Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1902 — NORA'S TEST [ARTICLE]

NORA'S TEST

BY MARY CECIL HAY

From ■Darkness To Light

CHAPTER XVll.—(Continued.) ”1 came on to you with this telegram,” he Mid, breathing in his haste, •‘because I fancied it might be of importance. I remembered that once before you wished to go off to Florence at once, and missed the train through my delay. I’ve a hansom here, sir, and thfere’s a train from Wood Green which will be in time. Richards will meet it at the Great Northern station with your own cab, and he will have your portmanteau. We thought we had better be ready for the Dover mail from Charing Cross. Of course, if it isn’t necessary, sir, no harm is done.” The man moved away when he had snid this, but Mark had paused with the telegram unopened, and was looking sadly into Nora’s face. “I may have to leave yon at once, Nora,” he said, speaking-low and earnestly. “And—l had never thought of this.” She smiled a little, not quite understanding it all. A crowd of people were passing to and fro; a crowd of instrun«»i3ts were rushing through an overture; she was standing still, waiting to understand;while Mark was looking at her, with a great sorrow iu bis eyes and—something more. “Hops will soon bring me back when I have the power to come, Nora,” he said. “You understand me, don’t you? I cannot go, letting you misunderstand me. —Tmr know what you are to mj'. own beloved?” “Yes—l know.” The words were clearer than his words,, though scarcely comprehended yet. =l. “I shall miss you very much,” she said. And then she stopped; for a little girl who had been running before them tripped and fell, and Nora gently raised her to her feet and kissed her, while the child looked wunderingly into the white, sad face, “My thoughts will be with- you ever, Nora. Let us say good-by alone, here, my darling. Then I must take you to thenf.T “Good-by,” said Nora, leaving her- hand iu his. “I—l shall miss you so very, vers much. This has been a pleasant day, hasn't it? I am glad we came. Perhaps to-morrow will not be very different from to-day. Perhaps a new—scene of things may not-K>pen. You will be back boo®. you say. How the music changes, doesn’t it? I forgot that this overture was so sad now and then.” “GopJfJty,” he said again, wondering at her tone as he unwillingly released her hand. “Good-by, my best beloved.” When they rejoined their party, they found, to their great surprise, that Nuel Armstrong was with them; but there was no time for any explanation from him. Mark hurriedly told of his telegram, and the arrangements his servant had made, and then prepared fqr his own departure. He kept Nora at his side now, openly and resolutely. He seemed to see no one else. It might have been that the place held no one, to his knowledge, but the girl who walked by his side, trying so hard to maintain her old gay and debonair spirit. And, though the others looked so regretfully at Mark, Nuel Armstrong . seemed to watch only her. “Oh. Nora." Mark whispered, as they went down the terrace steps, “if it could but all melt away, and heave us two alonel I long to say what is in my heart tonight, and cannot—here.” “If you intend to catch the mail at Charing Cross I advise you not to miss any train from here," observed Dr. Arm•trong. “Graham will see you all safely home,” ■aid Mark. And then he had driven off. bis gaze te the last riveted on Nora’s face. "Whenever you like to go home, Miss St. George," said Captain Graham, wondering at the rapt expression in her face, as she stood listening to the distant bells —the beautiful, slight figure drawn to its full height—"tell me, aud we will start.” “You will like to go now. Nora,” Will Foster said; and she started at the changed tone. “I see that you will, dear,’’ het added, trying to speak more easily; for his eyes had been suddenly opened now, as they had never been while every one had gently tried to open them for him. “Not until Celia wishes it —unless Mrs. Pennington does," began Nora-, but Nuel Armstrong’s clear, raised tones interrupted her. “Excuse me. Foster, but 1 have something to say to my cousin.” “Please say it here,” entreated Nora, shrinking from him as Will courteously moved away. “You would soon be sorry, if I did—and angry, too," rejoined Nuel, offering her his arm. “‘lt is not for the world to hear, Nora." Without taking bis arm, she walked with him until he stopped in a quiet corner of an outer gallery, from which, the world looked very still aud wide nnd calm that August evening, while the church bells rang softly still, far away as it seemed. But, though Nuel had been so hurried, he paused now in a silence as deep as was hers in her great calm; and it was only when at last she turned and looked at him in her surprise that he broke It, speaking in a voice as concentrated as had been his gaze at her through Mark's farewell. “I saw the arrogance of Mr. Poynz< when he set out, Nora, and I fancied, perhaps, he entertained absurd ideas of —of paying attention to you with success. His arrogance will be short-lived, enough, though, and 1" have coine to prove that. You know What was to be your love test. Nora. Well, I have done my part, nnd stood the test. I have succeeded, darling, as men only succeed when they put their hearts into their work. and I am come to claim my reward. Of course-of course,” hr added, emphatically, in Nora’s sllepcr, “|| was not to be expected that I should love you for years wholly and entirely as I have done, and win no return. Now I hare rome for my recompense; your own voluntary payment—dear; no forced connent, just because you will feel yourself —utterly in my power!” CHAPTER XVIII. The low, arched avenue among the >«w trees was not the usual and frequented approach to Heaton UtUage, for iO&L- ; A ♦ 1 r.

it was out in an exaggerated curve from the park to the flower garden nt the side of the house; and, as At to make it still more private than their own gloom and semi-concealment naturally, or rather artificially, made it, its little iron gateway was screened entirely by laurels skillfully planted beyond. Against this low gate, on the day before the arranged depafture for Brighton, Nora stood, deep in thought; while scarcely a breath of the - wintry air touched her, and no sound disturbed the silence there. Quietly and unperceived she had left the house, because Celia had happened to mention that Miss Giffard expected Lord Keston; and she would stay here in the shadow and solitude until she could feel sure that he must have left the cdttage again. Never, if she could possibly help it, did she venture to meet Mark, knowing how her own courage wavered in the presence of his, and how hard it was to feel they were really to live their lives apart, while he, with such quiet determination, acted as if it need not.be so. "Just as if,” Nora whispered to faerselffi “that sad truth were not truth; and as if I had not promised so solemnly. Yet he himself has sjud not break that vow, and he would never tell me a falsehood, even ” A step upon the gravel, far behind her, snapped the thought like the snapping of a thread; and there came into the girl's eyes a yearning which was new to them, and inexpressibly pathetic. “Have you heard Miss Giffard's last decision, Nora?” Mark asked, coming up to her just as if she had been expecting him. "She has decided not to go to Brighton yet—herself, I mean,” he added, quickly,, because, watching her. so anxiously, he had seen the shadow of a great disappoitment fall on her face. "I do not mean that she has delayed the departure for all of you, Nora, darling; only for herself. She would- not have done even that,” he went on, speaking heavily a little, for he was certain now of what he had feared—that she longed to avoid him, and to leave the spot where he could see her so often, and where his home lay, “only that she feels her presence necessary here—for a time. She had intended to go with you and return alone earlier, but she has arranged otherwise now, because Mrs. Pennington is coming up to-morrow, and Will take charge of you and Miss Pennington, while I goonly to take charge of Foster, eh, sweetheart?” “Shall you stay in Brighton?” asked Nora, utterly failing in her effort to make the question indifferent, while her heart beat with such a two-fold fear—the ffiar for herself in bis presence, aud the fear for the long days when she would have to live her life without him. "No,” he answered, gently. "I WfslFT might, though. Yrs, 1 wish it, hi spite of you, dearest. Do you dream for a moment that I should be stayed by your coldness or caprice? Ah, my beloved, you little know me us you imagine it! The strength of my love could not be turned aside by such a trifle What? a real smile at last! How precious they - are to me, now that they come so seldom!" ' A little pause, while Nora stood very still, the faint color coming and going on her delicate face, as she suppressed her pain, as well as her love. ' “No, sweetest, I am not going to Stay in Brighton," Mark repeated, breaking the silence at last, in a tone which told nothing of the strong will resigned; “for I have business which must take me away for a little time. It will be very hard to leave you there, Nora; but I come that I may hasten our reunion; and I leave you with old friends who love you, and in a spot where you will win back the old bright health and girlish spirits.” “I am quite well now,” said Nora, wistfully. "Quite well, though I am not like what I used to be; I can see that in the face of everyone who looks at me. It is not because I am—ill now. It is lam older—and“So mueh older, Nora, darling,” said Mark, with an involuntary movement, as if he must take her in his arms to comfort her, but refraining instantly, “that you ought to be wiser. But never mind-; probably wisdom will come with the gray hair. Now I must go on to meet Doyle in Guildford.” “Is Mr. Doyle here again?” questioned Nora, with the same mixture of shrinking and longing with which she thought, or spoke, of all the friends of her old life. “Yes. dearest, Doyle is rather busy iu this neighborhood just now. I believe he would tell you he had a ‘ease’ here. He laughs heartily at being sent for to help our London solicitors. Another blush, sweet? How delicious it is to see them I once more! Do you know, Doyle recogI nized our house in a moment,” Mark added. while again the blush rose at hearing that pronoun which he used as if there could be no thought, for a moment, of his possessing anything which was not hers, too, "from the sketch he had seen in Mrs. Corr’s cabin.” “But I thought your house was closed and had been closed ever since ” “And shall be closed,” concluded Mark, promptly, in her timid pause, “until its master aud mistress go to live there together, in a joy the old house never has known yet. No one shall occupy it until then, my love." "Good-by," said Nora, simply, but evidently without a thought of staying, when he did not wish her to do so. After passing the gate he could not look back and see her walk to the house, and it was well he could not; for the tears she had so gravely kept back in his presence burst from her now beyond restraint, and she stood in the gloom and solitude, with her face bidden in her hands, sobbing piteously. , “I c nnot help it,” she moaned to her•elf, u sen at last the tears were stayed in utter exhaustion, and she stood with her hands upon her temples. “I thought I was not such a coward! I was not once,. I think. But," she added,' a wan smile breaking the tremulous sorrow of her lips, though it nevM- touched her eyes. “I shall be stronger presently; This illness had changed me so. Celia Mid she scarcely kaew me. Indeed, indeed, I

scarcely knjow myself; but I suppose every one feels so—so very and low and helpless after brain fever. ll—wh< n I go away from here I shall grow strong again, and—fit to work, and—and able to remember how solitary my fife must be!” “Nora, Nora, dear!” The gentle call reached her where she I stood; but, following the call, even before Nora could answer it, Miss Giffard came into the avenue at Dr. Armstrong’s side. - about thehouse, my dear,” she said,! her face brightening when Nora came at once to her side, “until Dr. Armstrong suggested you might be here —a good guess, was it not? He has come to say good-by, so I may go and speak to Corr, leaving Dr. Armstrong to take you into the house.” “It is not good-by I am come to say, Nora,” spoke Nuel Armstrong, as soon as he had watched Miss Giffard out of sight, “though that plea served" as well as anything else for an excuse to Teach you. You know perfectly well, even while she said it, that that was not true. Not very probable!” he cried, with a hard, forced laugh, while she saw, in real fear, how his face worked with a passion which was headstrong now and desperate. “Good-by! Pah! Is all my love, and toil, and patience, to end in such a coward's speech as that? Stay, Nora, I have something to say, and must say It here; unless,” he continued, using craftily his knowledge of her, “you wish it said before that sleepy looking woman, who has no right to hear a word.” "Shall you be long? Is it much you have to say tome?” asked Nora, wearily. “It need not be Anuch,” he answered. “I have need only to tell you I am ready to take you now, Nora, to your poor father. No wonder you look surprised, my pet; for it has beeu a hard, long task for me to track him; or, rather, it has been a long enterprise, and would have been a hard one if I had not Sone it for your sake. And is it strange that I should be -the one- to win you your wish at last, and crown your life with happiness?” "That,” said Nora, with proud quietness,' “you can never do, Dr. Armstrong.” “Your childish freak of concealment I understood and excused,” he went on; "but, you see, fate and fortune did not help you; and I know how glad you feel now to transfer all responsibility into my willing and ab’e hands. My beauty, I do not ask you to come with me to-day; T would not hurry you so; for until this minute you have not guessed that I was on my way to you with good news, the power, as well as the will, to give you perfect ease and happiness at last, and such enjoyment as life has never contained for you before. No, I will not hurry you so, Nora. I will go with you to Brighton to-morrow; and you stronger presently, and we can pursue our journey. Ah! Nora, to think what rapture that meeting will be for your wronged and ill-used father! So well I know your heart yearns to him—the parent who has so unjustly all his life been deprived of his daughter’s love and compassion.” "Dr. Armstrong,” said Nora, calmed by her very fear of him, as thus he tempted her through her keen sense of duty, “I would follow my—my father anywhere, if you would put it into my power to do So. 'But even though you profess to pity .him, you ivill uat help, me. to. go. “Nora,” he cried; passionately, interrupting her, “I am here fpr no other purpose. I have traveled and toiled and waited for that end alone—to secure his safety, and to unite you. I have paved the way perfectly now, and I have only one task left, to leave my darling in her father’s care.” "If you will tell me where he is and let me go to him, I shall be grateful to you all my life,” she said, earnestly. “Mr. Pennington will take me.” “I shall take you myself,” said Nuel, with a sudden hard determination in his voice. “I shall come to Brighton with you to-morrow —why not? The Pfenningtons are old friends of mine, and the Fosters will be glad enough to welcome me. Then we will arrange it all at our ease. I could not help giving my time and strength and thought to you, because my heart was yours; you see that, Nora?” He asked the question suddenly, for even in his selfish vehemence he was shocked a little by her stillness and her pallor. "I only see your cruelty,” she answered, very low. “Let me go to my father without these hard conditions, and I will go to the world’s end. If you will not, I —will not go.” 1.... “You will not go!” he cried, his voice harsh and quick, and cruel, as he had never allowed her to hear it before. “You will not go, you say? You will not go with me, after all these years of seeking and wooing you? ■ You are to escape me at last, and choose another? No, that shall never be while I live! I have borne enough, and done enough, for you now, and I claim my reward. I demand it, Nora! I am no boy, to be trifled with at your pleasure. Mine is no new love, to be set aside carelessly for any other man’s. You shall feel that, Nora. You shall realize that a man who, in his middle age, has set his heart upon you, is not to be lightly rejected for one who—who wiuld scorn you and insult you if be knew you as I know you; while I—love and seek you through all. But I swear he shall know all the degrading truth ” "Oh! let him .know!” she criedj in her longing for help and guidance. “Oh, let him know, and end this terrible secret!" “He shall know; but not until I have taken you from his derision.” “Miss St. George, you aro lingering here too long. Come into the house with me, will you? I found I had forgotten rather an important message from Miss Giffard,- so I had to turn back.” Mark had come upon them so thoroughly tuftwares, after passing through the little gate, and had spoken with such readiness and apparent ease, that even in the silence following his words, Nora stood as he bad found her, her eyes wide and feverish in their courage, yet her lips apart, and her breathing quick and irregular in her fear. “Miss St. George will return to the house when she chooses,” put in Nuel Armstrong, with an insolent mockery on his lipa, “nnd she will not choose just at present. I am not likely to let my cousin stay out to injure her health. I have too much consideration for her, and too much experience In my profession. We need not detain you.” “Yon could not," said Mark, coolly, as he took .Nora's band. "Even your power has its limits, Dr. Armstrong.” “I shoald have fancied,” said Dr. Armstrong. hla wrath breaking forth unrestrainedly. how he felt that Nora was leaving him, "that by this time you

would have left off interfering between relations. You have brought mischief enough through your sneaking practices.” For an instant Mark turned upon him, with tightened lips and indrawn breath; then he remembered-Nora’s presence and turned away again with .quiet contempt. "Do as you choose,” he said; “I will not interfere.” , (To be continued.)