Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-11-09
From
Darkness
To Light
NoRA,s IEsr
BY MARY CECIL HAY

sSSoooo0ooaaS
disappointed than surprised. "And only
six eggs, Kittyw
"Well. an won't that be more'n one
apiece? I've bin in an sit the cloth, Miss
Nora; yer grandpa an the gintleman.'s sat
far apart-.dade I think the gintleman's
farther apart thin yer grandpa"
"And what do you think of the gentle.
mani" questioned the girl. for she had
no one else to question.
"Jist naught,' replied Kitty, provok.
ingly devoted to her saucepan; 81 jist
couldn't look at him for volunteering who
could ha' washer his collar and his wrist
buns so white-sich n waste o soap. Ye
needn't be lookin' so hard ut those six
eggs, Miss Nora; the hardest stare In
yer eye won't make EN- eight"
II shall not go in to dinner" the girl
said, with sigh; II will have some
bread and cheese here. There will be
only two eggs each even then. Oh. Kitty,
IL we had but little money now and
thenv
"what bc's to say about YEP asked
Kitty. pausing with the dish in her hand,
"HeaAachin's the best complaint furr ye."
Perhaps they won't ask" said Nora,
dismally, as she cut her bread and cheese.
IF they do, I'D better have headachel
but IL they seem sorry, say shall be
better In an hour, and will go in"
Did they ask?' she questioned eager
ly, when the old servant returned.
"Yes. my dear--on Of 'em. Oh, don't
be qucschinin' me. furrgit which 1t
wur. I've put livery thin on the table
now. Yer grandpa says he won't need
me again."
Nora, forgetting her bread and cheese
before she was halfway through 1t. rose
and passing through the chilly hall, went
into a favorite room Of hers. where she
had tried to make the shabby old books
into friends rs well as furniture. and had
her pet lounging place 10 a little window
seat In one corner. Here she had sat
for only few minutes, when she fancied
that the door behind her had been pushed
ajar. But, when she had looked round
and found that there was no one In the
room with her, she fancied one Of the
dogs had looked In, a. he went about In
his inert search for food.
30 she sat on In the fading light,
wrapped In deep, wide, wonderful
thought, which she fancied was only the
continuation Of an old day.dream until
suddenly she started up and listened, her
heart beating, and her eyes soft and
radiant. But the step which crossed the
hall. and came straight up to her with.
out pause, was familiar step, and she
leaned back again In her old position,
and turned her eyes once more to the
pale. pink light above the dreary bog.
"Nora." said DR.. Armstrong, speaking
coaxingly, as he took up her left hand,
which lay nearest him, and pressed his
fingers on her pulse, what has given you
u headache to-day"
"Eggs," said Nora, laughing; but Nuel
Armstrong noticed how swiftly she tried
to draw away her hand, and how readily
her eyes, so large and beautiful In the
pale light, went back from his face to the
distant sunset.
He stood moment In angry hesitation,
and then he sat down beside her. still
holding the round, white wrist In his
strong, supple fingers. lie was a man Of
more than forty; yet time had Travelled
10 smoothly with him that his face was
unllned, and the glossy surface Of his
light brown hair was undisfgured by amy
silver thread. II any one had told Nora
Just then that DR.. Armstrong was ten
,, years older than the gentleman who had
driven her home that day, she would have
| laughed ut the truth as Jest.
| "My dear little Nora" Nuel Armstrong
said, presently, In a soft, plausible voice,
'how can believe you are really suffer.
ing when you look 10 fresh and 80 love.
Is? Yet I feel sure you would not tell
me a falsfhood."
II did," acknowledged Nora, with q
nod. AT least, let Kitty do 1t for me-
which was worse. I'm coming In pres,
entity. though, to grandpa and Mr.
Poynx."
"He-you've seen him, thcnw Dr.
Armstrong had changed his speech toe
swiftly for Nora to notice It.
"Yes; he came home with mo to-day
He il q friend Of Wills"
II Think" observed DIR. Armstrong, hi,
voice low and harsh. that, after three
years absence. 1t would be maidenly fol
you to say Mr.. Foster"
II suppose So" she assented, supply
Cecilia did. Nuel. wish l was educat
cd"
"And what the happier would you beT
inquired Nuel Armstrong. "Wait a lit
tie while and you shall be educated
with care and watchfulncss which few
girls know. Every step Of your educa
ton shall be an hour Of bliss, my darl
ing; and every lesson you are laugh
shall be on theme that women love-"
II saw Miss Foster at the vicarage to
day." Nora said, without staying to con
slider what Nuel meant. "She came will
Mr.. Poynx to Ireland. She looked-s,
elegant, and she Is 40 educated, Nuel!
"She came with Mr.. Poynz. did she 2
he queried. looking into the girls fac,
with a smile which she did not under
stand. "Then we may naturally conclud,
that they two are about to become hus
band and wife,"
"Are they, d'you think?" she question
ed, bringing her eyes back to his face FOL
a moment. for she had for years been told
what u very clever man DR.. Armstron,
was. "IIow strange that never though
Of that"
why strange, my darling? Others be
ing In love is nothing to YOU"
II wonder what it's likew Nora SPOKE
In her fresh, untroubled voice., though he
smile was little dreamy-"tO be II
love-"
Like" repeated Nuel Armstrong, ris
ing and standing over the girls leaning
figure. as he answered in a rapid, I'M
/ at hxs -, al ~