The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-04-01

the invalid's comfort and enjoyment.
An easy chair. smelling of varnish and
scratchy with Brussels covering.
stood at the sunnicst window i'm which
sang canary. ana the picture or the
Madonna. which l had contributed.
was strung up i'm close proximity TO
the ceiling.
At last everything was ready. and
the next day was TO see Irene's acces-
sion to the throne OF the palace
l must confess that the next morn
ing my sympathetic thoughts were i'm
the cottage. Ii seemed to me almost
as II a lover were bringing hons his
bride. and | was consequently puzzled
when. late In the afternoon. | was in
formed that Nora wished TO see me.
On going down l was shocked at the
change which had taken place i'm the
woman. Her shoulders dropped. her
face was worn. her eyes were dull and
iiStleSS, and her whole attitude was
expressive OF detection
Why, Nora" l exclaimed in alarm.
What is the mattcr:"
For moment she did not sneak.
She seemed TO he struggling with some
deep emotion. At last she said broken
~. but with 4 pathetic effort to regain
her old chccrfulneSS. Il just called in
10 tel We. mem. about-Irenc She's
married-to - to-Tim Began - yester.
! day. No, mem. there's nothing YOU can
| do Cor me. 'TiSnt strange she'd be
wantn' home of her own. and-and
| then she didn't know. of course" she
added bravely. but with quivering lips.
II was some time after this before |
saw Nora again. Ny husbands bust
ness required "Trip 10 Europe, and the
! children and l were to accompany him.
! Ii occurred 10 me that Nora might keep
| our house during our absence OF
year / found her in the little cottage
! and much the same rs we had always
! known her. except that she seemed
! older and had an air OF liStleSSneSs
! quite different from her old, alert bear
ing. She thanked mo kindly for my
Offer. but declined IT, She was not
wen. she said. and had lost her heart
J for work
Her eyes frightened when / asked
after Irene. ! learned that she was
better. and happy, with her husband
who was good to her. and had bought
her complete parlor set. 1t was also
mentioned incidentally and with some
pride that she had lace curtains at all
her windows
Business affairs shaped themselves
so that it was two years before we re
| turned TO America. NOra'S sad face
had followed me across the Atlantic.
and had often thought of her during
my absence. When l was reopening
my house, my mind naturally reverted
to her, and l went to see her
4 vague sense OF some catastrophe
had oppressed me, but | was relieved
20 find the little cottage shining in a
now coat of paint, and presenting an
unexpected air OF checrfulness Nora
herself opened the door and certainly
no one welcomed my return more
heartily than my old and trusty serv-
ant
l was glad to note that she seemed
happier than when | last saw her. and
had regained much Of her old vivacity.
Consequently ! was surprised on ask
ing about her niece TO see her face set
tie into solemn lines. and to hear her
say in hushed and Teverent tones:
Irene is dead"
She received my condolences with
gratitude and appreciation. but with a
complaccncy and absence of all expires.
sion OF deep sorrow for which l found
it hard to account. She told me with
much vOlubility of Irenes last illness.
of her death after much suffering. and
of the number of carriages which fol
lowed her to the grave. Then she hes
itated, rs if there were more TO tell.
Suddenly. as / waited for her to con
tinue, there came from behind me the
sound OF faint cry
Hurriedly l turned. and ON the lounge
saw what / had not before noticed. n
bundle wrapped in Nora's familiar. old
q plaid shawl
Nora rose, approached it gravcly.
and took it in her arms Carefully
she unwrapped it, and there appeared
from It's folds the face of lovely.
dimplcd infant that thrust out its rosy
little hands in a frantic effort TO free
itself. Nora held it forth to me with
shining eyes
IT'S Irene's baby" she said. i'm
pressivcly. Then she added in a voice
chat shooS with emotion. she gave it,
TO me with her last BREATH Youths
Companion.