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

Ut. Nuel Armstrong Knew th"l "'7'
Giffard had risen more than once in her
sleep and quietly and correctly minis
tered TO the sick lady who seemed-wak-
bng and sleeping-to be in her care; but
he chose to withhold his knowledge OF
this fact at the time when 1t would have
left Arthur Poynz free from suspicion.
He and my uncle were cousins, so claim
n kind of cousinship. too. or course our
name is the same Had | not inherited
the title, too, until he returned to re-
ceive 1t from me--his just duef DO you
wonder, Nora ny did, why Or. Arm
strong should have suppressed this prob
able solution of the mystery Of Mrs. Says
death, and let the vile suspicion of MUIR
der hurry her young heir to the grave
as he thought? ! can tell you now why
Il was. For some time a very beautiful
Irish girl had been visiting an old friend
of her mothers at the Heaton Nicarage,
and Nucl Armstrong had chosen TO fancy
this girl for his wife. But Arthur Poynz
had learned by this time to love her for
something even beyond her beauty-her
rare and exquisite beauty" repeated
Mark, laughing little as be watched
the color rise in Nora's cheeks under his
were quietly married by the vicar, and
she stayed on and on, and seemed to for
get her Irish home. That was little won
der" continued Mark, warmly, "consid-
ering what home 1t was; yet ! hove
since then known n girl who could think
lovingly and tcnderly even of such home
rs that, At the time of Mrs. Says death,
when Nuel Armstrong so promptly laid
suspicion on Mrs. Says heir his jealousy
bad reached its climax, for he had been
told by the vicar himself Of the marriage
You-you of all people, Nora--can under.
stand how little any conscientious scru-
pie would stay Nuel Armstrong in his
Jealousy and revenge; for he was as pitt
less and as selfish nineteen years ago, in
bis pursuit OF your mother, as he has
been In these later years."
"My motherW
Nora uttered the words very softly,
with her fingers locked, and her eyes
wide and wistful. She had no thought
Cor Nuel Armstrong. She had almost lost
the story Mark had been telling her, in
the new, delicious pain OF hearing her
mothers name ut last.
YES mother, sweet Mark answered,
very gently. 1.-THE beautiful girl who
came alone to Heaton, and was left here
for 50 many months, unsummoned by her
cold and selfish father, was your mother;
and-and, Nora, dearest, the young mas
Ter of this old house, who has lain so
long, and SO unjustly, under the shadow
of great crime, IL your father. My
darling! he cried, taking her hands in his
as she rose to her feet, don't look so
Rwed and bewildered. 1t will all seem
natural to you very soon-when you have
seen him. He only thought 1t would be
best for me to prepare you. All that Nuel
Armstrong told you of your father was
q lie; coined to serve his own selfish pur-
poses, and all the more a lie because 1t
touched the truth. Dear. he never had a
clew to your fathers hiding place; he
never traced him, and brought letter
from him-as you betrayed In your Ill
ness that he had said he had--and your
father thought much more of keeping
hidden from him than from anyone who
bore his own title. You understand that
now, don't you. dearest? And presently
you will understand how, to crafty both
bis passionate admiration for your beauty
and his cold and long-nursed revenge
against your father, he strove with al
his power to win your hand. There, we
may let him rest. He has his wife with
him now-poor grill poor grill"
"And-my motherY whispered Nora
not knowing what she asked, only long
ing to hear something of her.
"Your mother, dear" put in Miss Gif
fard, with gentle kiss upon the girl'i
wistful face, was my dear friend
though | scarcely ever could leave thii
house to see her, or ask her to come here
You are so like her. Nora, that 1t was M
wonder my heart went out to you tina
6rst day Mark brought you to my cot
tage, when, feel sure now, he haC
guessed little of our sorry, and wished
70 see il recognized your name. Nora
DEAR" she went on, her voice sinking
lower, sit was not long after his escape
that--she died. And then she sent he
baby girl at once TO her father, Col. 81
George. in Ireland. 1t was Rachael Cor
who took you, and believe your grand
father made her take an oath not to di
vulge the secret of your parentage
threatening afterward, when she ha
married Corr, that he would turn he
from his house as soon as ever he hear'
Of her doing SO.
I'll understand" faltered Nora, re
calling one other day when she had ex
pected to meet her unknown father. Ma
go to him?"
ale is here, Nora said Mark, strok
Ing her hair gently as he spoke, EAR
Fou rested now, my own dear love? All
you cannot silence me any longer l an
breaking no promise, IL | spent ever
moment of every hour in telling you hoy
! love you land ] very easily and pleas
antly could, and If | ceaselessly rehears
cd our marriage topic, sweet, shoul,
stll break no promise now, for ! am no
Lord Keston-only plain Mark Poyn2
Now we will Nora, darling, see
There Is the real Lord [eston."
Trembling so strangely and pitifun
that her hand went helplessly out seeking
support, Nora stood with her eyes fixe,
upon her father. Each moment he
breath quickened. her eyes dlated, an,
her fingers grew tight and convulsiye il
their tension. Still she made no step for
ward to meet him, and no call upon hi
name passed her white, parted lips. CO
ha. with all her ready sympathy, cou
understand nothing Of this intense an
painful emotion; but yet, in an uncon