Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-10-25
CHAPTER Ill.


posite her sat the father she had
never seen before; the guests were
all strangers to her. The magnificent
room, with its air OF mingled grandeur
and refinement, would have been
alone sufficient to overawe young
girl accustomed hitherto to the small
and simple rooms Of country cot
tage.
But Norah possessed a spirit not
easily cowed. Somehow or other she
OWNED that the stately, patrician old
man facing her at the bottom of the
table expected her to display some
confusion and shyness, and she re-
solved that he should be-well, disap-
pointed.
So, though the room seemed to spin
round and she saw the faces OF the
guests and the footmen through
kind OF haze, she made no sign of the
emotions that swept across her young
heart.
The gentlemen, with true delicacy,
carefully avoided looking at her for
some minutes, and talked together
with the kind of vivacity which is SO
palpably forced; and 1t was evident
that though they talked Of the coming
hay harvest and OF current politics,
they we're one and all thinking OF the
girl who had been introduced thus
suddenly and strangely to her father
and her home.
The footman brought her some soup,
the butler filled her glass with wine,
with countenances as expressionless
as IL they had been in the habit OF
waiting on her for the last twenty
yeas, and Norah got through her soup
and slipped the costly wine in silence.
She knew that they were all think
ing of her and she felt the keen gray
eyes at the end of the table glance to-
ward her now and again; but though
her heart beat unanimously and her
face was pale, her hands did not trem
BILE nor her lips culver. An Indian at
the stake could not have behaved bet
ter.
Presently Lord Ferndale, who sa;
next to her. turned to her:
Il hope you had pleasant journey,
Lady Norah'
Eyes, thank you. II seemed rather
long, but 1t was pleasant"
Let me see,' he said, as he
thought, "A lovely young creature,
with a sweet voicel"-"you came
from"
Norton, in Devonshire,'' said
Norah.
"Ah, yes; a very pretty place. /
hope you will like Santleigh. | sup
pose / ought not to say that 1t is as
pretty. but of course think so. My
wife viii be so pleased to show you
all our lions
Thank YOU" said Norah simply
Il am one of your fathers oldest
friends" he went on, "and | am sure
you and Lady Ferndale win get on
together"
Only one person had not spoken to
her-Guilford Berton, and she CHANGED
to glance at him. The dark. pene-
trating eyes happened to be fixed on
her and their gaze met In that mo-
ment strange feeling took possession
OF Norah. a feeling difficult to de-
scribe. 1t was not exactly repulsion,
but singular sensation, as II she felt
that he was trying to read all that WIS
passing In her mind. and she must at
all costs thwart him.
She ought, by all ordinary rules, to
have been attracted by the young
mans handsome face, but there was
something in Il which Jared upon
her, though she could not have told
what II was.
For space in which one could have
counted twenty they looked into each
others eyes; then Guilford Berton
withdrew his gaze and returned to his
plate without uttering word.
The dinner proceeded. To Norah
the courses seemed endless. She had
gone To one or two small dinners at
the clergyman's at Norton. but the
ulagulncence OF this, her first meal in |
her fathers house. as far surpassed
them as a corporation feast surpasses
a two and sixpenny ordinary. But
through It all she made no mistake.
IL the earl had expected to see her
eat with her knife or commit some
vulgarity he was disappointed--or re.
lieved.
II she had presided at the lordly Ia.
BILE for years, instead of for the first
time, her manner could not have been
more perfect,
Every now and then Lord Ferndale
or the rector spoke 20 her and her
sweet, low voice made instant reply.
The costly dessert appeared and
Lord Ferndale helped her to some hot.
house strawberries. and. after she
had eaten them. she knew that she
could make her escape.
The butler entered. carrying a cob
webby bottle in a wicker cradle and
Norah rose. Instantly all the gentle.
men rose also and Guilford Berton
went and opened the door for her.