Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-04-24
CHATTER Xxx.

while now and then the fash from the
distant lighthouse pierced the mist, and
then seemed TO die out suddenly, as II
it's strength bad been exhausted by that
effort.
With the faint gray mingling Of sea
and sky before them, the long chain OF
lights upon the shore behind, and gay
life and idleness about them, the groups
lingered--talkiDg, reading or thinking,
upon the West Pier at Brighton. The
bandsmeD were silent Just now in their
little raised pavilion, and the great waste
of chairs around them was almost un-
occupied, yet there was q goodly crowd
of figures moving 20 and fro In this
evening hour.
Near the pier-head, where the gloom,
so subtly creeping from the water, seem-
ed to pause, as If the light and gayety be-
yond had stayed IL on Its way inland.
| two little groups had met and joined.
while many pairs OF Idle eyes rested upon
them. Leaning back ON her seat, facing
the people, not the sea, GeDevicve Foster
sat, with a novel in her hands; but her
eyes though fixed upon Its pages, had
q sullen expression In them for which
the novel could not be to blame. Necr
her, sitting sideways, with one elbow OH
the back OF the seat, was WilloughlJ;
his usually merry eyes full Of perplexi y,
and his words breaking off every nov
and then in real and uncharacteristic enI-
barrassment. as he sought to win his sis
ters whole attention. A few yards away,
Mrs. Pennington walked slowly to and
fro, leaning upon her husbands arm, and
following them came Mrs. Foster Una
rnlt
eyes went little further still, to where
Nora stood very still against the outer
edge Of the pier, looking out across tie
dusky sea with lovely, dreaming eyes. He
saw that others watched her, too, and ne
smiled little, knowing how unconscious
she was of any admring glances; but
the smile was very short-lived, and swift
~ his gaze grew anxious again, and re-
turned to his sisters face
you don't help me at all, Gena," he
fretted. II certainly expected you would
feel for mother, II not for me-and your
| self, and suggest some way of breaking 1t
to her"
"If it is quite impossible for you to
| discuss Victoria's prospects except in
such provokingly funeral Tone" observ-
ed Genevieve, pray don't discuss them
at all with anybody"
But II you tell mother without prep
aration-"
How terrible II would ber' put In Miss
Foster, with her supercilious smile. "Vic-
toria has chosen her own husband and
married him without bridesmaids OF cakei
Oh, poor Wi!loughby, to have to break
this terrible. Overwhelming news to his
poor motherw
you put 1t kindly, must say!' Will
answered, angriy. mo wonder | dread
your telling mother, il that is how you
look at it,"
Then how do You look at it?' she
asked, in a soothing tone; but her face
grew triie paler as she spoke.
How do l look at itY echoed viii, in
dignantly. why, as anyone who has
grain of feeling in him, or of honor, must
look at 1t. She knew right from wrong,
and truth from falsehood. If she didn't
at first know gentleman from sneak,
she must now have known one from nm
unbeliever and a liar. And IL she did not
know how to act as a lady, she might at
my rate have behaved with ordinary
wOmnnly reserve. To think that my faith
er's daughter should have joined that
villain and married him, knowing what
she must have knownw
"If 1t has been an unwise step" OBJ
served Miss Foster, icily, "she will suf-
fer, not you"
II declare" said Win, his subdued
voice full of rage, I'm tempted to think
you have no heart Mt ALL For PHYS sake
leave II 10 me TO tell my mother this mis-
cradle news! | detained you here to beg
for your help and advice. ! don't want
either now"
Then i have done you good" smiled
Gena. IF you considered that you need
ed help in disclosing the fact of your
sisters marriage to DR.. Armstrong, you
must have been rather weak or out of
sorts. | am glad you feel no longer So"
IF DIR. Armstrong had courted her
openly and honorab!y, and she had chos-
en- to be such an idiot AZ to accept him,
even knowing all | know now" fumed
VIII, Il would not have made any trou-
bit for her by putting difficulties in the
way. But to do as she has done; to let
him show himself as the liar he is, to ac-
cept the burned-out ashes OF his regard
to fly at his call; to marry him in secret,
and voluntarily share his shameful and
degraded reputation! Genevieye, how
can you know it all, and yet be SO an.
; movedT
. IL see It little differently" she an.
: swered, with slow distinctness. Tory
had allowed DR.. Armstrong to win heI
l affection, even while, perhaps, he was
I tempted to pay court to Nora st
Georges fortune. And, now that the law
! has made good use of a peculiar phase OF
S his belief, and meanly turned it to ae
s count against him, she gives him the re
- gard he has successfully sought and full
< fills an old promise to marry him."
"Geneyieve," whispered her brother, II
e real surprise, and even pain, "can yol
really look at this disgrace as you ar,
pretending to do? Or do you say thi
p only in your pride? Do not fear. | an
I not going to seek pity from anyone. An,
$ I'm sure, If you are afraid of Nora
fancying you are humiliated-"
What has Nora to do with me ut all 2
y cried Miss Poster, rising quickly, with
i cold, unmirthful smile. Don't drag he
u name so constantly into your converse