Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-03-14
Ole EARL'S HEIR
........ By CHARLES CARvICE


| dale, seeing mat tDefe was SOME
! reason for her persistence, at last
, yielded and ordered the carriage.
and Norah started.
"Good-by DEAR" said Lady Fern
dale. Il didn't know what your hos' of
admirers will say when they call this
afternoon and find you have flown.
What shall / say to them? oh, by
the way, Norah, we have decided to
ask Mr.. Cyril Burne to pain pic
ture for us. wonder whether he
will call today"
| 1t was an innocent remark, but
Norah had h ardwork to keep the
color from coming into her face, and
it was lucky for her that the carriage
started as she murmured a half
audible response; and all the way home
she tormented herself with the
thought that after ali, perhaps, she
had better have remained at Ferndale,
as Cyril might call in the afternoon.
When she had reached home her
first question was whether any letters
had come for her.
There were no letters for her lady
ship, the butler replied, and Norah
was going up to her room with a
deeper sinking of the heart. when the
earl came out of the library.
| Well, Norah," he said, making her
a little bow, you have got back. 1
am afraid you have tired yourself with
your exertions,' he added, as he noted
her paleness and lassitude. 1t must
have been terribly trying day. The
few hours was there exhausted me"
Il think l am q little tired, papa,
she said.
most like pride in his eyes, for her
popularity, and the admiration she had
received had fiattered his vanity.
You had better go and lie down
for few hours" he said, In more
kindly tone than usual. Il will send
you glass of wine"
Norah was in the condition to be
moved by any show of tenderness
especially from him, and her eyes
filled with tears as she went up the
stairs.
While she was taking off her out
door things Hartman entered, and in
her quiet way came TO her assistance
Norah did not notice that Hartman
had not spoken TO her as she en-
tered. or that she was more silent
even than usual, and, happening to
glance at her, she was startled by the
1 <g he
looked as II Sc were in some trouble
and had been crying, and Norah
turned to her with ready sympathy.
! What is the matter Harman?' she
asked
The woman's face quivered, and
she dropped her eyes, but she replied
In low voice:
Nothing my lady,
Norah did not like to seem obtru-
Isive and she waited until Hartman was
on the point of leaving the room be-
fore she spoke again.
I'm afraid You have one OF your
bad headaches" she said. Never
mind about my things for Hartman
had some dresses on her arm. 60
aud lie down in your own room, and
Iif want any one | will send for
| Becca."
The name left her lips reluctantly.
and her color rose as she pronounced
! IL, for ever since last night she had
been regretting lie impulse which led
her TO have anything to do with the
girl.
"Beeca. my lady" began Har-
man. and Norah saw that she turned
even paler than before. and had some
difficulty In REFRESHING her tears.
Becca is not here this morning, my
lady"
Not bere?' said Norah, coldly; II
suppose she is tired after last nights
gayety II does not matter, | shall
not want her; and please do not send
for her"
/ Moo, my lady said Hartman, al
most inaudibly; then she seemed TO
Finger and hesitate, and at last she
Isaid TREMENDOUSLY, your ladyship
hasn't heard. then?"
Il ftedru WnatI ASKED Moran.
| IL beg your ladyship's pardon;
II thought you had heard
Il have heard nothing said Norah,
the indefinable dread growing more
distinct. is II anything about Becca,
Harman9"
! Yes. my lady; Becca Is lost"
Norah stared at her in silent aston.
, lishment for a second or two. then
, she echoed the words in amazement.
Becca lost, What do you mean,
Harmang"
IL beg your ladyshsp's pardon for
!, troubling YOU" said poor Hartman
I, humbly. Il shouldn't have mentioned
IL Just yet while if--if your lady
ship hadn't spoken about her; but
! Becca has disappeared. my lady"
J DO you mean TO say that Becca Il
not to be found?"
!, Yes, my lady"
! She Is not in the Court, and she Is