Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-08-14
CHAPTER N-Cnntlnued.

Nora, as she stood In the full morn
Ing sunlight, was like to gladden. the
eyes OF all mankind. She was beauti.
full, and all adjectiyes applicable would
but serve to confuse rather than to
embellish her physical excellence. She
was as beautiful as a garden rose Is,
needing no defense, 70 ramparts Of
cloying phrases. The day of poets is
gone, otherwise she would have been
sung In cantos. She was tall, shapely,
deep-bosomed, fiDe.skinned. Critics,
In praising her charms. delved into
mythology and folklore for compari.
sons, until there wasn't a goddess left
on Olympus or on Northland's Icy
capes; and when these images became
little shop.worn, referred to certain
masterpieces of the old fellows who
had left nothing more to be said in
oils. Nora enjoyed 1t ALL
She had not been happy in the selec.
tion OF her stage name; but she had
chosen Eleanora da Toscana because
she believed there was good luck in
1t. Once, long before the world knew
Of her. she had returned home from
Italy unexpectedly. Molly, here's
Nora, from Tuscany" her delighted
father had cried; who at that time
had a nebulous idea that Tuscany was
somewhere in Ireland because 1t had a
Celtic ring TO 1t. Being filled with love
OF Italy. its tongue, Its history, its
physical beauty, she naively trans.
lated Mora from Tuscany" into ltal
Ian, and declared that when she went
upon the stage she would be known
by that name. There had been some
smiling over the pseudonym; but
Nora was Irish enough TO cling to IL
By and by the great muslc-loving pub
lie ceased to concern itself about her
name; II was her fresh beauty and
her wonderful voice they craved to see
and hear Kings and queens. EN-
perors and empresses, princes and
princesses-what is called royalty and
nobility in the newspapers freely gave
her homage. Quite a rise in the world
for little girl who had once lived In
a shabby apartment in New York and
run barefooted on the wet asphalts
summer nlghtsl
But Nora was not recalling the
happy scenes OF her childhood; In
deed, no; she was stlll threatening
Paris. Once there, she would not lack
for reprisals. To have played on hei
pity! To have made n lure OF her
tender concern for the unfortunate!
Never would she forgive such base
ness. And only little while ago sh,
had been as happy as the nightingale
to which they compared her. Never
had she wronged anyone; she had beer
kindness and thoughtfulness to al
with whom she had come In contact
But from now oni Her I'm
gers frightened round the bars. She
might have posed as Dido when she
learned that the noble Aeneas was
dead. Wnr war; woe TO the moths who
nuttered about her head hereafter!
All, but had she been happy? Her
hands elid down the bars. Her ex
preston changed. The mouth drooped
the eaglellght in her eyes dlmmed
From out the bright morning. some
where. had come wearlness, and with
this came weakness. and finally, tears
She heard the key turn in the lock
Thoy had never come 80 early before
She was astonlshed TO see that hei
TALLER did not close the door as usual
He put down the breakfast tray on IN,
table. There was tea and toast ant
fruit.
"Mademoiselle, there has been a ter
rible mistake" said the man humbly.
"Ah! So you have found that out1
she cried.
"Yes. You arc not the person fol
whom this room was intended" Which
was half truth and perfectly true
paradoxlcal as II may seem. Eat youi
breakfast In peace. You are free
mademoiselle."
"Freo7 You will not hinder me II
walk through that doorT
mo, mademolselle. On tho con
trary. ! shall be very glad, and 70 will
my brother. who guards you ut night
| repeat. there has beon frlghtful mis-
take. Monsieur Champeaux ."
Monsieur Champeaux7" Nora wal
bowildered. She had never heard tlill
mans before.