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

a rule, and--progressive." returned Mark
from his side OF the car, my feelings re-
semble them exactly"
81 am afraid" said Nora. her eyes wan.
dering thoughtfully on beyond Borak's
ears, that | don't feel so changed as
as any one else would be. by all | have
learned aud felt since you droye me here
before. Mark. feel so happy. and-and
quite young again yet, | ought to be very
different"
you ought" returned Mark. in his
leisurely way Ito be a grave and elderly
party with a mission. And You ought
never even to smile; yet | have lately
heard you laugh just as il you were still
the same Nora to whom | gave"
why did you stopT' she asked. sim
ply. Were you going to say to whom
You gave such good advice that dayT'
That" assented Mark, with gravity.
'is naturally my predominant reminis-
cence of that day"
"You are not altered ether--now." said
Nora; and she could not help that beam
tful. soft light coming into her eyes, as
she turned them upon his fncel
Nora had so much to say to her old
nurse, especially about that pretty home
which awaited her in England, and where
she would have Micky with her. that
when Mark showed her how Borak, feel
ing himself sufficiently refreshed. was
walking suIemnly on, she had still left
unsaid the one thing which had made her
heart so full all the while she sat in the
neat little kitchen, looking often at that
pretty sketch of her own home, and feel
ing Rachael so much nearer to her from
having known her father so well.
81 know-l know it ALL Miss Nora
dear" Rachael said, when Mt last Nora
tried to tell her. Lord keston has been
here already; he is not one to forget an
old servant. He sat here for an hour this
morning, and he told me everything. He
told me OF Miss Kate, and how she, toe.
would come and see me to-day. lie told
me how you all arrived with him last
night, and that the marriage was to be
here, and so soon. He said Mr.. Foster
had gone over to Kilver this morning.
And he told me-even laughing. and he
was never one 20 laugh much-that Mr..
Poynz had taken the old horse and car
over to the vicarage to fetch you, and
had to mend the wheel himself before he
could start; and of Kitty's delight, and
everything. oh, my dear, what a glad
coming back this is"
"Nora," said Mark, as they walked
after Borak, while he sedately led the
way in the empty car, do you know.
think we shall not lose our clergyman
at Heaton, even though the living is to
be a wedding gift for the husband of
your true little friend"
"Oh, hope notw she answered, earn
estly. "Wil and Celia could make each
other 80 happyw
Indeed they could, and will, think.
Nora" Mark said, taking her face be-
tween his hands in the quiet road, and
kissing her upon the lips, how generous
he was In his greeting to you after-af-
ter he knew you were lost to him! 1t re-
minded me of your own description of
him, on that day we drove along the bog
before
you remember that drive quite WELL"
pretty well, considering all things.
have a faint recollection of your inform
ing me, as a fact beyond dispute. that
England abounded in beautiful, highly ed
ucated and altogether charming Rosa
linds, among whom | roamed at large;
and that you thought 1t would be an ex
cellent thing for you to have few of
their advantages"
"Oh. Mark. | never thought"
ALSO" he went on, TRANQUILITY, "that
| Foster was very celebrated man In this
country and that | was welcome to con-
sumo into an early grave with jealousy.
| if chose. Poor VIII! His eyes are
opening now, and one can see what hap
piuess is in store for him."
II believe" interpolated Nora, "that
you must have forgotten the cheerful
career you marked out for yourself, Mr..
Poynz, when you should be fifty years Of
age and unmarried. | always had great
wish to give something to that hospital
"lndeed! The only observation ever
heard from you about it was that the
inmates must be very unusually comfort
able, under those circumstances. Still of
course, you might have been secretly de-
voting your wealth to that good cause"
II used to think" said Nora, presently,
her voice growing full Of thought, how
| i would come back to Ireland after my
holiday summer was over, and use the
money grandpa left me to give ease and
comfort to those who, though they had
lived around him, had never been helped,
perhaps, at all, in those old days. But
it is no use thinking Of that. because the
money Is not NINE"
I'm not myself quite so confident upon
that head, dearest. l believe Doyle In
tends to claim It for you, in consequence
OF the peculiar wording Of Col St
Georges letter; as his term is your gull
ty father you understand how Doyle in.
tends to dispute that adjective. And
then, my love, you can do as you will
with your pocket money, you know"
And IL | have forfeited it, as have
always imagined have found my father
Mark; and SO 1t was well forfeited.
mean" she added. softly, laying hel
hand upon his, you found him for me
Yet had thought" she whispered, pres
emily, with a shudder at the remem
brance, "a was only Nuel Armstrong
who coutu' unite us. He-he said tha
ought to be my love test, Mark"
And was II not, sweetheart"
Crhe end)
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