Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1901-05-16

to Paul. Don't take all the best :
said her sister.
You surely don't grudge him the
| pleasure of your flowers" exclaimed
Nora. hotly.
! Well, give him one from me. I've
half a mind to go and see him myself
| to-day. There's no reason why we
! shouldn't be friends. Nora. I'll take
him the roses. Here. give them to
mi" J" said Bella, holding out her hands
for the flowers.
/ Nora's face turned pale.
| What's the matter? Why shouldn't
1? Marcia is gone down to the village,
so sha'n't run across her, thank good
ness. Issaw her go by few minutes
| ago. Come. Nora, I'll CO. A month
has passed. It IS time we shook hands
and he forgave me. Who knows when
once I see him again old feelings may
be reused once more. I feel as if I
want to see him again"
! When Bella was determined to do
a thing she did it, and she walked de-
liberately down the garden and
through the gate. The Beresfords
lived but a few steps down the road in
pretty house, with a garden slop-
ing to the river. Nora knew that Paul
would be seated under the big beech
there, waiting for her. It was a shell
tered corner at the bottom Of the gar
den, where they spent many hours
| now that the days were warm and
sunny. What was she to do? She
had never thought Of this. She had
let things drift, and had shut out Of
her mind all thought Of the future.
But he must know now; the truth must
be told; and the full sense of her de-
ception stood out clearly before her.
He would never forgive her. She had
done terrible, an unwomanly thing,
| and she loved him-she loved him
with her whole heart and soul.
Nora quickly overlook her sister and
accompanied her. They went across
the smooth, turfed lawn with soft
steps, but the blind mans ear was
quick to hear, and he was listening for
Nora. 1t was she who spoke.
'My sister has come to see you," she
said.
II have brought you some roses"
sad Bella.
Paul looked from one to the other.
"Your voices are exactly alike. How
am to tell one from the other?"
BY touch" said Bella. 'See, we
will each give you a rose; touch the.
hand that gives it, and you will know
then"
"But why? Our hands are the same
size," said Nora, beginning to trem-
BILE.
"The touch Of the woman I love will
thrill me; the other will give me no
sense of rapture" said Paul, with con-
fidence
The two girls advanced, each offer
ing rose. In Bella's hand was one
of deepest crimson; in Nora's one of
purest white. Her heart was throb-
bing painfully. Would his love for
Bella be awakened by her touch? She
glanced at her sister; her lips were
parted expectantly, and there was an
eager look in her eyes.
The blind man clasped the hands of
each. Then, taking the rose from
Bella's fingers, he gently dropped her
hand; but Morals he held close in his.
'This is the hand Of the woman I
love- he said, softly, and touched the
white rose with his lips.
Bella flashed look Of uncompre-
hending astonishment at both faces;
then the color fed from her cheeks.
She understood. Her voice was slight
ly husky when she next spoke.
Yes, Paul, that is the woman you
love, and the woman who loves you.
Nora, think I will leave you now,".
and she went across the sunny lawn
into the shadow of the house.
'Why did she call you Nora?" ex.
claimed Paul
And she told him.
s
It was long time that they fingered
beneath the dark branches of the COP
per beech, and when they moved from
beneath it's shadows and stood in the
broad sunshine the day Of their mar
riage was fixed.
They had not been married six
months when the skill Of Professor
Pratt, the famous oculist, began to at
tract the attention Of the press. His
cures were wonderful of them
were really considered miraculous.
Paul Beresford was induced to put
himself under his care. The result
was favorable, although for long
time the efforts of the physician
seemed useless. At the end of three
months Paul Beresford's vision was
restored. So, after all, Nora had ex-
cellent reasons for congratulating her
self on the part she. had enacted
in pardonable deception.-New York
Weekly.
Naughty Barber.
It was barber who had lnno cor1,o;7