Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-03-20

81 will tell you" Mark said, gently. 81
have brought you here OH purpose to tell
you"
So, in that very spot where the sketch
was taken which he had seen in Mrs.
Corrs Irish cabin. he told Nora the story
Rachel had narrated to him a year be-
fore.
They walked for n while In silence after
that, Nora wondering why Mr.. POynz
should have proposed this, and wondering
still more why it was that she felt such
deep, real interest in the story he had
told her OF Heaton Place.
Presently, leaving the open park, they
passed through tirwood, where the bare
trees stretched like boundless vista of
columns. Then they came out again into
a sheltered little valley on the outskirts
Of the park, where a low, white house
lay safe from every eastern breath, and
where the buds of a dropping willow ON
the lawn shone like emeralds against the
dark and somber green of the yews. In
stead of walking up the lawn, Mark led
Nora to the side of the house, and open
ed narrow gate among the yews. She
started a little AZ she entered the path to
which it led her-a path cut among them.
How cool and dimw she said. ut IL
like sudden twilight"
at is always twilight here" Mark an
swered, bending his head little, as he
walked under the arched yews; "and
another suerprse awaits you at the end.
This little avenue leads into such shell
tered, yet sunny nook of the garden that
/ have known all kinds OF summer flow
ers standing there in blossom before Jan
uary has left us. Seer
But though the flowers were dazzling
in the little parterre to which their walk
had suddenly opened, 1t was not their
brillance which had fixed Nora's aston
ished gaze: and though In the next min
ute she was standing before a bed of
blooming verbena, it was only to offer her
hand to a young man who was busiy
peggng down the plants.
"Mckyw she cried. Just think of its
being you, Mickyw
The lad had started to his feet as II
her pretty, pleasant greeting had struck
him. and his cheeks were afiame when
he saw her offered hand.
"No. Miss Nora" he said, taking his
cap OFF. You wurr our fairy princess
over at home, and II wurrn't annythn'
you cud do cud make the difference; but
it's not in Oireland we are now. 1t is
good 1t is to see yer face again, Miss
Nora"
They stayed few minutes longer talk
ing to the Irish lad, and then Mr.. Poyns
led Nora up to the house, just as one of
the low windows was opened, and a lady
Of about forty years, In mourning dress,
and with snowy shawl around her
shoulders. came out. She met Mark with
smile OF real gladness; but the quiet
dreamy gaze which Nora had noticed
first upon her face had returned to 1t by
the time Mr.. Poynz had introduced her.
Miss St. George" she repeated, as she
gave the girl her thin, soft hand, and
then~seemed inclined to leave II In Nora's
| clasp. did you say 80, Mr.. Poynz"
Nora st. George" Mark answered, in
tercepting Nora's own reply. lis the
name not quite strange to your
mot quite" The answer was given
slowly and thoughtfully; but the quiet,
! grave eyes frightened with monetary
eagerness, and a flash of color glided as
il were. across the pale, still face. you
have seen my garden she added, gently
and almost shyy laying her fingers ON
Noras arm; will YOU come and see my
pictures-if Mr.. Poynz will spare your
There was little need for the wistfu
glance into Marks face. He wanted a
stroll round the garden. he said. in his
easy way, and would join them in few
minutes. But the few minutes grew tC
thirty before Miss Clifford and Nora came
out to the lawn.
THANK you," the elder lady said, quite
simply, when Mark, bidding her good
by, looked little keenly from her fac,
to Nora's.
"Mr Poynz," observed Nora thought
fully, walking at his side from the gar
den gate, Miss Clifford is just what
fancied her, while you told the story"
"And you do not think that She"
"Oh. no!' cried the girl, interceptin!
his question with shudder. 1T coul,
not have been. Mr., Poynz. 1t could not.
The tone was quick, and almost angry
In the last few words, and Nora noticed
IL, while at that moment MIR. Foste
: caught sight OF them and waved his hat
with call One minute afterward sh
was walking at the young curate's side
and Mark, who had so lightly given II
his charge TO his friend, had joined an
other group, determined that his frien
should be missed as little as possible.