Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-05-30
CHAPTER xxxiv.

cdlm surprise ana ulSpiedSure 10
her the question sounded like an out
burst from frenzied man, nothing
more, and aGe tried to remain patient
and restrain her anger.
Il don't understand YOU" she said,
quietly enough. Perhaps you do not
understand yourself
you viii soon understand, he said,
with sinister smile; then he seemed
to make an effort to control his tenn
per, and said, more softly: will you
not sit down, Lady Norah? Ill
spoke more warmly, precipitately,
than intended, but
Norah declined the chair with GEES
ture, and stood schooling herself into
patience. She would listen to what
he had to say; she was, If the truth
must be told, Just little curious. She
glanced at the bell again; it was
within her reach, and she could dis
miss him in a moment IL she chose.
But she Intended to listen to all he
had to say.
Guilford Berton laid his hand upon
the mantelshelf and looked down
thoughtfully for amoment; then lie
commenced:
I fear | shall cause you some pain,
Lady Norah. Heaven knows l would
have avoided this revelation, but you
have forced 1t upon me. II you had
consented to be my wife. the story
am going to tell you would have been
locked within my bosom. and | should
have remained silent till death
Norah did not speak. and he went
on, slowly and impressively.
You remember your mother, Lady
Norah?"
Norah inclined her head slightly
You are aware that she and the
earl separated soon after their mar
riage?"
Norah's face burned, and her eyes
began to fash
Please do not misunderstood mei :"
he said. Il am not going to speak
disparagingly Of either the earl or the
countess. The separation was oaus. |
by no graver reason than the impossi
bility OF their living happily together.
! do not wish to speak III of the dead,
but ] do not think any woman could
have lived with the Earl of Arrow
dale That is all intend to say on
that point. AS YOU are aware. the
countess was accompanied in her ex-
lie by faithful servant, Catherine
Hayes She was devoted to the count
ess: 1t was one OF the instances of
affectionate fidelity which are as rare
as they are touching You were born
after the separation, and saw nothing
OF the earl until the death OF your
shall | say adopted mother. Catherine
Hayes. fear am taxing your
patience rather sorely; you are won
dering why | should repeat all this,
which you know already. Bear with
me little longer. Please Lady Norah
am right, am | not, in stating that
a very strong affection existed beween
you and Catherine Hayes; In fact
that, after the countess death. she
took the phsce of mother to you.
Norah asscnted by gesture. His
words recalled the quiet. peaceful life
in the cottage at Norton. and all the
dead womn's devoted care of her.
ard the tears were very near he ,
eyes: but she specially desired to re
press any emotion In. Guiford Ber-
tons presence, and forced the tears
back.
''Can you tell me where YOU were
born, Lidy Norah?n he asked.
Norah started slightly.
No" she SAID, answering her own
thoughts rather than his question
He suppressed smile.
Nor when-the day, the mcnth?"
No said Norah, faint surprise
rising
Did IL never occur to YOU that there
was something strange unusual, in
your ignorance of these factsg'
She shook her head
why do YOU ask me these--these
questions" she said colily.
MY reason viii be obvious direct.
~" he responded did you know
that Catherine Hayes was a married
woman"
do not know" replied Norah.
He unbuttoned his onat, and tskiug
the photograph from his pocket held
IL ont "a her.
WIN you take that in your hand
and look at II carefully"
Norah took It after moments hes,
tation, and looked at II.
Where did you get thisg' she lie
handed. with start.
Il found it, he replied. quickly.
Norah's eyes flashed unbelief
lit Is mine" she said.
Il am very glad to be able 10 re-
store 1t to YOU" he said. suavely.
"wir you tell me whose portrait II
fs7"
"You know whose II IS" she said
IL is Catherine's-Catherine Hayes.
do not believe that Won found II.
Tit has been stolen"
Very likely" he assented. coolly;
1T Is OF little consequencc-yc have
II again. Doubtless you viii treas .~e
IL fsr more nrpcfonsfv ana caros.,,i,,