Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-12-07

on 90 not seem 20 take the 1aCt muCU
to heart" observed Genevieve, lying back
in her easy chair.
perhaps the things we take most to
heart we talk of least" said Nora, in her
quiet, direct way.
Then are we to understand that you
do really grieve over your ignoranceT'
II don't know" she answered, still
with deep consideration. Sometimes
I'm afraid that, IL | were not obliged to
learn. i should care to do SO; aud then
sometimes I'm so ashamed that l long to
learn all day and night. i"
Victoria Foster had sat down to the
piano, and dashed into brilliant waltz
so Nora stopped, listening in silence from
that moment until the last note was
struck. Helen Archer, from her distant
seat, watched the girls face and won
dered.
claiming her attention deliberately, just
us someone came into the room, and ap.
preached her chair. surely you play
yourself? Every girl plays in these
days"
"No, they don't. Miss Foster" contra.
dicted Nora, simply, "for cannot"
"Thcn." returned Gcnevievc. clearly
and slowly, you sing of course"
"1-don't know"
Nora had been going to say she could
sing Irish ballads. and few airs she
had picked up from Cclia-and Will, too
in the old times: but somehow, when
she had begun her answer, and Mr..
poynz had come up to her and offered
her his hand, the warm, amused greeting
in his eyes stopped the explanation; and
though she fancied at that moment that
possibly 1t might not matter whether she
could or could not sing as educated girls
did, yet the color crept into her face
when the explanation failed her.
I'm afraid you will find 1t very diff.
cult to learn to play now" observed Vic.
toria. turning on the music stool. Zones
fingers never grow nimblc on the keys
unless one begins to practice quite early
in life."
"And that" observed Mark. sis the
soul Of music--for ones fingers to be
nimble on the keys"
"Nora," said viii, In lowered tone,
as he eagerly appropriated seat next
to her. i've been SO mad with my moth
or. When, before dinner, I just made
the time to rush into her room to ask
her how she liked you'll beg your par.
don, but, of course, knew she must like
you mmensely-she never said word
about your sneaking out Of dining with
us. I didn't enjoy the meal Bit"
II enjoyed NINE" said Nora. "Aiiss
Archer, didn't you enjoy your tea?'
This was too much for any well.organ'
lied family to stand, and the very mark
ed silence and stiffness which were in
tended to quench the governcss' possible
reply proclaimed the fact at once. Miss
Archer, without looking up. went on with
her knitting In her seat on the bordcrland
Nora was keenly conscious OF having In
voked a chill upon the atmosphere; and
Will moved his eyes uncomfortably un.
der his mothers gaze.
"Dr. Armstrong"
The announcement came acccptably
now, IL never before within Nora's mem
DRY. She greeted him just rs the Others
did, and then she found herself wonder
ing ut his courtly manners, never guess
Ing how carefully he had studied them
for this night, when, In his own magma
ton, he was to stand In competition with
the man against whom the worst passions
In his nature were ready to rise In revolt
She watched him acsost all the ladies in
their turn, and then seat himself beside
the younger Miss Foster, and entertair
her easily. In his bland, fluent way. Shs
saw that Will was pleased to see him
and that Mrs. Foster smiled when HI
spoke to her; and so she wondered wheth
or she could have known Nuel all hel
life, and yet have been blind to his ex
cellence.