Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-02-11

sepdFdLeu. l4ey nau NdlheI tOS~thSt
through the park to Miss Giifard's cot
tage; and now, in the bright and warm
little drawing room, they lirsered as if
they did not know how night and dark
ness had settled on the worli without.
There seemed so much to say. and some
how nothing ever could be said quite ra-
and without countless wild and
happy Interruptions.
The wonderful change in Miss Giffard
rivcted Nora's eyes so often tkat once or
twice Mark intercepted his own laugh
ing face, and reminded her that her eyes
were too big to distend in astpnishment.
''Of course, you must be astonished at
my happiness, Nor5,r Miss GiEfard whis-
pered once, guessing the thought which
made the girl so gladly watch her: for
you could never realize the weight which
for so many years has pressed upon me
in my solitude. Not of suspicion. dear
never that; only of such utter bewilder-
ment and mystification. | could but live
in the past, and the past was so very
dark"
1T must have been so utterly incompre-
hensible." said Nora gently. But no
one viii let me remember it NOW" And
Miss Giffard smiled in perfect. certainty
Of this.
what a crowd we look heren' laughed
the vicar, looking round the bright little
room. What intEuders we
are, Cis!" he added, turning tC his wife.
Il really never appreciated the real
comfort of my cottage u I'll tonight"
Miss Ciiffard answered, cordially. Il
60
presiding. Arthur, will you spare her?"
Kate he whispered presently, "she
IS as beautiful as her mother, and more
-more-what is itT'
You will understand By and BY" she
answered, with a smile
This" said Lord Keston, standing to
iake his tea from Nora. and looking round
with rather a girl.sh dimnes5 in his
eyes, lis Just my ideal of a home. |
shall never be able TO Fl MYSELF into any
position of pomp or state again. Mark.
you will have TO relieve me of all that"
But | don't understand it," observed
Mark, just as coolly as if his face be-
trayed nothing Of his Unreasonable hap
pinesS tonight. We have q villa ia
Florence, believe, to which I'VE retire,
every man in our family, on his marriage
That's all | know of our future"
Il think l shall settle myself there for
a time" returned the elder man. laugh
ing a little; ''and then | shall have a
chance of seeing You and Noga during
your travels. Judging from scme stray
remarks Of yours, Poynz, those travels
are TO extend into a remote couutry. But,
at one time or other, you must needs visit
Florence; and you shall find me there.
with others of our old friends. too. | hope
But FIRST he went on. with growing
Il must see the Irish home
of my-my wife and child; The home
where each OF them grew up TO girlhood."
"Oh, father, yes whispered Nora, still
close at his side. I'VE will 20 to Ira
were. And it will seem so different, now
J know my mother lived there. solitary.
too as did. And you will see all the
Old
They were unshed tears thet stayed
the words TO Celia's great dismay; for
how, she thought, could Nora care for
ihat grim, comfortless old house, wien
she could live now in such a home as
Heaton Place? And how. in this peace
fui, pretty valley. could she think ten
derby of that chill. bare bog?'
Mora" asked Mark-she had retaken
her seat at the tea table, and he had
sat down near her, leaning Toward to
address her very earnestly-"may ask
Mr.. Pennington to marry us nj Kilver?
VIII you not like TO be in the old church
you have known so well, anG by the
old friend of whom you are so fond?'
There is no trouble in that" said
Nora, simply, but with the brightest,
swiftest blush. 1T is a very easy word
to say, Mark"
Thank you, thank yon, my oyn love-"
he whispered, from his FULL glad heart,
1t is what | have long been wishing"
Looking like a speck on the wide
stretch of bog. curious machine was
creeping slowly along the road between
IIilver Nicarage and Traveere; and but
for the fresh and girlisb laughter which
led from it now and then. and its
rattle. frequent pauses. it wolld have
worn a somewhat funeral aspecs
Don't you feel exactly ike cid times,
Mr. Poynz?"
Nora asked this question grayely. as
She sat, very upright and content, on her
side the jolting old car from Traveere,
and looked afectionately down upon Bo-
rak.
IF old times feel very comfortable. as
a rule and-progressive.' returned Mark,
from his side of the car. my feelings re-
semble them exactly"
Il am afraid. said Nora. her eyes wan
dering thouShtfu!ly on beyond Borak's
ears, that | don't feel so changed as
as any one else would be, by all l have
learned and felt since you drove me here
before, Mark, l feel so happy, and--and
quite young again; yet bought to be very
You ought" returned Mark. in his
leisurely way, "to lie a grave and elderly
parry with mission. And you ought
never even 10 smile; yet | have lately
heard YOU laugh just as il you were still
the same Nora to whom | gave -"
why did you Stop." she askssd. sim
ply. Were You going TO say TO whom
you gave sucli good advice that day.
THAT" asseated Mark. with gravity.
SIS naturally my predominant reminis
Genre Of that day"
"You are not altered either-uow. said
Nora; and she could bot help ths5t beau
tfuL soft light coming into her AyeS. as
She turned them upon his face.
Nora had SO much to say to her old
nurse. especially about that pretty home
which awaited her in England. ana where
She would have MicSy with her. that
when Marx showed her how Bor6k. feel
ng himself Sufficiently Refreshed. was
walking solcnuly on. she had Still left
lnsaid the one thing which had made her
heart SO full all the while she SAT in Tho
neat httle Kitchen, locking often at that
pretty sketch 0t her own home. ald feel
ng Rachael 50 much nearer to har from
having known her father 80 well
Il know kaOw il all, Miss Nora.
lear Rachael said when IL last Nora
ried 10 tell her. Lord kcston has been
here alreajy; he is not one Go forget an
ia servant. He sat here Cor an hour this
morning. and he told ME everything. lie
old me OF Miss Kate, and how sas. too.
would come and see me To-day. lIe told
ne how you al arrived with HIN last
light and thar the marriage val TO be