Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-04-17

again, and fit to work, and--and able to
remember how solitary my life must be!
MORA, Nora, dcar.'
The gentle call reached he? where she
stood. but, following the call, even before
Nora could answer It, Miss Giiiard came
into the avenue at DR.. Armstrong; side
II sought you everywhere about the
house. my dear she said, her face
frightening when Nora came at once to
her side, until Or. Armstrong suggested
You might be hcre-a good guess, was 1t
not? lie has come to say go0d-by, so
may go and speak to Corr, leaving DIR.
Armstrong to take you into the house"
at is not good-by / am come to say,
Nora" spoke Nup Armstrong, rs soon as
he had watched Miss Gifiard out of sight,
Though that plea served as well as any
thing else for an excuse to reach you.
You know perfectly well, even while she
said it., that that was not true. Not very
probable" he cried, with a hard, forced
laugh, while she saw, in real fear, how
his face worked with Il passion which
was hendstrcng now and desperate.
"GoOd-byl Pah! Is all my love, and toll,
and patience, TO end in such coward 5
speech rs that! Stay, Nora, l have
something TO say, and must say it here;
unless" he continued, using craftily his
knowledge OF her, you wish it said be-
fore that sleepy looking woman, who has
no right to hear a word"
Shall you be long? Is it much you
have to say to meY asked Nora YEARLY.
at need not be much" he answered,
II have need only to tell You | am ready
to take you now, Nora, to your poor
father. No wonder you look surprised,
my pet for it has been hard, long task
for me to track him; or. rather, it has
been long enterprise, and would have
been a hard one If | had not done it for
your sake. And is it strange that |
should he the one to win you your wish
at last, and crown your life witbShappi-
nessP'
That" said Nora, with proud quiet
ness, you can never do, DIR. Armstrong"
Your childish freak of conceament |
understood and excused" he went on;
"but, you see, fate and fortune did not
help you; and know how glad you feel
now to transfer all responsibility into my
willing and able hands. My beauty,
do not ask you to come with me to-day:
] would not hurry you so; for until this
minute you have not guessed that | was
on my way to you with good news. the
power, as well as the will, to give you
perfect ease and happiness at last, and
such enjoyment as life has never contain
ed for you before. No, | will not hurry
you so, Nora. | will go with you to
Brighton tomorrow; and you will be
stronger presently, and we can pursue our
journey. ALI Nora, to think what rap
ture that meeting will be for your wrong
ed and ill-used father! So well ! know
your heart yearns to him-the parent who
has so unjustly all his life been deprived
of his daughters love and compassion"
CDR. Armstrong" said Nora, Gained by
her very fear Of him, as thus he tempted
her through her keen sense of duty, 81
would follow my-my father anywhere,
if you would put it into my power to do
so. But even though you profess to pity
him, you will not help me to 60"
MORA" he cried, passionately, inter-
ruptng her, 81 am here for no other pur-
pose have travelled and toiled and
waited for that end alone-to secure his
safety. and to unite you. | have paved
the way perfectly now, and have only
one task left, to leave my darling in her
fathers care"
'If you will tell me where he is and let
me go to him, shall be grateful to you
all my life" she said earnestly. MIR.
Pennington will take me-
II shah take you myself said Nuel,
with a sudden hard determination in his
voice. IL shall come to Brighton with
YOU to-morrow--why not? The ptnning-
tons are old friends of mine and the
Fosters will be glad enough to welcome
me. Then we will arrange it all at our
ease. could not help giving my time
and strength and thought to you, because
my heart was yours; you see that, NoraY'
He asked the question suddenly for
oven in his selfish vehemence he was
shocked little by her stiffness and her
pallor.
Il only see your cruelty" she answer
ed, very low. "Lct me 90 to my father
without these hard conditions, and | will
go to the worlds end. If you will not, |
will not go.''
you will not go"' he cried, his voice
harsh and quick, and cruel, as he had
never allowed her to hear it before. you
will not go. you say? You win not 20
with me. after all these years of seeking
and wooing you? You are to escape me
at last, and choose another? No, that
shall never he while live! have borne
enough, and done enough. for you now,
and | claim my reward. demand Al,
Nora! | am no boy, TO be trhed with at
your pleasure. Mine is no new love, ia
he set aside carelesSly for any Other
mans. You shall feel that, Nora. You
shall realize that man who, in his mid.
die age has set his heart upon you, is not
to be lightly rejected for one who-who
would scorn you and insult you If he
knew you as know you; while love
and seek you through all, But swear
he shall know all the degrading truth
"Oh! let him know" she cried, In hel
longing for help and guidance. "Oh, Lei
him know, and end this terrible secretl
He shall know; but not until hsv,
taken you from HIS derision."
Miss st. George, you are lingering
here too long. Come into the house Will
me, will your / found had forgotten
rather an important message from Mis-
Giffard, so | had to turn back"
Mark had come upon them so thor