Reel Life (Sep 1913 - Mar 1914)

Rciel Life 11 Still sobbing, she clung to him. "Bert, I — I just can't go back down there to those people; they don't like me. And your mother doesn't like me either; she really doesn't want me here. I — -I think she's ashamed of me." "Nonsense, dear — " "It isn't nonsense and yon know it. Bert dear, I've tried to please her truly I have. Why I dress the way she wants me to, but I"m not used to the trains and I trip over them. And I've taken piano lessens and practiced till my head ached. But it's no use; I — I'm countrified thing and I'll never be any different." This was the conclusion to which Nora had been coming for sometime and that evening, impelled by a wave of loneliness, she wrote all about her difficulties to her brother 'Will. Her heart swelled with pride as she thought of this brother whom her husband had never seen and who was studying painting in Paris. Why should she not be proud? she asked herself; it was not every student whose work could win prizes which paid his way to Paris. It did her good to share her disheartenment with this old-time chum. In a lit le postscript she added, "When you come back to America, please try to see me alone before you meet Bert's family. I am not very happy." One afternoon not many weeks later, a penciled note in her brother's writing brought Nora the wonderful news that he had returned from Paris unexpectedly and was at that very moment, waiting to see her near the outer gate of the Norville grounds. Scarcely able to believe the good tidings she hurried out in quest of him. "Oh, Will, how glad I am to see you," she cried and clasping her arms about his neck, kissed him. "Let me get a good look at you," laughed Will, holding her off. "Yes, you're just the same little sister I left behind me." With that, he kissed her again. Absorbed as they were, how were they .to know that just then the older Mrs. Norville's motor was coming through the gate not far from which ttiey stood. She, however, could see them plainly from her vantage, and she would have been more than human if she had not begun to wonder about the caller whom her queer-little daughter-in-law was evidently so glad to see. But she afterward made no mention of she had nessed. what wit The Beauty in the Seashell Thanhouser The Beauty in the Seashell Thanhous^r Among the morning's mail brought to her next day, was a letter addressed to Nora. Mrs. Norville was laying it aside when she noticed that the envelope had come unsealed. Of a sudden, something made her connect it with the little scene of the preceding afternoon. She fingered the missive. What if — ? But no; she put the letter down. Again she hesitated. What harm after all ? She drew out the note. "Nora, dear," it said, "I'll see you to-morrow noon at the same place. Lovingly. Will.'' Later that morning Nora received word from her husband that he would expect her to leave his home. As warrant for his action, he sent Will's note. That was all; he asked for no explanation. Nora sank into a chair, too dazed to think clearly. She caught herself wondering if she were dreaming. Once she started up and made for the door ; she would go to Bert and show him that he was mistaken. Something held her back, however. "If he loved me, he wouldn't do this," she told herself. She beat her hands against each other while great sobs strained her throat. But there were no tears in her eyes ; she could not cry. Then she set about packing up a few little things and, seating herself at a table, wrote her husband the explanation for which he had not asked. Leaving the note upon the table, she stole down a back stairway and left the house. One afternoon five years later, an American paid a visit to the Paris studio of Will Hampton, the painter, whose portraits had made his reputation. "I should like to have you do a portrait for me from this miniature," said the caller, opening a little leather case. Why, how — how did you come by this?" asked Hampton. For the likeness at which he found himself looking was a picture of his sister Nora. "She was my wife,'' replied the other man simply. "I lost her five years ago."