Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-05-08
CHAPTER xxi.

nut WoHueTlUl uhy at iitdlou iaNV
was over, but the old friends had not
separated. They had walked together
through the park to Miss Gilfard's cot
tage; and now. in the bright and warm
little drawing room, they fingered as II
they did not know how night and dark
ness had settled on the world without.
There seemed so much to say, and some
how nothing ever could be said quite ra-
tionally, and without countless wild and
happy Interruptions.
The wonderful change In Miss Giffard
riveted Noras eyes so often that once or
twice Mark intercepted his own laugh
ing face, and reminded her that her eyes
were too big to distend in establishment.
N"Of course, you must be astonished at
my happiness, Nora" Miss Giffard whis-
pered once, guessing the thought which
made the girl so gladly watch her for
You could never realize the weight which
for so many years has pressed upon me
in my solitude. Not of suspicion. dear
never that only of such utter bewilder-
ment and mystifcation. could but live
in the past, and the past was so very
dark"
ut must have been so utterly incompre-
| HtuSlDle, sdlu ANOTd, gently DuL no
one will let me remember it now" And
Miss Giffard smiled in perfect certainty
of this.
What a crowd we look here' laughed
the vicar, looking round the bright little
well-hlled room. What intruders we
are, Cis!' he added, turning to his wife.
really never appreciated the real
comfort of my cottage until tonight"
Miss Gitfard answered, cordially. ~
have rung for tea on purpose to see Nora
presiding. Arthur, will you spare herY'
Kate he whispered presently, she
is as beautiful as her mother, and more
-more--what Is itT
"Iou will understand by and by" she
answered, with a smile.
"This,' said Lord Keston, standing 10
take his tea from Nora, and looking round
with rather Il girlish dimness in his
eyes, lis just my ideal of home.
shall never he able to fit myself into any
position OF pomp or state again. Mark
you viii have to relieve me of all that"
But | don't understand it," observed
Mark, just as cooly as II his face be.
trayed nothing of his unreasonable hap
piness tonight. I'VE have villa IN
Florence, | believe, to which we retire
every man in our family, on his marriage
That's all know of our future"
II think | shall settle myself there fol
time returned the elder man. laugh
ing little "and then | shall have ,
chance of seeing you and Nora durin,
your travels. Judging from some stra,
remarks of yours, Poynz. those travels
are TO extend into a remote country. But
at one time OF other, you must needs visi
Florence; and you shall find me there
with others of our old friends, too, | hope
But first, he went ON, with growing
earnestness, IL must see the Irish hom
of my-my wife and child; the hom
where each of them grew up to girlhood
"Oh, father, yes" whispered Nora, still
close at his side. I'VE will go to Ira
: We're. And it will seem so different, nov
> | know my mother lived there, solitary
too, as did. And you will see all tn
! old"
They were unshed tears that stage
the words to Celia's great dismay; 70
how, she thought, could Nora care 10
: that grim, comfortess old house, whe
: she could live now in such home a
Heaton Place? Aud how, in this peace
full, pretty valley could she think ten
derby of that chill. bare b0g?"
. NORA" asked Mark--she had retaSe
f! her seat at the tea table, and he ha
! sat down near her, leaning forward t
address her very earnestly-"may as
Mr.. Pennington to marry us ut Kilver
: VIII you not like to be in the old churc
you have known so well, and by til
old friend of whom you are so fondY'
"There is no trouble in that" sal
Nora, simply, but with the brightes
swiftest blush. 1T is very easy wor
to say, Mark"
7 "Thank you, thank you, my own love,
; he whispered, from his full. glad hear
1T is what l have long been wishing"
:
Looking like speck on the wild
! stretch of bog. curious machine wa
: creeping slowly along the road betwee
5 Kilver Vicarage and Trayeere; and br
: for the fresh and girlish laughter whic
proceeded from il now and then, and II
! rather frequent pauses, II would hay
: worn somewhat funeral aspect.
~ "Dont you feel exactly like old time
7 Mr.. Poynz~
Nora asked this question gravely, a
3 she sat, very upright and content, on he
! side the joltlng old car from Traveer,
and looked affectionatey down upon b.