Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-12-28

0eOrge u1eu IN the 1ulIest cOunueuce Iuat
your fathers name would disgrace you,
Nora. 1t was perhaps only because he
did not love you enough to trouble him.
self to investigate. That Is left for me;
and to-day, when heard that at last the
wealth Is yours which you SO well de.
serve, determined that your own name
should be yours, too. I determined that
l would restore this to my love, and then
| should have no wish unsatisfied; for
you would be honored In the world. as
well % wealthy and happy"
Perhaps no happier" put In Nora. low
and dreamily, as IL she uttered the
thought unconsciously.
But you must be happier, DEAR" said
Nuel meeting her eyes fully for the first
time. Your grandfather's name, Of
course, Is good and honest name"
Eyes. he always said So" Nora remark
ed. quietly, In DR.. Armstrong; inexplica-
BILE pause.
"And you shall bear that till I bring
you a still higher. IL cannot find 1t
pure and respected, you must be sorry
for me. Nora, for shall feel, even more
keenly than you can do, the disappoint-
ment for you. Then I shall lay my own
name at your feet, and you will take it,
and no one will ever hear from me q
secret which Is ours Alone"
mot miner cried the girl, passionate.
~. mo secret that is yours Is miner
"Then tell the world" rejoincd Nuel,
icily, 'how your grandfather would not
let you be known by your fathers name,
because he thought 1t disgraced; but that,
as you wish and choose to bear 1t now,
you would drag the poor, forgotten, dis.
| carded name even to the light of Grim
! iual court"
THAT Is what-you offered to do"
"What I offcry' cried Nuel, bending to
look into her face, with smile. which
she did not attempt to return. MY
darling, you know me better than that,
even In the moments when you are cold.
est to me. No; listen moment, and
will explain what will do for the one
love SO entirely, and have loved SO long.
You will keep your own name ut present,
and everyone willAove and respect 1t for
your sake. But, as 1t Is not yours-as
| 1t Is not yours" he repeated, emphat teal
~, while her wide, gray eyes were still
upon his face, "by any legal right, shall
spend that time In seeking for you the
one which Is your rghtful inheritance.
II 1t Is stainless, you shall bear 1t proud.
ly then, my darling. II not. you and I
will keep the secret well, and 90 together
coldly and cruelty Oh disgrace. Nora,
your grandfather never guessed that I
should boldly undertake this commission
for your sake; but, my darling, he nj.
ways wished you to trust your fortune to
me, and died In the full confidence Of
your doing so."
''IIe never said So" Nora interposed,
YEARLY.
''He said SO to me often-almost every
time saw him." said DR.. Armstrong.
his thin lips closing now and then over
the slow lies. "Oh. you will obey him,
know, presently, Nora. I shall not hurry
you, dear; have never hurried you, be.
cause ! felt SO sure your grandfather
wish would be fulfilled, and You would
be mine at last. Not'-his breath grew
Just the least bit laborcd and uncertain
here, but Nora did not notice it-"not be.
cause 1t Is impossible for you to marry
legally and honorably In the name yot
bear, but because shall have given YOU
then the truest possible test Of mans
love. Nora, II resign my practice here
and for the whole summer pursue this on,
aim, you cannot refuse me my recon
pense when ! succeed. Darling, IL mo-
that fair love testY Could you your
self give any lover q more trying one
Acknowledge, Nora, that the man who
would, do that must love you beyond
measure"
"Yes." said Nora. answering absently
"And could you do less for your faith
er's memory than give yourself to the
man who clears his name from all re-
proach, and gives It to you? Let It be
Yes. and then see how eagerly will 81
to my task"
"And if-anyone else could fulfill itT
interrogated Nora, her eyes far away
aud her voice low and troubled.
"I-well. will stand the chance" said
DR.. Armstrong, with sudden unaccount
able buOyancy. "WhO else IL likely
Young Foster would blundcr and fail IL
the first attempt. Poynx would not at
tempt 1t at all. The very suspicion o.
any degradation attached to your nam,
would prevent his ever raising his hand
to help you or yours. for he Is only al
indOlent, self.engrosscd man of the world
What is II, darling? Why did you start 2
he asked, adroitly interceptlng and mis-
understanding Nora's impetuous, scorn
full dissent. 80 let him think you Mis-,
st. George still, and then he will remain
your friend as much as he has ever been
though, as understood from your grand
father, on the night after he had see,
Mr.. Poynz at Traveere, It Is In some wa,
owing to his family that your CHILDHOOD
has been 80 solitary and hard"
II will ask Mr.. Doyle"
For one second the veins rose like cord
In DIR. Armstrong; forehead, and tn
brows came down over his eyes, a.
flash Of fear and anger darted from them
but In tho next no was laughing little
and then he answered, In his lightes
and easiest tones:
} "Ask Doyle. with pleasure, dear, II 20,
choose to make this pitiful subject tow
talk, and the name Of your dead parent
by-word. II you think that Is no,
you can best honor them, ask Doyle. b.
oil means. Ask old Pennington, too; b
Is even better Than Doyle at probing int
other mems business, aud then laying
open to be piously discussed and ridicu
ed. Oh! ask them all. Ask Foster; h
may not be such fool as people cal
him. He may even suggest that hi
mother protects and pities you, and hi
sisters bestOw their generous patronag
J on the girl who owns a Questionabl
name. Oh! tell them all-if you thin
} that better than being an equal anon
hon M