Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-01-03
CHAPTER XIV.


stepped aside, and opening the draw
ing-room door motioned to her TO enter
with stately courtesy, and, following
her. closed the door.
There was q look of naughty dis
pleasure en- mis- face, and his keen
eyes regarded her sternly.
May | trouble you to give me an
account OF this accident?" he said,
NY ;.
1T all happened as Mr.. Burne said,
papa" she answered.
Il prefer to hear it from your own
lips" he said.
Nora quietly related the incident;
but her voice trembled as she told
OF her discovery Of Cyril's injury.
He behaved very bravely, papa"
Il have no doubt" he said; but 1t
did not warrant his taking advantage
of your situation. He should have
sent here for carriage for you; but |
imagine we must not expect grapes
from thistles.'
Il I'm sorry he has offended yon,
papa. 1t was as much my fault
She stopped, and her face grew pale.
And he went without a word Of
thanks" she exclaimed, "as If he hi
committed n crime instead of doing
all he could"
"oh, please! There is nothing |
dislike so much as heroics. No
doubt. with the suggestion of T..
sneer, you thanked him suffi-
GENTLY"
But ! wish to tell you that | do
not desire your intimacy with this
young man TO continue"
Norah started slightly and looked
up at him. If he had treated her
with even the semblance of fatherly
kindness she would have told him all
that passed between Cyril Burne and
herself that night; but his cold words
froze her lips.
Il do not approve of him.
"But--but why, papa?" she asked in
a low voice. "He-he is a gentle
man, you said yourself"
1t seeems that was mistaken.
No, ! ccnld not be mistaken; but one
may be gentleman and yet not a
DESIRABLE acquaintance. | have
heard enough of this MIR. Burne to be
convinced that ne is not person 70
whom | can extend my friendship
"Ycu have heard!" said Norab. won
deiingly. From whom, papa? From
Mr.. Berton?' and her lips grew com
pressed
''The name of the informant is OF
little consequence" he said. codly.
Enough that | am satisfied with the
information. DO not let us continue
the subject: it Is distasteful to me-.
Norah stood for a moment, her eyes
bent ON the ground, then she MUIR
mured--
Goodnight. papa
He opened the door for her, max.
ing no movement toward kissing her.
and she escaped
Once In her own room she flung her
hat aside. and sinking into chair hi |
her face in her hands.
Her heart was beating wildly. but
stern rs her fathers speech and man.
ner had been. It's throbs were more OF
JOY than of sorrow.
That great crisis which comes In
most women's lives had come to
hers. A man had told her that he
loved herl
Sometimes a girl has to ask her
heart the question; do | love him
In return but Norah, though no
words Of love had ever been uttered
to her before, had no need to ask the
question. Love needs no instructor.
The lesson of has presence Is readily
learned in every woman's breast: and
Norah, as she sat with her face hid.
den, even from her glass, could feel
his words singing In her heart.
She sat and thought OF him-how
handsome he was, how brave. how
kind, how good Surely. in all tha
wide, wide world. there was not an.
other man like him. And this best
OF heroes. who was quick and clever
and prompt who had displayed such
courage. hiding his pain from her for
SO long, loved her,
With the Joy of the knowledge there
was mixed thrill of pride that
seemed to raise her above all Others
of her sex.
What could he have seen In her 10
love? she asked herself again ana
again. She was nothing but simple.
ignorant garl while he was so cleve
and strong, such hero among men.
How sweetly he had asked her for
her dead rose; how humbly he hal
bent over her hand. She took her
right hand fron her face and looked ut
It. and slowly raising it to her lips.
kissed 1t where his lips had touched
&c.
Did she love hims Why. her love
seemed proclaiming itself In every
- - 50.