Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-10-11

at the white dress and black sash
You feel your loss-yes yes; dear
me, yes Ahem. You were very much
attached to her. Miss Frere?''
Norah made no reply and he hur-
ried on.
"Of course, of course. Yes. Poor
woman, Most devoted to you. Mrs
Mrs. Jordan tells me. Sad loss, very.
very"
Norah waited in silence as he
finished his coincidence.
And she never mentioned me 90
your"
No. said Norah quietly.
"And-ahem,' he coughed again.
1t was evident that he experienced
some difficulty in proceeding to tae
business he had alluded to. And shs
die not tell you anything else?''
Anything else?" repeated Norah.
II don't understand
Il thought that she might have
made some communication to you be-
fore shielded" he suggested.
No. she said then as she recalled
-ah, how vividly!-the dead woman's
last words, she added: mo, she
told me nothing. think"-she
paused moment-"I think that she
wished to tell me something and that
she tried, but she did not
Dear me, yes. yes," said Mr..
Petherick. And a message now?
| Did she give you any message to dc
liver to-say any one?"
mo" replied Norah. "She asked
me to post a letter which she had
written, that was ALL"
"A letter, yes he said, seizing the
opening thus afforded and bending
forward with a little less embarress-
ment. "A letter To-"
ITO the Earl of Arrowdale" said
| Noah, seeing that he waited.
Exactly" he murmured. Now,
have you any knowledge, any idea of
the contents of that letter."
mo. no idea at ALL"
Hem he commented. 81 think
ought to tell you at once that am
Lord Arrowdale's solicitor, Miss
Frere."
"Yes?' said Norah, quite simply.
She was only family curious.
Eyes. And, may ask, Miss Free,
if you have formed any plans for your
future?"
amy plans? No have formed no
plans; II did not know that any
were necessary. thought that
should go on living here as have
done, and" She stopped.
you are quite happy here?' he
asked.
"oh, yes, yes" she assented, with a
little sigh. quite happy"
Mrs. Jordan is kind and-ahem--
all that?'
Yes said Norah. Il have al
ways lived here since | was a child. >
Il see, and have grown attached to
the place. 1t is very quiet"
Yes, and very beautiful
Il see; attached to Mrs Jordan and
fond of the place. Upon my word, it
is a pity"
The last sentence was not intended
for Norah, but her ears were quick
and she turned her eyes upon MIN
with surprised questioning that
made him cough again.
Il mean-dear me!-that-that per-
maps it would be as well to let we'll
alone. Certainly for your sake
Norah still looked at him puzzled
and uncertain, and he hurried on.
"This-this life Is life of change,
Miss Frere, life of changes and sur
prises. You would say that you hal
not found it so, but yours is an ex-
| ceptional, very exceptional case,
believe me. And you do not know the
Earl of Arrowdale, to whom your
nurse, Mrs. Hayes, wrote?' he asked,
with sudden abruptness.
mo. Until saw his name upon
! the envelope of the letter did not
know such a person existed"
4 Dear me-" he said aloud Then he
muttered: "Confound it, how shall
tell her with those eyes of hers
fixed on me like-like gimlets?''
which they certainly were not. de ar
me. that is so strange, because, you
see. my dear Miss Frere the earl
knows you so WE'LL"
Knows me? | think you must be
mistaken. / am sure that | have
never seen him nor heard of him till
now
mo. l should have said that The
earl knew of you-of you. There is
a difference is there not? And-and
to put it abruptly. which have been
trying not to do all this time, it is
| by his request. should say command
that | am here today"
BY the command of the Earl Of
Arrowdale?" said Norah.
Yes; his lordship takes a vecy
great interest in you. In fact
ahem, you have no other name than
Norah-Norah Frere, believer"
She shook her head
Did YOU ever hear your mother
speak OF your father, Miss Frere?''