The Washburn leader., 1901-01-12

uIOppeu OelOTe 1ulHe, dAO lAeIc VIC
stood in silence that grew more and
more awkward with every second that
passed.
HAS he gomez" asked, at last.
"Yes" she said, softly; land, oh.
why did he ever come to bring all this
trouble upon us? All! weren't we hap
py when was a child, and no one to
say word to anger me. And then he
came, and 1t all changed, and some hold
he has over my father drove us from
Ireland and home"
'Try and think" said. "that happy
days will come again. You shall go
back to your home, Nora, If the love of
my heart can accomplish it. This man
has wronged me, perhaps, more than
you.'
what do mean?" she said, looking
up at me, shyly. "Do you mean by the
words he said about you and-and me?
Don't think believe him. Don't! II
I'd known what he meant to say Ia
have let him kill us both before ever
I brought you to hear it. I'd have
faced him then and there, but that you
were with me, and you're man enough
not to have let me do it by myself, and
he'd have killed you."
mot If I had you to fight for. Nora.
Not if you'd give me the right to pro-
tect you.''
STOP" she said, starting back from
me. "How can you speak to me like
that, or think I'll listen? Didn't you
hear himself say that you could buy
me for thousand? Did you think
came out to hear you make the offer?
You wouldn't do it, Mr.. Tremayne.
Thank God, can trust you."
But you're not trusting me, Nora.
You're talking one moment about my
making an offer to buy you, and the
next thanking God that you can put
faith in me. Tell me, now, have any
hope, Nora, that you will ever trust
me with what hold dearest in this
world-yourself?"
tried to take her hand, but she
drew it away, nor would she look at
me.
won't you answer me?" asked.
eyes, I will answer you, Mr.. Tre-
mayne, because think it best that
matters should end between you and
me. here and now. If ever know that
you have lent my father this money,
shall never, If I can help it, look upon
your face again. I shall never speak
to you. Let him do his worst. and do
you go your way. Ours is q bad friend
ship to have. 1t will bring trouble up
on you. 1t will blight and ruin your
life, If it doesn't take it away from you
altogether. Leave this place, Mr.. Tre-
mayne!"
l. II shall not" I said. "You came to
me once by chance. You came to last
night of your own free will. And do
you think that I shall let this Maurice
D'Orville come between us? No, Nora,
not if he were forty times the demon no
isl"
''You don't know him." she said. You
can't tell what power he has. There's
something-but, sure, it makes me
shiver to speak of it; there's some
thing, but T can't tell rightly what it Is,
that-that-but I'm afraid to whisper
it, even, for fear that it would come to
his ears!"
"You can't tell me more than 1
know" said. Listen, Nora! This
man and I have grappled by the bed
side of one Of my dearest friends, and I
thwarted him, and he knows it, though
he thinks I do not know him. This
man has sent my father from me, and,
for aught know or can find out, may
have killed him. This mans doiiigs
have, verify believe, made one of the
kindest men on earth a lunatic, and,
| not satisfied with that, he has killed
him, too. say I know these things,
and yet can't prove them, and for
that hate him ten-fold more. But.
by the God that planted this love I
have for you in my heart, he shall not
separate us. And would that all the
breezes of heaven might carry my
words to his ears!"
She gave a low cry at that, and had
barely done speaking, when, close by
our side, we heard a slight cough, and
out from behind the trunk Of an ola
oak stepped Mr.. John Anguish.
"You must forgive me for interrupt.
ing you," he said, lifting his clerical
hat, "but in very few minutes the
gentleman you are alluding to, John.
will be so close that the breezes of
Heaven wouldn't have far to carry
your message. If you, Miss Courtney.
would slip down that avenue, and you.
John, down this, you could both get
away without his seeing you. and I
think, for the present, it would be best
for you to do so. I'll explain matters
afterwards. Hurry, now! and leave
me here to mediate on the sermon I've
promised to preach, and meet Mr.. Maui
rice when he comes. Hurry! hurry"
and, catching me by the arm, he
pushed me away. And, as Nora van
ished OH one side, I made off on the
other, though I should dearly have
liked to have witnessed that meeting,
and seen how diamond cut diamond"
I had been at home more than an
hour before Anguish returned.
'"That was near thing" he said.
"In another five minutes he would have
caught you and Miss Nora, and, no
matter what story you might have con-
cocted, it wouldn't have thrown dust In
his eyes,"
But ] thought he had gone. Nora
Miss Courtney said So"
Eyes: and she believed SO. But when
you told me last night how you had
managed to overhear the. family ar:
rangements, felt sure that Mr.. Dor
Vile would conclude that there had
been some eavesdropping going or.
You see, you didn't dare to shut that
bath room door leading on to the stairs
and no doubt he found It open. He had
an idea that the lady would meet you
in the wood, and IL she had been the
listener, she might tell you something.
So he sent his mother OFF by train, but
he didn't go himself. had time be-
fore. he put in an appearance to ar.
u - S q A.,