Norston's Rest

lton Hurst pass the Lady Rose on the terrace, only lifting his

toward the wilderness, "and she-ah, I have been cruel in this strife to conquer myself. My love, my beautiful wil

glancing through the oriel window he saw a gleam of warm color and the dejected droop of a head, that might have grown weary with looking out of the window; for it fell lower and lower, as if two unsteady hands were supporting the face

ut

Then an impulse of pride seized upon the heart that was beati

ing out both hands with a warmth that astonished he

o come; nay, nay, I will not have that proud lift of

d, but how could she succeed with those pleading

raiding in her eyes; "father has wondered why you

e in visiting Jessup, though the gardener had been a devoted friend during his boyhood, and t

will not have missed

; indeed, in

cared n

Selfishly watching her emotion until the long black lashes were wet, he li

d wrenched her ha

must not: father w

new how much

black eyes opened wide and bright, her

ove me

er man loved woman," was the e

pale, even her

aid, in a voice that was al

p it?" said Hurst, s

an I h

his love frightened her. A sweet unconscious dream that had neither end

pale. Is it because yo

irl, in wild bewilderment. "Oh, God

she covered it with her hands-shame, terror

r it," she pleaded, at length. "I d

as one honorable man should say to another: 'I love

r wi

lies in a single word. Yes, Ruth, when a Hur

-Sir Noel, Lady Rose, my f

, and he loves me. You have always been a f

ld family like that. My father, in his wa

what be

e and John Storms a

ed what

d some day be mist

of the far

, but father's promise was given when I did not c

began to pace up and down the little parlor, while she shrunk into the recess of the window,

t never b

e is to my father," said the g

but this is one h

not offer him again, and pressed them to his lips

t the window shed a lovely twilight around her, and the shadows of its trembling leaves tinted the snowy whiteness of the pillow on which her cheek rested, with fairy-like embroidery. The place was like heaven to her. Here this young girl lay, thrilled hea

g emotion, she lay as in a dream, save that her lips moved, as red rose-leaves stir w

s came to mar her happiness, she thrust it awa

ught of her at all, except as he might give a moment's attention to the birds and butterflies that helped to make the old place pleasant. How could he-so hands

she was als

the movement, looked into a small mirror that hung on the opposite wall. What she saw th

ught, "not fair and white like he