Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-01-04
NoRA,slEsT
From
Darkness
To Light
pY MARY CECIL HAY

ueutiy thOuRht Just then tnnt tne un.
mooring Of the boat had been mistake.
1.-TWO minutes" she said, presently, rs
he pulled hard against the tide. with his
head bent and his lips closed. 1--WE have
been twice two minutes. Mr.. Foster"
isn't It n lovely evening" he asked
her. hurriedly: "and lovclier upon the
water than anywhere. l will take you
back IN u few minutes. Nora; but let me
have n taste OF exercise. and you taste
Of rest"
No. not ut all unwilingly. In the calm
summer evening time. she leaned back
In her cushioned seat, and looked around
upon the peaceful scene on which the
slnnting sun rays fingered; and she never
noticed how hard and fast Will Foster
worked for his own purpose. but when
ut last he laid down his sculIs. and the
boat began to DRIFT slowly homcward
with the current. her eyes were suddenly
opened to the new. intense carncstncss
upon his usually happy face.
"fou are not very clever oarsman."
she said. quietly. though her heart began
10 beat as she remembered how fast he
had brought her from home. and how
she had involuntarily allowed him to do
50. while she dreamed the time away.
mot at all clever, indeed. Mr.. Foster. Or
you would keep your sculls and sit back
upon your seat"
II don't want to seem clever this even
ing. even to you," returned viii. with
rather u forced smile. IL want to seem
only what I am. Nora--vcry much In
earnest. dear. In what I am going to say
tonight, because I've so often tried and
failcd.'
please fail this time. too"
II caunot." he said, and his hands were
tightly claspcd as he leaned forward with
his elbows on his knees. MY heart Is
too full tonight to be silent. Nora. I love
you so dearly that surely you will give
me one little promise to care for the In
return. cannot expect such love as
feel for you. though even that may come
In time: but promise me you will cure
for me little, Nora"
II do" responded the girl. gravely. II
care for you n little now; more than a
little. for l never forget what compan-
ions we were years ago. both In mischief
and out OF mischief. or how you have
been my friend ever since: but I can
never care for you more than I do to-.
night: and that Is only as a friend"
But You will feel differently. Nora,
darling. Surely, surely you will accept
me some day."
IL shall never change to you. Will,'
she said, very gently. II am as sure that
! shall never like you more, as I am that
I shall never like you less. Please let
things be as they are. Life Is 80 pleas.
ant now"
But things cannot bc as they are"
cried Will. with rising vchcmcnce. 1T
Is not to bN supposed that you will not
marry--you 81 all girls"
II cannot yet; perhaps 1 never can"
Nora said 1t with a strange. quiet sad.
ness. and her face had grOwn'very white
But when she met her companions blank.
incrcdulOus gaze. she smiled a little, and
her own friendly. easy manner came
slowly back to her.
'Of course you will marry" persisted
Will. why, everybody wants you nOw,'
II shall not marry everybody"
I'm sure" the young man went on,
heavily. mo one could bc no devoted to
you ns I am. and have been since I
was going to say. since I went back TO
,.". ,",.. ,o". 'ou s'""n upnD"t.
.'".., ,,,,ana "s a"utu' r"eIuNy. i
= -. w.. ,.... e"e' ''"'e "hen
"i - NV "..Ua W 'ou'
..,, ,,,.,a ,". u ," wnrh 20" wo"iant
,"n On 'ev. ~, ., nome iron, I'm.
II cannot laugh" fretted Will, "even
'.s,"n 49,. y. s""' ..u"n ,, u"y OF ours
w" -. 49," ".'Jss n''e Larry 10
,,'" ~ "u ' n"me' NO, ! re-
...." ,.,,', ,,..' 49,. ", tor ne
r"m. N".. .n s,, oss nut : would
and IN ~. no., ',.,sa' 80 nut VI yours
49," ' III .'o'".', ,U"' 10 nsten'
go. ..,a , " ~" -. 10" W." "! "ua IKE
;"s. '"s" " "'"''' "'' '''" anyways
~ a.r.. .,,. ., ,.,
N.r. ..,,. ' ,,"s a."a!s Iss.' sara
.sm",,. ~ "s.'u ~ onc s"Ht 1.y y!
r",.;, ~. ',,,.,,. o". Nv. .so'a.ea
;s",.,.s ~. '' 80 ~ sn"n"ea ana
In, so. he. ,,.,s," "u ""' !,s""s nov.
s,rs.m, W." o..,', ". s". WIN .uo
co,r." ,,.,.S" .o"'u "n' e"""sc ,ne ooa.
nI""s",, "m'" """'"S evsry'h'ng Tess
.,;...". . -" 'o"' 90 why shou'd We
vs.