The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-08-14

God alone knows what she isl And as for her father. he may be one of the biggest criminals existing!'' Then came other thoughts. Perhaps, after all, 1t might be best that Nora should go. Anyway, I shall take no further steps to prevent it," she decided fi- nally.
 CHAPTER VI The Warming. Mrs. Sanderson made the decision on the spur. of the moment Nora might stay or she might go She would offer no argument one way or the other. As a matter of fact, she had awak- ened to the conclusion that Nora's secret constituted her a source of danger to the house. The girl alone was one thing; her mysterious father proving around the grounds was an- other.
 She was still fond of the girl, but she had grown tired of Nora's retic- ence, which she felt to be entirely l unjustifiaible under the circum- stances.
 Bashi, the new servant appeared to be continual terror to Nora. To his mistress he seemed all that was desirable as a domestic help, but to the girl he was something very different.
 She shrank perceptdbly every time he. entered the room. If she could avoid it she would take nothing from his hands.
 If Bashi noticed her aversion for him he did not allow 1t to affect him He was always smiling. obedient, re- spectful.
 Two days went by Mrs. Sanderson's intercourse with the girl she had so loyalty befriend- | ed had lost the spontaneity which it had possessed in the beginning Conversation had grown suited, and Nora knew that the old state of af- | fairs was ended. She was very miserable. She had learned to care deeply for Mrs. San- | derson, and the realization of her | own apparent ingratitude was pain unspeakable. She was miserable, 1 too, because she was to leave the house which had sheltered her so | generously and the dark room which l had come to be part of her being l Her music spoke for her. She would commence desperately with some we1l-known lighter tune, only | to drift involuntarily into the inn provisations which came from her overburdened soul. Then she would pull herself up sharply and force her | ithSoho ooSh lo tHe edr-catcn1nS | tunes.
 Why did you do that?" once ask | ed the voice of her.
 'I thought you might prefer it." she replied.
 'I don't" said the voice. "I like you to play your own music always" | Why?" she asked, returning to her improvising. | Because it is the only real sneecb have from you" was the answer.
 You never speak to me of yourself | If l were to ask you anything you l would temporize. But your music cannot be false. It Is you-your l yourself
 Nora's heart beat fast as she went on playing.
 'fWhy are you never happy ?" questioned the voice. "You are young and beautiful. Will you never again know what the joys of youth and beauty are?" 8
 'I believe, never shall" she said, with catch in her throat. The voice sighed
 What have they done to your" it asked sadly. ''who is it that has taken your rightfu1 gifts from you ?" Nora did not answer.
 Yet, if I could change places with lyou,' continued the voice, .I would gladly do it.
 | "Oh, no, no. you wouldn't" cried the girl, shuddering. 1 Yes, l would. For, whatever cloud there is on your life, you are not doomed to be without Gods sun shine, as I am,'' said the voice bit terly. "No, it's so dark in here-a1- ways so dark"
 Not so dark as the darkness in my heart" said Nora
 You don't know what it is to be In6 fhn 1trLx voice. Its the next thing to death"
 "If I weren't afraid to die,'' re- turned Nora, ''Fd choose death rath-
 CT than live as things are.'
 You talk like one who has guilt
 on her soul" said the voice. "But
 can't believe that you have ever sin-
 ned, Nora.'
 Why cant you? You and your mother have every reason to believe
 the worst of me-
 still, I can't think that you could
 Nora
 T have and I haven't" she re-
 lied vaguely. There are times
 when I believe that I have sinned
 terrNoly.. At others, I feel I am in-
 nocent Oh, I don't know what I
 am! Would to God I did.' GO on playing" said the voice
 abruptly
 She recommended and for a time
 there was no sound in the room but
 the beautiful harmonies that echoed the thoughts in her brain. Nora presently said the voice. She started-for she had lost her , self in her music.
 Yes" she replied. Don't you feel curious about me p can't deny that I do." she said. : aVe you ever imagined anything? :?
 l mean nave you formed any theories
 about this room 9, asked the voice. } Yes she admitted. T have"
 What are they?n ' or course. \ know who you are
 now she said.| 1T found that our
 two days ago. You are Mrs Sander