Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-01-21
CHAPTER xy1I.-(Continued.l

TO go off to Florence at once, and missed
the train through my delay. I've ham
som here. sir. and there's train from
Wood Green which will be in time. Rich
ards will meet it az the Great Northern
station with your own cab, and he will
have your portmanteau. We thought we
had better be ready for the Dover mail
from Charing Cross. OF course, if it ism |
necessary, sir, no harm is DONE"
The man moved away when he had said
this, but Mark had paused with the tele-
gram unopened, and was looking sadly
into Nora's face.
II may have to leave you at once,
Nora" ne said. speaking low and earn
estly. "And-I had never thought of
this
She smiled a little, not quite under
standing it all. A crowd of people were
passing to and fro: a crowd of instru-
ments were rushing through an overture;
she was standing still, waiting to under
stand; while Mark was looking at her,
with a great sorrow in his eyes and
something more.
Hope will soon bring me back when l
have the power to come, Nora" he said.
you understand me. don't you? l can
not go, letting you misunderstood me.
You know what you are to me, my own
beloved?"
"Yes-I know"
The words were clearer than his words,
though scarcely comprehended yet.
Il shall miss you very much" she said.
And then she stopped; for little girl
who had been running before them trip
ped and fell, and Nora gently raised her
to her feet and kissed her, while the child
looked wonderingly into the white, sad
face.
My thoughts viii be with you ever,
Nora. Let us say good-by alone, here, my
darling. Then must take you to them"
'Good-by," said Nora, leaving her hand
in his. Il shall miss you SO very,
very much. This has been a pleasant
day, hasn't it? l am glad we came. Per
haps tomorrow will not be very different
from to-day. Perhaps a new-scene of
things may not-open. You will be back
soon, you say. How the music changes,
doesn't it? | forgot that this overture
was so sad now aad then"
"Good-by," he said again, wondering at
her tone as he unwillingly released her
hand. "Good-by, my best beloved"
When they rejoined their party, they
found, to their great surprise, that Nuel
Armstrong was with them; but there was
no time for any explanation from him.
Mark hurriedly told of his telegram, and
the arrangements his servant had made,
and then prepared for his own departure.
He kept Nora at his side now, openly
and resolutely. He seemed to see no one
alca MIGHT hava fbot h. MIA
held no one, to his knowledge, but the girl
who walked by his side, trying so hard
to maintain her old gay and debonait
spirit And though the others looked so
regretfully at Mark, Nuel Armstrong
seemed to watch only her.
"Oh, Nora" Mark whispered, as they
went down the terrace steps, IF it could
put all melt away, and leave us two alone.
| long to say what is in my heart to-
night, and cannot-here"
IF you intend to catch the mail at
Charing Cross | advise you not to miss
any train from here" observed Dr. Arm
strong.
Graham will see you all safely bome,''
said Mark. And then he had driver off.
lis gaze to the last riyeted on Nora's face,
Whenever YOU like to go home, Miss
st. George" said Captain Graham, won
dering at the rapt expression in her face,
as she stood listening to the distant bells
the beautiful, slight figure drawn to its
full height-'tell me, and we will start"
lyon will like to go now, Nora" viii
Foster said; and she started at the chang
ted tone. Il see that you will, DEAR he
added, trying to speak more easily; for
hfS hod
as they had never been while every one
had gently tried to open them for him.
mot until Celia wishes it-unless Mrs.
Pennington does" began Nora; but Nuei
Armstrong; clear, raised tones interrupt
ed her.
Excuse me, Foster, but l have some
thing to say to my cousin
please say il here" entreate5 Nora,
shrinking from him as VIII courteously
moved away.
you would soon be sorry if l did-and
angry, too" rejoined Nuel, offering her
his arm. 1T is not for the world to
hear, Nora"
Without taking his arm, she walked
with him until he stopped in a quiet COR
ner of an outer gallery, from which the
world looked very still and wide and calm
that August evening, while the church
bells rang softly still. far away as it
seemed. But, though Nuel had been so
hurried, he paused now in a silence as
deep as was hers in her great calm: and
it was only when at last she turned and
looked at him in her surprise that he
broke it, speaking in a voice as concen-
trated as had been his gaze at her
through Marks farewell.
II saw the arrogance of Mr.. Poynz
wien he set out, Nora, and l fancied
perhaps, he entertained absurd ideas of
of paying attention to you with sue
cess. His arrogance will be short-lived.
enough, though, and l have come to
prove that. You know what was to be
your love test, Nora. Well. have done
my part, and stood the test. have sue
ceeded, darling, as men only succeed
when they put their hearts into their
work, and l am come to claim my re-
ward. or course-of course" he added.
| emphatically. in Nora's silence, lit was
not 10 be expected that l should love
you for years wholly and entirely as
have done, and win no return. Now |
have come for my recompense: your own
voluntary aayment-dear; no forced con-
| sent, Just because you will feel yourself
utterly in my power.'
CHAPTER XVIII.
The low, arched avenue among the
yew trees was not the usual and fire.
quented approach TO Heaton Cottage: for
1t was cut in an exaggerated curve from
the park to the flower garden at the side
Of the house; and. as if to make it still
more private than their own gloom and
semi-eoncealment naturally. or rather ar
ti6cially, made it, its little iron gateway
was screened entirely by laurcls skillfully
planted beyond. Against this low gate.
on the day before the arranged depart
ure for Brighton, Nora stood. deep in
thought: while scarcely a breath of the
wintry air touched her. and no sound
disturbed the silence there.
Quietly and unperceived she had left
the house. because Celia had happened TO