Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-12-21
CHAPTER xf.-tContinued.,

OuCk tOWuTu tue stOuy uiuu tioui W"Sh
It was formed clumsily by the hands of
the squatter. 1t was dusk even out upon
the unsheltered level, yet little Larry Ho-
gan could see for half a mile along the
river path. But the gloom of the misera-
bic cabin within hurried the darkness of
night. and the woman who stood alone
there waiting could discern little Of the
squulid scene around her.
There was a step at last. a running
step. which passed the window aud halt
ed at the door, returning as fast as it had
come: but Rachel knew that Larry had
pushed open the door for some one to
enter, and so she dropped her hands,
knowing that the light was fading fast,
and that she had no time to lose.
Coming, even from the dark without.
into the darker room. Nora could for
few minutes distinguish nothing; but
Rachers eyes had been covered. and were
accustomed to the gloom now: so she
could see Nora's face. and, seeing IL. Ahe
stood quite still. and made no step to
meet the one for whom she had watched
NO anxi0usly for q whole hour. For
Rachel was conscious, even In this sud.
den meeting. Of a change which the years
absence had made In Nora: and. vague
rs 1t. was. she tried to grasp and compre-
bend II before she spoke. But she failed.
for the difference was too subtle to be
traced through the old. glad. simple
greeting which came so naturally from
Nora's lips when she saw Mrs. Corr.
Don't look sorry to see me, Rachel"
she pleaded then. just Ia tn old. wistful
way; II have been SO long looking for
usl 10 n
this afternoon when Larry met me with
your note. lit frightened me a little,
Rachel; but surely nothing has happened
which could make you sorry to see mel"
mot yet"
mot yet" said Nora. her tone very
quiet and pitiful. but her eyes clear and
fearless, as she stood leaning against the
smoky chimney, trying hard to follow
Rachcrs meaning. us 1t about sham"
The question was interrupted by a cry
from Mrs. Corr. aud then the words
seemed literally to tottcr from her lips.
'Yes. about Shan. Miss Nora. IL can.
not break II to you as I meant. It's about
Shan. He has sworn Oh oath that to.
night--at dark--hc will shoot-Mr. Poynz
at Travcere!'
The wOmun's face was covered In the
gloom: but Nora still stood looking at
her, waiting for the meaning OF her
words to shine out Of this awful mist,
thought itself suspended In that moment
AIRY hush.
THAT'S what had to tell. Miss Nora"
cried Rachel, breaking the silence sharp.
~ In her torture. lyon understand 1t
nOw-my misery, l mean-for, oh! I pray
the misery IL only mine!'
"T0.night-in the darkness?' question.
I'd Nora. looking with a straight, direct
gaze through the open doorway 40 she
approached 1t.
Little Larry Hogan. dirty and ragged,
stood just In NOra's way as she ran down
to the river path; but though she spoke
to him, and put something into his sticky
hand, she did not pause a second. Rap
idly now the darkness was setting like
a cloud upon the bog, and Nora was
grateful In her heart for It's conccalment.
even In spite Of that other remembrance
NJ what else II was to hide. The way
was 40 familiar to her that no light
was needed for a guide, and the swift
footsteps never paused nor divergsd. 1t
was just beside the fallen pine-where.
year ago, Will Foster and Mark had
found her-that she turned from the riv-
or. and ran straight across the pathless
fields toward Traveere.
For moment she paused then, for old
Kitty sat alone before the low turf fire,
and In that moment 1t seemed to Nora
as II she must be going up to her US In
the old times, frankly to tell her plans
aud her perplexitles to this sole conf.
dante Of hers. But Just az Kitty turned,
with the vague consciousness OF u pres.
ence In tho room, Nora remembered,
clearly and distinctly, all that she must
leave unsaid.
saints be good to us.' cried Kitty,
knocking over her stool as she arose to
her feet. rs 1t yerself, Miss Nora? an
be- yerself alone. an no purrsOn wild ye
this hour O the night! The finder HEART
o 20 come to zee tn Ould place agin!
An it's meself wurr thinkin' o. 70 thin,
an we've shockened me now ut all; for
l he's oulder thin used to be, me dear,
IN 1t gives me burrstin' o. me heart
TO see 70 SO suddinlike. an 'thout sus-
pectin' ye. Come up to the fire, d0aty.
for IT'S just starvin' ye look. Slap!
Whurr be's ye gOin', so cOwld au' stir
AS v areY'
80 Mr.. Poynx,' said Nora, a. she
crossed the kitchen. lis he In the sitting
room, Kitty, and no ono with himY"
mo purrs0n, BARN Bran, me dear" re.
turned the old woman, pOndering Nora \
words and manner; "0n'y Bran. tn ould
laxe. lynn liver an alwis afOre the fire,
jist whittier THUR hes one or no. Miss
Nora. doaty. what Is 1t y're wantin' wild
the gintlemanY"
"A message, Kitty. What is he doing -
"Writn', me dear. It's all this blissed
day sin tay time hos bin at it. Dade
but it's yerself that's Iuare intirely,
wantin' to go into him, an ! ust afther
lightin' the candles an shuttin' up fur
the night, On'y there bent nothin' to
shut; an why he comes it's hard TO
know, an ! thought 1t Quare. But now,
saints forgive ye! It's yerself that's
Quarer. Miss Nora, dear. That I should
live to see this blissed day, an yer soul
20 throubledw
While she spoke Kitty had been fol-
lowing Nora from the kitchen AMI across
the hall; but what was the use OF finish.
Ing her sentenceY Miss Nora evidently
heard nothing of 1t, and only looked
around just for one moment to give her
u smile before opening the door, and
then went on into the silent room. No,
1t was Of no use worrying and talking
over 1t to her; 30 Kitty went back to her
kitchen aud muttered to herself, while
she was busy In making a cup OF tea for
Miss Nora-and for herself, Of course. at
the same time-feeling 1t a panacea for