Connecticut western news., 1874-05-29

was the sharp response. "It's fine to talk but you and know we'll enough who's the cause of all. One word from you would stop it now if you were sorry enough P - ...5
 Poor Nancy The clock was on the stroke of eleven that night when her lover finally took his leave, and she was free to pace the moon-lit sitting room from end to end with set lips and wide, glittering eyes. She did not cry. She felt as If she were going crazy, and in her desperation she did not care if she did. Hour after hour passed, and still she paced there, till her rigid face showed whitely in the first faint gray of morning. ooh, soould he gop could he go ! would nothing happen to stop him :? Scarcely knowing what she was doing, Nancy slipped through the door, and hatless, trailing her dainty blue skirt through the dewy grass, ran across lots to the Armitages'.
 It was all still and dark and dewy. She heard the village clock strike three as she paused on the outskirts of the old-fashioned flower garden behind the house, and shrunk behind hedge of blossony hlacs, whose potent odor sick ened her. Her mlnd was in whirl. She did not know why she was there, or what she should do. She was in deadly fear lest some one should dis cover her, yet she could not go away. For half an hour she crouched there shiveringly, never taking her eyes off Johns window, but starting every time the curtain blew. Suddenly step on the garden path startled her so violent ly that she scarcely could suppress 8 scream. It was probably some of the work -people-oh, if they should see her A nasty peep through the bushes showed her that it was worse than that; it was John himself, striding straight toward the gap in the hedge, and wear ing a most unpropitious face. Nancy, in blind terror of discovery, crawled on her hands and, knees close under the lilacs. He had passed, he was almost by, when bird that Nancy had dis turbed flew out with loud chirpings. One end of the loosened blue sash had caught on stiff bough, and the color arrested his eye. Two strides brought him to the spot, and he stood with fold ed arms looking down at her moment before his amazement found vent in the exclamation, ..- .. ..... .
 "Nancyl"
 He had never seen such utter aban- don and agony of shame as that with which the poor little maiden hid her face and covered in the wet grass, with the cry. - ... .. --... nt
 oh, sUhat shall l do? Don't speak to me 1 Go away !" and burst into a storm of tears.
 For answer he gathered the little wet !, Se, svN,n0Hhn1 VI bled curls, tried to warm the icy hands, and did not dare to question, while he soothed her in his tenderest way. -o
 "Take me home," said Nancy, as soon as she found strength to speak at all. -. A --
 "I shall do no such thing" was the decided answer, as Johns disengaged hand lifted her face so that he could Nancy, I couldn't help hoping little when l saw you here: Don't make me give it up I thought my pride would support me through any thing, but I'm afraid it won't" he ended sadly.
 "Tm so glad it ,won't." breathed Nancy, in tones of heartfelt relief. "But somebody I'll see us. Take me home, John, and I'll tell you all about it." .h
 How different seemed the way home, with John at her side. But Nancy was in no hurry to "tell all about it. ," She only said, nerviously, holding Johns hand in both hers,
 Promise me you won't go away p
 "Ah, but I want another promise first" -.|........ ...- . -a
 Nancy looked back at the plumy hedge whose shelter they had left, and said, with half smile, "You see the lilacs are'nt out of bloom yet, John ; and I am-sorry, as you said I'd be P
 "And the doctor?" asks the critical reader. An, Nancy is no mode! of Christian maidenhood. She is only 8 faulty young girl, erring and loving and suffering, playing her part in one of the tragedies that are played every where in the springs and autumns, in the time of snow-drifts as we'll as in the time of lilacs. .-.. ..---.