The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-02-12

The idea of matrimOny In connection
with awkward bashful Nora was so
funny that we both laughed heartily,
but when she had recovered her breath
she explained matters.
Bridget. or Irene" as Nora scrupu.
lousy called her, still continued frail.
and with no prospect of rugged health
| in the future. Nora had therefore,
conceived the idea of buying with her
own carefully boarded savings little
| house, and making u home for them
both.
The enthusiasm and reverence with
which Nora spoke the word "home"
told the whole story OF life of ungrat-
ifed longings.
| The details of the investment were
gladly attended to by my husband, and
then the furnishing of the little cot
| tage, at which I assisted. began.
Irene was to he kept in profound ignor-
ance of the scheme until all was ready.
| Nora's thin face seemed gloriied and
happiness radiated from her person.
Participation in her delight was a ne
ccssity.
Everything was done with an eye to
! the .invalids comfort and enjoyment.
An easy chair, smelling of varnish and
| scratchy with q Brussels covering.
stood ut the sunniest window in which
sang canary. and the picture of the
| Madonna. which l had contributed,
was strung up in 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.
| must confess that the next morn
ing my sympathetic thoughts were in
the cottage. 1t seemed TO me almost
as If a lover We're bringing home his
bride, and | was consequently puzzled
when. late in the afternoon, | was in
| formed that Nora wished to see me.
On going down | was shocked Mt the
change which had taken place in the
woman. Her shoulders dropped. her
face was worn. her eyes We're dull and
listless. and her whole attitude was
expressive of detection.
"Why. Norar' exclaimed in alarm.
what is the matter?"
For a moment she did not speak.
She seemed to be struggling with some
deep emotion. At last she said broken
iy, but with pathetic effort to regain
her old cheerfulness, II just called in
to tell ye. mem, about-Irene. She's
married-to - to-Tim Began - yester
day. No, mem. there's nothing you can
do for me. 'Tisn't strange shed be
wantn' home of her own, and-and
then she didn't know. of course" she
added bravely. but with quivering lips
1t was some time after this before
saw Nora again. My husbands busl-
ness required a trip to Europe, and the
children and l were to accompany him.
1t occurred to me that Nora might keep
our house during our absence of a
year. i found her in the little cottage
and much the same as 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 me kindly for my
offer, but declined it. She was not
well, she said, and had lost her heart
for work.
Her eyes frightened when I asked
after Irene. l 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 1t 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 / went to see her.
A vague sense of some catastrophe
J had oppressed me, but / was relieved
to find the little cottage shining in n
, new coat of paint, and presenting an
. unexpected air of cheerfulness. Nora
. herself opened the door, and certainly
no one welcomed my return more
I heartily than my old and trusty serv'
! ant.
I l was glad to note that she seemed
G happier than when l last saw her, and
+ had regained much Of her old vivacity
: Consequently l was surprised on ask
: ing about her niece to see her face set
tie into solemn lines, and TO hear hel
5 say in hushed and reverent tones:
+ Irene Is dead"
:, She received my condolences will
e gratitude and appreciation, but with
h complacency and absence of all expires
sion Of deep sorrow for which fount
o it hard to account She told me Will
S much volubility of Irene's last illness
o of her death after much suffering, ant
n of the number of carriages which fol
|, lowed her to the grave. Then she hes
itated, as If there were more TO tell.
: Suddenly, as | waited for her to con
e tinue, there came from behind me tn
e sound of faint cry.
S Hurriedly | turned, and on the loung
e saw what / had not before noticed,
bundle wrapped in Nora's familiar, oil
= \