid and please her daughters. How
long did you say it was since your grand
father died?"
Two weeks answered Nora, with an
icy stiffness in her voice.
Two weeks" repeated Mrs. Foster,
placidly. Then l think you should have
crepe on your dress-indeed, that even
ing dress might have been entirely of
crepe. l like consistency"
Yes" said Nora. Il thought it would
be inconsistent TO have crepe when l
could not afford it,
1T is inconsistent not to have it,"
murmured Mrs. Foster, looking kindly
into the girls face, though rather pub
zled; Il do not go into further particu-
lars. Has Miss Archer discovered how
very backward you areT'
Yes" returned Nora smiling. as
Helen raised her eyes for moment. ''She
could not be with me two minutes with
out discovering that"
You do not seem to take the fact much
TO heart" observed Genevieve, lying back
in her easy chair.
Perhaps the things we take most to
heart we talk of least" said Nora, in her
quiet. direct way.
Then are We to understand that you
do really grieye over your ignorance?"
IL don't know" she answered. still
with deep consideration. Sometimes
I'm afraid that, if l We're not obliged 10
learn, l should care to do so; and then
sometimes I'm so ashamed that long TO
learn all day and night. u
Victoria Foster had sat down to the
piano, and dashed into a brilliant waltz:
so Nora stopped. listening in silence from