The Herald, 1909-12-24, Page 7CHAPTER VI.
Daniel Gordon, the old blacksmith,
was just beginning to, wonder whot,•de
twined Norine, wihen':the girl• pint ;in an
appear -nee.
For the first time in her life, she.,did
not enter with a.. gay laugh or a btirst of
song on her lips; though he notieed,that
she lacked very happy in a thoughtful
way.
She came up to him and hissed him on
the weather-beaten cheek, es she had
been wont to do ever since she haul: been
a little child, but the red, laughing,
girlish lips somewhat lacked their usual
warmth and fervency-.
"Norine to trying her best to look
happy," he thought, "but she is secretly
worrying over the heavy cold poor Joe
contracted on the night he brought her
home, risking his own life to save hers.
He kept up until he heard my voice, and
knew assistance was at hand; then he
knew no more until. he opened his eyes"
and found.. himself safe in the warm lit-
tle sitting -room of our cottage. His
first thought on returning to oonsc ious-
ness was of Norine. 'Is she safe?' he
whispered, in awful terror. I shall never
forget the joy that overspread his
white, anxious face when I answered,
'Yes, my lad, and she owes her fife to
you' .
Norine's usually voluble tongue was
silent for the first time as they walked
along the snowy road hiomewalrd. to-
gether.
There was nothing to warn him that
the girl by Ms side, wham lie loved bet-
ter by far than the apple of his eye, was
keeping her first secret from him.
Clifford Oarlisle had exacted a prom-
ise from her that she would not mention
to her grandfather, or indeed any one
else, that they had met that afternoon,
or intended seeing each other the fol-
lowing dray. Norine was so much of a
child, so unsophistioa.ted in the ways of
the world, that she quite believed it
the jolly lark that he represented it to
be -to become well acquainted, and then
spring that fact upon her old grandpar-
ents, who always declared most em-
phatically that she should never know
any young, man but Joe.
"It would be the richest bind of a
joke," Carlisle declared, gayly, and,
looking at the matter in the light in
which he pictured it so laughingly to
her, it was no wonder artless little Nor-
ine fell into the trap set so cunningly
for her thoughtless, unwary feet.
Even the old grandmother noticed how
eocouapred Norine was during the fru-
atter'
with Norine?" she exclaimed, thought-
fully, is the old people sat by the kit-
chen fire long after the girl had picked
up her Dandle and gone to her little
room under the eaves. "She talked so
womanly that I had to lacy down my
spectacles and look at her in wonder."
The old blacksmith looked at his wife
'vtth a smile of amus•emeni "Norine is
only a child," be murmured, softly, then
after looking meditatively into the
glowing coals for a spell, he asked sud-
denly: "What wars the little gal talk -
in' about that gave you that notion,
Betsey?"
"She wanted the tucks let out of her
red dress, that it might come down to
the floor, instead of to her shoe tops, as
it does now; and I've been won4„erin'
and wenderin' what could have put such
a thought into Norine's hexad."
After knitting a few moments silently
and energetically, she went on: "Nor-
ine reminded me that she \vas quite sev-
enteen, so you see, grandpa, she is not
so much of a child as you think. I was
just Nozine's age when I saw and fell in
love with you, Daniel."
"Why, bless my soul, I believe you
are right, Betsey. It was so very long
ago I e'enamost forgot about it—we've
been growin' old together so long. Lit-
tle Norine seventeen! I cannot com-
prehend it; she seems no more than a
little tot of seven to her old grandnrd.
Aye, it seems only yesterday that our
only son put her into my arms as he
lay dyin, askin' me to allus look after
the 'child, and --and—" The rest of
the sentence Was drowned in a heavy
sob.
"Don't recall that scene, Daniel --
don't," whispered Betsy, huskily. "Let
us talk of something else. Is there any
news in the village? I don't hear any
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since Joe has been maid up at home with
that heavy oold," she exclaimed, anxi-
ous to divert his mind quickly into an-
other eavannel,
"Yes;" he answered, "there's a good
bit of travel over the new stage line
that rune from the Black Bear Mine
through here to Spokane; it's crowded
eevey night. There's some pretty rich
Capitalists going up to look cut the new
Mine. Oh, yes, and there's another bit
of information, I saw the stranger who
gave Norine the fifty -dollar bill for shoe-
ing his horse, and I made him take it
back and give an honestworker's price.
The stranger that Norine has been
speakin' so much about in her sleep."
"He asked about Norine, and I gave
liar to understand that I wasn't pleas-
ed at Ms inquirin' fer hem. I don't like
his face, nor his ways, nor his sneerin
tongue, fer that matter"
"What is lie like?" asked the good
wife, carelessly. She was not in the
least interested in the stranger,'but it
was better to lead him on to talk of,
think of, anything else than their dead
only boy.
"Look like?" repeated Daniel,
thoughtfully; "that is just what I have
been trying to settle in my own mind
ever since I laid eyes on him to -clay,
and, by gracious, it just comes to me
now. He is dark and handsome, like—
well, do you remember that aandeome
villain that held up the stageeoachee
hereabouts and robbed. 'em so audacious-
ly some twenty odd years ago? They
afterward caught the ehap and hung
him up to the limb of a trey; that Tail-
ed his career. We heard the report af-
terward that he had left a little boy,
and that the lad had been adopted by
some well-to-do people, or something of
that kind. Well, this chap hes just
those features. 1'11 never forget him as
I saw him a-hangin to the old hickory
tree."
"But who is the young man, and
where is he stappin'?" asked Betsey.
"I don't know, an' I don't care.
More'n likely he's some wealthy mean ga-
in' along with the rest to invest in the
mine. A11 the interest I take in him is
to keep him away from Norine."
"What nonsense, Daniel, to imagine
that he has given one thought to our
Norine. Great gentlemen fall in love
with their own kind."
"Not allus, Betsy," he
thoughtfully. "Not allus."
Then their conversation drifted around
to Joe (as it always did after Norine
had left them for the night) and the
future -advising with each other as to
when..,fliey should tell their darling of
the young man's devoted, patient love
for her, and the hope he had long since
confided to them, that one day he hoped
to make little Norine his bride, if he
could win the treasure of her love, and
they were willing that it should be so.
Each had taken one of the young
man's hands and kissed it reverently,
whispering to him that his desire was
theirs as well, and that they could go
down to the grave, which could not
wait much longer for them, alt! so hap-
py, if they could but see Norine his
wife.
They talked of Joe's prospects, and
how hard he was striving to win a name
and a position to offer their darlins.
"It is so hard that he has been taken
with this heavy cold, keeping him to his
bed at this particular time," remarked
the old blacksmith, anxiously. "This is
the week the great suin of money comes
to his express office to pay off the min-
ers, and there is no one whom he could
trust to take it over to the mines no
one he would dare tell about it save
you and me, and Norine."
"I did not know Norine knew about
it," said Betsey.
"Yes, don't you remember him sitting
here the night before the storm a-tellin'
us about it? Norine was listening, too,
for she remarked: 'Aren't you afraid to
have so much money about you, Joe?'
and he answered, 'I would be, if people
knew I was to carry so much money over
on the stage to the mines a week from
to -night, and, to tell the truth, I have
such a strange presentiment about it,
that I haven't been able to sleep well
nights since I was informed that it was
to be shipped here and placed in my
charge. It is such a great sum—a great
many thousand dollars.
"Joe is far from feeling well to -night,
but, Heaven bless the plucky lad, he is
going to get up from his sick -bed and
take the stage over to the Great Bear
mine to -morrow night to deliver that
money in safety to the miners, Ah,
Betsey, if 1 wasn't so old and infirm a
men, I'd volunteer to go in Joe's stead,
poor fellow."
The fire was growing low in the kit-
chen grate, and, finishing up his mug of
home-made cider, while the old wife took
her cup of tea, they chatted a few mo-
ments on the one subject so dear to
them—their beloved Norinc—then took
up their tallow dip and sought their rest,
peusing a Moment at the girl's door as
they passed it.
There was not even the faintest sound
from within, and the good old woman
murmured: "Bless the child, she is deep
in her beauty sleep, Daniel."
But Norma was not asleep, though her
eyes were closed tightly, carefully feign-
ing slumber in case they should enter,
as they often did, and bead over her
with their candle and kiss her.
Sleep would not come to the girl's
eyes; her conseienee was troubled. She
had never kept the slightest thought up
to this time from the clear old grand-
father and grandmother who she knew
loved. her with such a devoted love.
Mr. Carlisle, the handsome stranger,
muttered,
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would not tell of .their meeting, and that
she was to see him on' the morrow; oth-
erwise, horn glad she would have been to
tell her grandmother• all the delightful
things he had whispered into her ear,
and how he had asked her if she had
ever had a lover, and if she would like
one.
Even as she recalled his words, and
the thrilling glance that accompanied
them, her cheeks biu'n9cl and her heart
beat tumultuously in her bosom.
How different he was from Joe—awk-
ward, plain Joe Brainard—and she won-
dered how she could ever have•thought
Joe nice, and pleasant to talk to—even
missing him if he did not come to he
cottage to talk to the old folks of a
winter evening.
How she wished Mr. Carlisle would
soon come to the house, She was more
than anxious to hear what her grand-
mother would say of him.
Norine had not dared question her
grandfather as to his opinion regarding
the handsome stranger. Ile always had
something unpleasant to say of every
young man except Joe, his favorite.
Then her girlish thoughts drifted into
a more pleasing channel—the longing
for the golden morrow and the delight
had won from her the promise that she
that awaited her in meeting saia'lsome
Mr. Carlisle again.
His last words had been:
"I shall dream of your sweet face
again, Norine. Will you try to so fix
your thoughts upon me as you drift off
into dreamland, that you will dream of
me?"
Norine did not know what the smile
on his face meant when she answered
"Yes." That night was the happiest
that beautiful, hapless Norine was ever
to know.
•
It had been known only to a few peo-
ple in Hadley, and, stronge to say, those
few had left the village years before, or
bad died; thus there was no one save
her grand parents and Joe who knew
pended almost solely upon these influene
that Norine was in any way xelated to
the old recluse who lived in the great
stone house, at the end: of the village;,
The truth lead been unfolded to Joo
when he had asked for Norine's hand,
but lie was bound by a solemn proiniso.
not to divulge it to Norine.
• "I don't want the child's head turned
with hopes that she will inherit the Bar•
rison wealth," her grandfather had told
her, "for I know she will be cut off
without a cent; she will not be disap-
pointed if she is not expecting it bless
her poor little heart, and she will live
her life through without knowing what
she missed, and be the better and hap-
pier for having the truth withheld from
her."
Joe concurred in this view of the mat-
ter.
Perhaps there was a fate in this, oth-
erwise Norine might have confided the
story to Clifford Carlisle as they talk-
ed together on this eventful afternoon,
when she told him all that she believed
there was to tell concerning her imevent-
ful life.
"Are you happy here, little Norine?"
he asked taking the girl's little band
in his and looking down into the depths
of her, blue eyes. "Do you never yearn
fora brighter, gayer life?"
"Some times," she answered, looking
thoughtfully away over the white, snow
clad hills, adding, "but what's the
use? I shall never leave Hadley. I sup-
pose I shall live and die here."
"What a dreadful future for one as
young and joyous as yourself to look
forward to," he murmured, compas-
sionately. "I — I cannot bear the
thought. If I were you, I should be
tempted to fly away. What do you say
to marrying me, Norine, and going when
I go."
She looked at him with great, start-
led eyes.
"I don't ask you to decide all'at once,
Norine," he said. "Take plenty of time
to think it over; but mind, as you value
my love and wishes, do not mention one
word of what I have just said to any
human being."
"Would I have to decide —soon?" fal-
tered Norine, tremulously.
"You shall have a whole fortnight,"
lie answered. "By that time you will
have seen me so often that you will
know whether you care that much for
me or not.
"As for me," he went on eagerly, "I
know how much 1 think of you now. I
loved you passionately, desperately,
from the first moment my eyes rested
upon your sweet fact. I felt in my
heart then that 1 had met my fate, the
one girl on earth for me—that 1 must
win you if 1 could, and if I failed, that
there was one thing, and one only, for
me to do."
"And what was that?" murmured No -
rine, anxiously, timorously.
"Shoot myself," he answered, drama-
tically, with a wave of his white band
and a very well simulated deep -drawn
sigh.
Norine uttered a scream of fright.
"Oh, would you do anything so hor-
rible as that?" she gasped.
"Why not?" he replied. in a voice that
sounded as though it was half a sob.
"What has a man to live for if he fails
to win the girl he loves?"
"I)o you care for me so very much?"
cried Norine, wringing her little hands
in anguish. "You have seen me only
three times."
"Love is born in an instant; it is not
a paint of slow growth," he answered.
"You ought to know at this moment if
you love me."
He waited a moment for the words to
take effect; then he went on softly:
"If your heart has gone out to me,
you have thought of me constantly
since last we met; you have dreamed of
me by night; you have counted the
hours—ay, the moments, until we should
meet again. IIave you done that. Nor-
ine?"
"Yes," faltered the girl, trembling
like one of the dying leaves above her
head.
He went on in words as eloquent as
they were beautiful to her untutored
ears:
"Then it is as it should be, Norine;
our love is mutual. It is cruel to ask
you to linger so long in the bitter cold
talink to me, but no other opportunity
is offered mc. I fear if I should go to
the cottage and ask to see you, that
boon would be denied. rue. They night
even go so far as to keep you at home,
a prisoner, as it were, until I left the
vicinity, that I might not spoil Joe's
chance of winning you, my peerless Nor-
ine."
"Indeed you are mistaken," she de-
clared, earnestly. "Joe has no such
thought. We are only friends—friends
from childhood up"
He laughed a little sinister laugh.
"1 wonder that you can really believe
that," he said, slowly, adding: "I aur
sure he would have been searching for
you by this time, if lie had not been
confined to his bed by the severe cold
you mabout"
"Joetold is sick in bed, but 1 have been
expecting to see him pass every moment,
for lie•is obliged to go on a long journey
to -night, ill as Ile is." z z zz
"It must be a very important :natter
that would cause hien to get out of a
sick bed on such a night as this is des-
tined, by all appearances, to be," he de-
clared.
"It is important," replied Norine, and,
scarcely knowing just how it bad hap-
pened, she found herself unfolding to
the handsome stranger the confidential
, mission that was to be kept such a vital
secret—that he was to have a large
sum of money about hien to take to the
officers of the Great Bear Mine, to pay
off the miners,
"Are they not afraid to trust this fel-
low with so great a sum?" he queried,
adding in the next breath: "Mow much
,did you say be was to take?"
"No one would fear to trust even life
itself to Joe Brainard; 1)e is as honest
CHAPTER VII.
It was bong after midnight ere Nor-
ine fell asleep that night, and when she
did drift off into the mystic land of
dreams, she dreamed of the handsome
stranger, whose dark eyes had so thrill -
ca her heart, and whose dazzled smile
has so bewildered her senses.
All the next morning Norine was so
absent-minded that Grandma Gordon
looked at her more than once, won-
dering what had come over the girl,
and what she could be thinking about.
Ah! how troubled she would have been
had she but known.
To Norine, the hours never seemed to,
drag so slowly along as they did on
this particular day.
They crept along leaden -footed. Noon
came at last; then slowly the red sun-
shine drifted athwart the 'western win-
dow.
"Norine," exelainie3'-her grandmother,
starting up from her knitting, "I hail
no idea it was so late. It is time for
you to go to fetch your grandpa, my
dear."
The girl turned away quickly, that
the dear old eyes might not discern the
sudden flush that arose to her face.
Very quietly Norine donned her red
hood. and jacket, and fairly flew from
the house. For the first time in her young
life she had forgotten to kiss her dear
old grandma good -by.
With palpitating .heart and winged
feet Norine flew swiftly to the trysting
place. As she turned the bend in the
road she saw him pacing restlessly up
and down under the leafless branches of
the old sycamore tree. How handsome
he looked in his great seal overcoat and
the seal cap resting so jauntily on his
orisp, dark curling hair. No wonder
little Norine's heart beat tumultuous-
ly as she beheld him. There were few
girlish hearts that handsome Clifford
Carlisle could not win if he chose to
take the trouble to do so.
He caught sight of Norine quite as
soon as she saw him, and hastened for-
ward to meet her, holding out both of
his hands to her.
"Hew am I to ever thank/you for
coming to keep the appointment, Nor-
ine ?" he said, "I had been fearing that
you regretted promising to come, and,
ah! I was so down -hearted over it, for
I could not bear the thought of never
seeing you again.'
He pretended not to notice the girl's
confusion or the blush that mantled
,her pretty cheek, talking on, and so
gayly, that by degrees she gained her
usual composure, and the power of volu-
ble speech.
He did not ask about her history, be-
lieving there was nothing to tell, and in-
deed there was not, for Norine knew
nothing of her on'n strange story. It
1 ad not as yet been told to her, to
darken her youthful spirits and happi-
ness.
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as the sun. You must know how he
trusted., when he is the only one who
they will permit to take the thirt
thousand in cash to the mine."
Clifford Carlisle bit his lip deeply
keep back the expression of surpri
as the amount fell from her thoughtle
lins.
"Of course he takes the 8 o'clock sta
over?" heremarked, with, ill-eoneeal
eagerness.
(To be continued.)
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Everyone who makes, handles, buy
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e
What Shall Santa Bring?
I'll toll You true, my own dolly,
Thought your only a clothespin, dear,
You're the sweetest and loveliest childie
I've had for many a year.
We've been through a lot together,
You and your own mamma,
And I feel you're part of me, really --
Yes, reaikv and truly, you are.
Aud I think though I'd like some more babies
As every true mother should
I could hardly care for another,
(Though she might be awful good),
As yet I care for my onliest daughter,
And yet, dear, Christmas is here
And I might ask the Christmas angel
That came in a dream last year,
If Santa would bring me a dolly
With dresses, red cheeks, red curls,
Like the ones he brings every Christmas
To thousands of cther nice girls.
But oh, I can't, my own dearest,
For 'twould hurt you, I know, if I did,
Though you'd t ry in your dear wooden body
To keen your feelings well hid.
I guess we will just ask the angel
To bring us a ter set and sleigh;
And we'll love each other, dear dolly,
For ever and ever a day!
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