Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-12-14

swered. bending his head a little, as he
walked under the arched yews; and
another suerprise awaits you at the end.
This little avenue leads into such shel.
tered, yet sunny nook Of the garden that
! have known all kinds of summer flow.
ers standing there In blossom before jan
uary has left US. Seev'
But though the flowers were dazzling
In the little parterre to which their walk
had suddenly opened, 1t was not their
brilliance which had fixed Nora's aston.
ished gaze; and though In the next min
ute she was standing before bed OF
blooming verbena, 1t was only to Offcr her
hand to a young man who was busily
pegging down the plants.
"Micky!' she cried. Just think Of its
being you. Mickyw
The lad had started to his feet 40 II
her pretty. pleasant greeting had struck
him. and his cheeks were afnme when
he saw her offered hand.
"No. Miss Nora." he said. taking his
cap of. You wurr our fairy princess
over at home. and 1t wurrn't annythin'
you cud do cud make the difference; but
it's not In Oireland we are now. II 10
good It Is TO see yer face again, Miss
Nora"
They stayed a few minutes longer talk
ing to the Irish lad. and then Mr.. Poyns
led Nora up to the house. just as one Of
the low windows was opened. and a lady
OF about forty years. In mourning dress,
and with a snowy shawl around her
shoulders. came out. She met Mark with
q smile Of real gladness; but the quiet,
dreamy gaze which Nora had noticed
first upon her face had returned to 1t by
the time Mr.. Poynz had introduced her.
"Aiiss St. GEORGE" she repeated, as she
gave the girl her thin. soft hand. and
then seemed inclined to leave Il In Nora's
clasp. Did you say 30. Mr.. roynzT'
"Nora st. George" Mark answered, In.
tercepting Nora's own reply. rs the
name not quite strange to you!"
mot quite" The answer was given
slowly and though''ully: but the quiet,
grave eyes brighten. with momentary
eagerness, and fash >lor glided. a.
II were, across the pale, 9. ace. "You
have seen my garden" she AuUed, gently
nnd almost shyly laying her fingers on
Nora's arm; will you come and see my
pictures-if Mr.. Poynx will spare your"
There was little need for tho wistful
glance into Marks face. He wanted a
stroll round the garden. he said. In his
easy way, and would Join them In a few
minutes. But the few minutes grew to
thirty before Miss Clifford and Nora came
out to the lawn.
THANK you" the elder lady said. quite
simply. when Mark. bidding her good.
by, looked a little kccnly from her face
to Nora's.
"Mr. Poynx." observed Nora. thought.
fully. walking at his side from the gar.
den gate, "Miss Clifford is just what I
fancied her. while you told the story"
"And you do not think that She"
"Oh. nor cried the girl. intercepting
his question with a shudder. at could
not have been. Mr.. Poynx. 1t could not"
The tone was quick. and almost angry.
In the last few words. and Nora noticed
II. while at that moment Mr.. Foster
caught sight of them and waved his hat,
with a call. One minute afterward she
was walking at the young curate's side;
and Mark, who had NO lightly given up
his charge to his friend. had Joined an.
other group. determined that his friend
should be missed a. little as possible.
CHAPTER NJ.
1t was the day after NOra's return
to ireland. and she and Celia Pennington
had been wandering about the house aud
garden In the happiest. idlest way.
At the vicarage gate. the children. who
had chung TO Nora's side, were taken back
by Celia. and Nora went on across tho
bog alone. singing softly to herself, as In
old times. and feeling as IL those long
twelve months In London must have been
a dream, from which she had awakened
back to the old. unbroken life.
The sound Of a swift. light step on the
turf struck Familiarity on Nora's ear, and
made her stop and turn; and then Q
warm, kind smile beamed In her beauti.
ful eyes, and she stopped to bring her
head on a level with the shaggy head Of
the barefooted child who, In one monde.
script garment just twice too big for
him, was hurrying after her.
"Why, Larry" she said, drawing her
head back In a critical, admiring sort Of
way, as she took both the lads rough
hands into her own, what big boy you
are growing"
"stap. Miss Nora" he cried. in real
fright, as he uncllnched the fingers Of
one hand and showed q letter, crushed
and soiled. Take It. phase. be's to rim
now, an niver stap!'
Before Nora had time to question him.
the boy was speeding out Of sight across
the bog. aud 80. smiling % she stood.
she opened the soiled envelope and drew
q slip Of paper from II. Could Larry's
drunken father have learned to write
during that year she had been away? or
could Larry himself have scrubbed her
line to show his progress? These
thoughts were only m0mentary. for she
had not stood two minutes there before
the paper was hidden In her dress. and
she was walking back toward the vicar.
age. steadfsst In purpose. though 20 sad
ly deep In thought. For the few lines
were from Rachel Corr, and this was
what they said:
AS ! guess that you will soon be COM
ing to SEQ me. Miss Nora, dear. I shall
put Larry to watch until he can give this
into your own hand. and then not wait q
moment, for fear he should be seen. Miss
Nora, for the sake Of all that love you.
don't come here ut all to-day! But must
see you a. soon as can do 1t safely.
must speak to you where NO one can see
US or hear us. ! will be at Larry's cot.
tage by tho river at dusk. Will you 20
there alone--quite alone? IL you fail.
this night will ruin US all; but. even II
you come, what can we do? oh. how hard
It 10 for me to he the one to make you
miserable! But l don't know what to do.