Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-09-21
LUMNE HILL CALAvERAs COUNTY, CAL SEPT. q,

standing my agony of mind and en-
forced and unex planned absence, Nancy
face daily became paler, her body thin
ner and weaker, and her spirits less ant
less buoyant ~
ssMost fortunately for US both
Nancy's mother, about this time, wa
seriously iudisposed, and she was sum
moned home. This was our salvation
l called to see Nancy before she left
and explained to her the cause of my
seeming neglect | begged her to write
to me frequently and to let me know i
she improved in her own health. Wher
we parted no shadow Of distrust stoot
between US. We were true, fou(
friends again.
Miss Elbridge seemed to regret Nan
cy's depart"re. Just as the trunk wa:
about being locked end strapped for the
Journey, she entered the room in which
we were, and among other little presents
insisted on her accepting parcel Of hel
coufections with which to sweeten hel
mothers house
Nancy gladly accepted them, ant
putting one or two in her mouth, placed
the rest in her trunk. Now, for the frs
time, it occurred to me that Miss Ell
bridge, kind and gentle as she invaria
bly, was, had never offered me any Of
her candies. Perhaps, | thought tc
myself, she thinks | do not care fol
them
Il, too, am fond of sweetmeats, Har.
riet,' said, in a pretended injured
tone Of voice. why is it that you new
er give me any of your sugared con
trivances 2
4 would, willingly was her reply
but | never thought you cared foI
sweets of any kind. l have none will
me ) but the next time you call at ou
house I'll load you down with them
'Why not have some of mine, james
said Nancy. as she ran to her trunk ant
was about to snatch a handful from th,
package for ME.
ooh, don't do that, Nancy dear ?' cri
ed Miss Harriet, hurriedly Never
mind James He shall have plenty
You, dear, won't have more than enough
to last you week or so after you get
home. Don't forget to write me when
you want more, and I'll make up some
for you and send them to you by the
stage 81. u @ l-
You are very kind, Harriet said
Nancy. 4 know of no candy so sweet
as yours, and wont forget to let you
know when L am ort of them H.
'The two girls, apparently the most
devoted of friend, kissed each other,
while tears stood in their eyes, as they
parted. They never embraced again on
earth. -....- ..-.....-5 ...
4 accompanied Nancy to the stage
coach and saw it drive off with her in
it. My heart was very heavy. The
thought of this parting with the only
woman | ever truly loved, perhaps never
to see her again, completely broke my
spirits down; and I went about the
farm, moping and sorrowful enough,
assure you.
'In the course Of a couple of weeks, I
received a letter from Nancy, in which
she assured me she had fully recovered
her spirits and her appetite. She also
stated that her mother was out of dan
ger; and concluded by saying that, in
crossing creek, the stage-c coach par
TALLY upset, and that not only her
clothes, but all the candy Miss Elbridge
had given her when they parted had
been spoiled. She then begged of Inc
to say nothing about it, as it might cause
dear Harriet to go to the trouble of
making another batch of sweets for her,
and that, she thought, would be impos-
ing on good nature.
The news that Nancy had regained
her health rejoiccd me beyond measure !;
but was half-afraid to go near her
again, doubtful in my mind if personal
contact would not draw upon her the
curse which had seemed to follow me,
and destroy those whom I had most
loved, Or, more correctly speaking, ad-
mired.
Miss Elbridge asked me, about three
weeks subsequent to the departure of
Nancy, if I had heard from her. I re-
piled that l had but, strangely enough,
forgot to mention her restoration to
health and said not a word about the
loss of her confections I saw that there
was something on the mind Of Harriet,
and she was about putting another
question to me, when she was interrupt
ed by the arrival of visitors | also
noticed this much in her conduct: she
was more affectionate in her manner
toward me than ever before and, had
not my affections belonged to another,
L should probably have forgotten the
peculiar. expressions in her eyes, and
become what common rumor already
declared me to be--a suitor for her
hand
about six months after Nancy's de-
parture, business called me to the vicin
lity Of her residence A day or two
suficed to transact it; but l fingered
| in the vicinity many weeks, almost
constantly in the society of my dear
Nancy-now my betrothed-rejoiced to
find that the blood had returned to her
cheeks, and that her dark eyes contin-
ued as bright, as merry, and as eloquent
as ever. The curse, l felt assured, had
been removed. llr gauo I.
When, finally, we did separate, it
was with the understanding that when
| returned-which was to be at the ex-
piration of three months-I should claim