Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-12-12

CHAPTER TX.

NihneT, MORAN was IN her own room,
reading a volume OF Mrs Browning's
poems, which she had found IN the
library, that is to say, she read for
few minutes. then her eyes strayed
from the book and wandered over the
view, and her thoughts wandered also.
Nora had read a great deal, for her
life had lacked companionship, ami
most of uer amusements had been
solitary ones; but, though love had
generally been the theme of the novel
or the poem, it had always been a
mystery to her.
In all her short life she had never
met the one man whose voice had pow
er to raise the strange echo in the
Neart which proclaims the birth OF
Ioye. She had, for instance, never
fallen in love with the curate or the
young doctor, as some girls, for want
OF better object, occasionally do;
she had not only not fallen in love
with them, but she had not given a
thought to them after they had left
her presence.
Luz sCAAAe5A-b 40 GlIC DdL ny LuE open
window, she found that though Mrs.
Browning was delightful, to recall! the
face and words of the young artist
was more delightful still.
She felt sure that it was he wnom
she had heard on the terrace, and she
wondered why she had not plucked up
courage and asked him.
How frankly he had spoken! not
mincing his words and smiling the
conventional smile which most young
men consider IL necessary to assume
when they address members of lhe
other sex; and how straight and steady
was the look of his handsome. ex-
pressive eyes! She wondered whether
the earl would make inquiries as he
had said and, if so, whether they
would result in Cyril Burne's being
asked to dinner; at the thought, the
fancy picture of bis being seated, say,
next to her, or opposite her, Norah's |
face grew warmly colored and her |
eyes dropped; but she did not pause |
to ask herself why the mere prospect
of eating her dinner in the company
of the young man with the manly |
voice and straightforward eyes should |
be SO pleasant to her.
1t never occurred to her that if not |
already in love with Cyril Burne, the !
subtle poison had entered her being: /
the enemy was already parleying at
the gate of her heart
She was aroused both from Mrs.
Browning and her thoughts by knock |
at the door and the entrance of Har- |
man.
Il beg your ladyship's pardon" she |
said, glancing at the open book; I'm |
afraid I've disturbed you. my lady; |
but I've brought Becca."
Norah gave little start. She had
been so absorbed reading and thinking
that she had forgotten all about Re
becca South.
That is right, she said; where is
she?r
Outside, my lady" replied Hartman,
and she opened the door and beckone |
Becca in.
The girl entered, and stood cycling |
Norah with the expression of half de- |
fance, half curiosity, which had so |
impressed Cyril, then her black eyes |
dropped before Norah's kindly regard |
The girl looked prettier at close
quarters, Norah thought, than at dis |
lance. and she smiled at Hartman |
with : little nod of satisfaction.
/ am glad you have come, Rebecca
or Becca, as l should like to call |
you" said Norah.
Courtesy and sayThank you. my
LADY," retorted Hartman.
Becca made very slight curtsey, |
and murmured something that sounded |
like the words suggested.
viii you come and sit down here7"
said Norah, rather amused at the girls
half-shy, half-fierce manner. She was
like some beautiful, scarcely tanned
young animal. who fears a blow, and
Is prepared to retort with a kick or a
bite.
Becca crossed the room and seated
herself on the low ottoman near
Norah's chair, and Norah, thinking
that they would probably come to an
understanding much sooner If the aunt !
were not present, said:
Leave Becca and me to have a lit |
tie talk Hartman, will you?"
Yes. my lady" said Hartman, and
she went out, but paused at the door,
TO cast warning glance toward her
young niece
You know why asked you to come
and see me, Becca?"
Aunt told me that you wanted to
take me into service"
q wanted you to come and help
your aunt in various ways, but my
idea was rather that you should come
to the Court and keep me company
sometimes
Il should like that, she said, al
most to herself; "but it sounds fun
n.y. she added, with candor which
amused Norah
Does it?" she asked. 'Why?"
Why should you, a lady, want such
as ME to keep you company" said
Beca.
Because, although am a lady, as
you say, I am very lonely" said Moran,
in her sweet, frank voice, land want
m hava aoma nna oau craaE IN apd