The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-08-07


Nora rose, flung her arms around
him and kissed him.
Look out FOR that tin earis
"Oh, you great big, loyal, true
hearted mani Open that door and
let me get out to tbs terrace. want
Ito sing, sfng!'' fa
HE said he was going 70 Milan in
the morning Z
She danced to the door and was
gone.
eNoraR' he called, impatiently. He
listened in vain for the sound Of her
return. well, I'll take the count when
lit comes to guessing what woman's
going to do. I'll 60 out and square
up with the old girl Wonder how this
news will harness up with her social
bug?"
Courtlandt got into his compartment
at Varenna. He had tipped the guard
literally not to open the door for any
one else, unless the train was crowded
AS the shrilI blast Of the conductors
horn sounded the warning Of "all
aboard" the door opened and heavily
| yelled woman got in hurriedly. The
train began to move instantly. The
guard slammed the door and latched
It. Courtlandt sighed: the futility of
trusting these Italians, of trying to
|'buy their loyaltyI The woman was
without any luggage whatever, not
even the usual magazine. She was
dressed In brown, her hat was brown,
her veil, her gloves, her shoes. But
whether she was young or old was
beyond his deduction. He opened his
Corriere and held it before his eyes;
but he found reading impossible. The
newspaper finally slipped from his
hands to the floor. where it swayed
and rustled unnoticed. He was star
ing at the promontory across Lecco,
the green and restful hill, the little
earthly paradise out of which he had
been unjustly cast. He couldn't under
stand. He had lived Clearly and de-
Gently; he had .wronged no man or
woman, nor himself. And yet, through
some evil twist OF fate, he had lost
all there was In life worth having
The train lurched around shoulder
OF the mountain. He leaned against
the window. In moment more the
villa was gone.
What was it? He felt irresistibly
drawn. Without intending to do so.
he turned and stared at the woman
In brown. Her hand went to the veil
and swept It aside. Nora was as full
Of romance a. q child. She could
have stopped him before he made the
boat, but she wanted to be alone with
him.
Moral"
She flung herself on her knees In
front Of him. II am wretch" she
said.
He could only repeat her name.
i am not worth my salt. All, why
did you run away? Why did you not
pursue me. importune me until
wearied? perhaps gladly
There were times when would have
opened my arms had you been the
worst scoundrel In the world instead
OF the dearest lover. the patientest!
All, can you forgive me?"
Forgive you. Nora?" He was
numb.
Il am q miserable wretchl doubt
ed you. /! When all had to do was
to recall the way people misrepresent-
ed things had done! sent back
your letters and read and re-
read the old blue ones. Don't you
remember how you used to write them
on blue paper? Flora told me
everything. It was only because she
hated me, not that she cared anything
about you. She told me that night
at the ball. She was at the bottom
of the abduction. When you kissed
me didn't you know that I
kissed you back Edward, am miser-
able wretch. but shall follow you
wherever YOU go, and ! haven't even
q vanity box in my handbag!" There
were tears in her eyes. Say that I
am a wretch"
He drew her up beside him. His
arms closed around her so hungrily,
SO strongly. that she gasped little.
He looked into her eyes; his glance
travelled here and there over her face,
searching for the familiar dimple at
one corner of her mouth.
Moral" he whispered.
Kiss mel"
And then the train came to a stand,
jerkily. They fell back against the
cushions,
"Lecco!" cried the guard through
the window.
They laughed like children.
Il bribed him. she said gaily. "And
now -
Yes, and now2@ eagerly, il still be-
wildered.
Lets 60 back!"
THE END