Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-10-23

dentally I came across this" taking
the document from his pocket and
handing 1t to her. Read 1t. What's
the answer?"
Nora's hands trembled.
Takes you long time to read 1t.
Is 1t trueT
"Yes."
And I went up to the tennis court
with the intention OF knocking his
head off; and now I'm wondering why
| he didn't knock off mine. Nora, he's
man; and when you get through with
f., this, I'm going down to the hotel and
apologize" .-.- .---.-..
you will do nothing of the sort;
not with that eye."
"All right. / was always worried
for fear you'd hook up with some duke
you'd have to support. Now, want
to know how this chap happens to
be my son-in-law. Make 1t brief, for
don't want to get tangled up more
than is necessary"
Nora cracked the certificate In her
fingers and stared unseeingly at It
for some time. II met him first In
Rangoon." she began slowly, without
raising her eyes.
when you went around the world
on your own?"
Yes. oh, don't worry. was al
ways able to take care Of myself"
An Irish idea," answered Harrigan
complacently.
Il loved him, father, with all my
heart and soul. He was not only big
and strong and handsome, but he was
kindly and tender and thoughtful.
Why. / never knew that he was rich
until after had promised to be his
wife. When learned that he was the
Edward Courtlandt who was always
getting Into the newspapers, laughed.
| There were stories about his esca-
pades. There were innuendoes re-
garding certain women, but put
them out Of my mind as twaddle. All,
never had | been so happy! In Ber.
lin we went about like two children.
1t was play. He brought me to the
Opera and took me away; and we had
the most charming little suppers.
never wrote you or mother because
wished to surprise YOU"
you have. Go on"
Il had never paid much attention
to Flora Desimone, though knew that
she was Jealous of my success, Sew
eral times ! caught her looking at Ed.
ward in a way did not like"
She looked at him, huh?
1t was the last performance Of the
season. We were married that after.
noon. We did not want anyone to
know about 1t. was not to leave
the stage until the end OF the follow.
Ing season. We were staying at the
same hotel with rooms across the cor.
ridor This was much against his
wishes. but prevailed"
Il see."
Our rooms were opposite, as said
After the performance that night
went to mine to complete the finnl
packing. We were to leave at one
for the Tyrol. Father, saw Flora
Desimone come out OF his room"
Harrigan shut and opened his hands.
do you understand? ] saw her.
She was laughing. did not see him.
My wedding night! She came from
his room. My heart stopped, the
world stopped. everything went black.
All the stories that | had read and
heard came back. When he knocked
at my door l refused TO see him. !
never saw him again until that night
In Paris when he forced his way into
my apartment"
Hang 1t, Nora, this doesn't sound
like him!"
IL saw her"
HE wrote your"
Il returned the letters, unopened"
THAT wasn't square. You might
have been wrong"
HE wrote FIVE letters. After that
. he went to India, to Africa and back
to India, where he seemed to find con.
ISOLATION enough"
Harrigan laid II to his lack OF nor.
NAL vision. but to his single optic
there was anything but misery in her
beautiful blue eyes. True, they
sparkled with tears; but that slgnifed
nothing; he hadn't been married these
thirty-odd years without learning that
woman weeps for any OF thousand
and one reasons.
do you care for him still7"
mot a day passed during these
many months that did not vow /
hated him."
Anyone else known
'The padre. had to tell some one
or go mad. But didn't hate him. |
could no more put him out OF my
life than ! could stop breathing. All,
have been so miserable and un.
happy" She laid her head upon his
knees and clumsily he stroked II. His
grill
That's the trouble with us Irish.
Nora. We jump without looking, with.
out finding whether we're right or
wrong. Well. your daddy's opinion is
that you should have read his first
letter. II II didn't ring right, why,
you could have jumped the traces. I
don't believe he did anything wrong
at all. It isn't In the mans blood TO
do anything underboard."
But saw her" queer look in her
eyes as she glanced up at him.
Il don't care n kloodle II you did. |
Take It from me. It was a put.up Job |
by that Calabrian woman. She might |
have gone to his room for any mum. |