Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-11-23
From
Darkness
To Light
NoRA,s IEsr

BY MARY CECIL HAY


SNSOcooooSSSS
| inquired Mark. as they entered the house.
you surely understand enough about
dogs to know that they make that hide
| Gus sound very often on moonlight
| night?'
NO" said the girl. gravely, her eyes
| fixed straight before her in the gloom.
mot that sound. Mr.. Poynz; I have never
heard Bran wall like that. There, where
| he stands. is grandpa's door"
1t was opened as she spoke, and they
saw that Il light burned within; but Nuel
| Armstrong. who had come from it, pulled
to the door behind him. aud only the
moonlight showed them to each other.
What does this mcanI" asked DIR.
Armstrong. roughly addressing Mark.
What right have you in this house ut
this hourI'
| 81 have come to offer help Mark an.
swered. speaking very quietly as he
looked down into Nora's white face. II
think that gives me right to enter where
the help is needed"
who told You help was nccded!'
II did" said Nora, steadily. II went
to the vicaragc. Nucl. and asked Mr.
/
let me pass to grandpa
You shall 20 where you will when
this intcrlopcr has left the house," return
cd Nucl. making futile effort to regain
his usual tone and manner. so 1t will
be wise of you to say goodnight to MN
and let him co.
Miss ~. George has not attempted yet
to dctain me-" observed Mark, coolly, 80
l..... l..
she will bid us both goodnight. for you
and ! can do all there is to do. ALLOW
me to pass"
"Oh. certainly replied DIR. Armstrong.
kissing the words suavely. Il shall be
most happy. I only wait just to hear-a
mere formula. of course, by what right
you intrudc here
"Stand back, sir. II you please" said
Mark. with dangerous quietness. II will
waste no minutes In words with yOu--
even In Miss st. Georges presence. I am
as near a connection of Col. st. Georges
as you arc-nearer--and you shall keep
no one from that room where the old man
needs help"
| Perhaps because he saw he had to deal
with strong and rcsolutc man. and per-
haps 1t was because Nora herself seemed
shrinking from him while he stood In her
way, Nucl Armstrong moved aside.
"You shall repent this unauthorized in
trusion." he said to Mark: and Mr.. Poynz
answered that 1t was very possible. and
pushed open the door with II gentle hand
to look into the ruined chamber.
Before them where they stood a bank
Of bricks and mortar, and fragments of
wood and stone, was piled so high that
nothing but the bare. curtainless upper
frame of the bed beyond was visible.
Marks keen, quick eyes took In all the
scene. The fragments Of the chimney
were hcapcd 50 high against the wall
upon the hearth that only the top Of
Col. II. Georges iron safe was left tn
mark his favOrite corner; and on the
hearth itself the mass reached nearly TO
"A hole In the ceiling. which revealed au
other opening In the room above. and lei
In the moonlight from the sky itself.
Does he liveY" asked Mark. In low
quick tones. as he turned to DIR. Arm
strong. "YSu have been In. Does he
liveY'
'''rhc dust was suffOcating," was tn,
answer. uttered unwillingly. ut drove
re back whenever tried to reach him. =
ut IL suffocating now" Mark said. i'm
patiently. "Aliss st. George. go quickly
TO your own room and rest. We will send
to call y0u--presently. Colt IL Sitting
here"
lie spoke In IL tone Of authority which
seemed natural to him. but she only saw
that his glance was very kind and anx
ious, aud that he was In haste to d,
something which her presence hindered
so she turned at ance, like child. a,
his bidding, and left the room.
Bran was still whining dismully in tn.
shadow; but when Nora went up to him
and, kneeling beside him, whispered I,
him coaxing. tender, pitiful. wastct
words, he grew quiet; catching his breath
lust once, rs II In u sob. and then stand
ing quite still. with painting breast. AM
wide, hollow eyes fixed upon the moon
light through the open outer hall door.
Kitty finally came and led Nora on
of the chill and gloom up to the freshl!
lighted tire In the kitchen, and somethinl
in its broad. frank blaze made the CIR
SILVER even In Its warmth.
"Oh. Kitty" she cried. with fright
ened sob, lis grandpa safe! Will the!
be In timer
Kitty. standing beside the table to pou
! ont the cup of tea, glanced sideways a
her young mistress, startled by her cry
Was 1t possible that Miss Nora could b.
anything but glad to he released from
the hard and grinding tyranny which ha,
J given her such childhood and girlhoo,
us only her own bright. unsuspici0ls ma
, ture had rendered cndurable?
, ITS about yer grandpa well he seem
afthcr Il vice." she said. soothingly
"Now. it's the cup o tay yer to be drink
In"
Only II few minutes passed after kit
tvs departure. but Nora felt rs il sh,
Ind been an hour alone. when DIR. Arm
strong came In to her
Mora. my DEAR" he said, as he tool
her hand and placed 1t on his arm, :"
felt you would he anxious, aud | an
. come to relieve you. We have carrie,
, your grandfather to the empty room oI
I, the other side of the hall. lie IL rescue,
from all that wreck and dust; but ",
have not complained Of the labor. vii