Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-12-31
CHAPTER XI.-fContinuedl
oSOoC0GoAE

it was formed ciumSlly Dy the nanGS Oh
the squatter 1t was dusk even out upon
the unsheltered level, yet little Larry Ho-
gan could see for half mile along the
river path. But the gloom of the misera-
bic cabin within hurried the darkness Of
night, and the woman who stood alone
there waiting could discern little of the
squalid scene around her.
There was a step at last, a running
step, which passed the window and halt
ed at the door, returning as fast as it had
come; but Rachel knew that Larry had
pushed open the door for some one TO
enter, and so she dropped her hands,
knowing that the light was fading fast,
and that she had no time to lose.
Coming, even from the dark without,
Into the darker room, Nora could for a
few minutes distinguish nothing; but
RachePs eyes had been covered, and were
accustomed to the gloom now; so she
could see Morals face, and, seeing it, she
stood quite still, and made no step TO
meet the one for whom she had watched
80 anxiously for a whole hour. For
Rachel was conscious, even in this sud
den meeting Of a change which the years
absence had made in Nora; and, vague
as it was, she tried to grasp and compre-
bend Ii before she spoke. But she failed,
for the difference was too subtle TO be
traced through the old, glad, simple
greeting which came so naturally from
Nora's lips when she saw Mrs. Corr.
Don't look sorry to see me, Rachel"
she pleaded then, just in tn old, wistful
way; II have been so long looking for
ward to seeing you. l was on my way
this afternoon when Larry met me with
your note. lit frightened me a little,
Rachel; but surely nothing has happened
which could make you sorry to see me"
mot yet"
"Not yet said Nora, her tone very
quiet and pitiful but her eyes clear and
fearless, as she stood leaning against the
smoky chimney, trying hard to follow
Rachel's meaning. rs it about SHAM"
The question was interrupted by a cry
from Mrs. Corr. and then the words
seemed literally to totter from her lips.
Yes. about Shan, Miss Nora. IL can
not break it to you as meant. It's about
Shan. lie has sworn ON oath that to-
night-at dark-he will shOot-Mr. Poynz
at Traveere.'
The woman's face was covered in the
gloom; but Nora still stood looking at
her, waiting for the meaning of her
words to shine out of this awful mist,
thought itself suspended in that moment
airy hush.
That's what had to tell, Miss Nora -
cried Rachel, breaking the silence sharp
iy in her torture. You understand it
now-my misery, | mean--fOr, oh! pray
the misery is only miner
"To-night-in the darkness?" question
ed Nora, looking with a straight, direct
gaze through the open doorway as she
approached it.
Little Larry Hogan, dirty and ragged,
stood just in NOra's way as she ran down
to the river path; but though she spoke
to him, and put something into his sticky
hand, she did not pause second. Rap
idly now the darkness was setting like
a cloud upon the bog, and Nora was
grateful in her heart for its concealment,
even in spite of that other remembrance
Of what else it was to hide. The way
was SO familiar to her that no light
was needed for a guide, and the swift
footsteps never paused nor diverged. 1t
was just beside the fallen pine-where.
a year ago, VIII Foster and Mark had
found her-that she turned from the riv-
er, and ran straight across the painless
fields toward Traveere.
For moment she paused then, for old
Kitty sat alone before the low turf fire,
and in that moment it seemed to Nora
as if she must be going up to her as in
the old times, frankly to tell her plans
and her perplexities to this sole conf
dante of hers. But just as Kitty turned,
with the vague consciousness OF a pres
ence in the room, Nora remembered,
clearly and distinctly, all that she must
leave unsaid.
Saints be good to u.s." cried Kitty,
knocking over her stool as she arose to
her feet. rs it yerself, Miss Nora? an
be yerself alone, an no purrson wild We
this hour o the night! The finder hearrt
o. we come to see tn ould place agin!
An it's meself wurr thinkin' O. We thin,
an we've shockened me now at all for
/ hes builder thin | used to be, me dear.
an it gives me burrstin' O. me heart
TO see We so suddinlike, an 'thout sus-
pectin' We. Come up to the fire, doaty,
for it's just starvin' We look. Slap!
Whurr be's We goin', so cowld an stiff
as y are?"
ITO Mr.. Poynz," said Nora, as she
crossed the kitchen. rs he in the sitting
room. Kitty, and no one with himg'
mo purrson, BARN Bran, me dear" re-
turned the old woman, bordering Nora's
words and manner; 'on'y Bran, tn ould
laze. lyin' liver an alwis afore the fire,
jist whittier THUR be's one or no. Miss
Nora, doaty, what is it y're wantin' wild
the gintleman?'
"A message, Kitty. What is he doing?"
''Writin, me dear. It's all this blissed
day sin tay time he's bin at it. Dade
but it's yerself that's quare intirely,
wantin' to go into him, an / jist afther
lightin the candles an shuttin' up fur
the night, on'y there bent nothin' TO
shut; an why he comes it's hard TO
know, an | thought it quare. But now.
saints forgive We! it's yerself that's
quarer, Miss Nora, dear. That / should
live to see this blissed day, an yer soul
SO throubledw
While she spoke Kitty had been fol-
lowing Nora from the kitchen and across
the hall; but what was the use of finish
ing her sentence? Miss Nora evidently
heard nothing OF il, and only looked
around just for one moment 10 give her
a smile before opening the door, and
then went on into the silent room. No,
it was OF no use worrying aud talking
over it to her; so Kitty went back TO her
kitchen and muttered to herself, while
she vss busy in making 4 cup Of tea for
Miss Nora-ani for herself. Of course, at
the ne tjne-feelipg it panacea for
every hurt and sorrow.
Bliss her. she Shan't 90 out agjn into
the cowIduess 'thout somethin' 10 sport
her. Isu't il meself knows how plased
she4l bC to see 1t riddy when she comes
back az in through here; for manny's the
toime she's tried to wheedle a wee taste
cut O me. whin I've had the hard
work. 10 git the bit an sup fur the gin
eral males
But while the tea grew stronger upon
the Stone hearth, the old woman, in her
solicitude, slept with her head Oh the
settle.
CHAPTER Mi.
\ pleasant turf fire slowed and famed
il the dtngy sitting room At Traveere.
. T.