Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-06-05
CHAPTER xxxv.

CHAPTER XX<V.
Unless you inherited any money
from your father or mother, take
it that you are utterly without means, :"
he went on. regarding her with a
half smile. All the wealth which
the Earl of Arrowdale had intended
for you win go to the next-of-kin, the
present earl. Not single penny can
you clainl,"
Norah looked at him, but without
speaking. What he said might be
true or false; she did not very much
care at the moment.
He seemed disappointed at the little
effect the announcement OF her poverty
had made upon her
I'm afraid you don't realize" he
resumed "or perhaps" and as he
spoke he drew little nearer to her,
"the thought that is running through
my mind is present in yours. Norah''
his voice dropped and he glanced to
warl the door-"why should this
this injustice be? All the wo, ii
knows that the ear, when he said
my daughter meant yourself. and
only you, and I, and the man Furlong,
whom | can keep as quiet as he has
hitherto been, are aware CT the true
story Of your birth" In his eagerness
he did not notice the fash that came
into NOrah's lovely eyes. or that her
hand clinched systematically. "Why
should we not let the matter stand
as it is? Who will be harmed? Not
the present earl If all be true that
| is said of him, he doesn't deserve more
than he has got. and, in al conscience,
he has got enough If you are not
the earl's daughter, you we're regard
ed by him as such He did mean you
to have the money and why should
with you and me, with you in reality,
for | will abide by your decision.
| Place your hand in mine'w-with a
great effort Norah suppressed the shud-
der that ran through her, and kept
her eyes fixed on the ground-"place
your hand in mine, say 'Guilford, let
bygones be bygones, l will be your
wife, and the secret is locked within
| my lips unto delthl Why, see, if
you become my wife. dearest, / shall
have very little inducement to reveal
the truth! Norah, think, for Gods
sake of all this means to you. l Will
not speak of myself You know |
love YOU you know that Tiff | have
seemed hard sometimes, it is because
loved you so dearly that | was pre-
pared to go through anything to win
you. Forget the past-forget every
thing, and-and say that you will be
my wife. See how helpless and alone
you are" He shot a glance at her.
You need a strong arm to lean upon,
a clear brain to rely on in this-this
this crisis Lean on me, rely on
me! You shall be my wife and still
Lady Norah, daughter of an earl, and
he,ress to his wealth."
Norah's heart beat fierce'y with the
longing. the almost irrepressible long.
ing, to look him in the face and CRY
"Scoundrel. anything to express her
indignation and loathing But she iii
repress the desire, wonderful to say.
AT that moment she felt the truth Of
some of his words She was alone
and helpless; she must not even in
dulge in the craving of her soul to
denounce him. Here was a cunning
scoundre', whom it was imperativey
necessary that she should fight with
something of his own weapons.
She looked down in silence. and,
taking her silence for consent, he ut
tered low cry. and caught her hand,
| 1t was cold as ice but his was hot is
| fire.
"Norah," he burst out and yet in
a guarded voice, as II the walls might
have ears ''Norah! You will DO
this-ah!" His success seemed to
overwhelm him. and he gazed at her
with fistraught eyes.
Norah drew her hand away.
II must have times" she muir
INJURED huSkiIy
To be continued.