The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-05-22

nevertheless.
IL see YOU understand the ways that
are dark and the tricks that are vain pref
N well. Miss Nancy. And now | don't
dare to tell you what was going to before
you spoke
What was its" queried Nancy, curious
and conscious.
1t was" said the d',tor, bending his
own face closer to the curl-shaded one at
his side, THAT wish | had the right TO
keep YOU with me always. Miss Nancy,
will YOU look AT me-will You let meY'
Ii was well that the doctor did not guess
why. amidst Nancy's bright bushes,
her lip quiyered and her eyes filled with
tears. She had made up her mind TO
accept the doctor, but in this decisive mo-
ment the thought OF John Armitage sent
pang, cruel in intensity, through her
heart. Then came the memory OF their
Yesterdays quarrel, and Nancy filtered,
with a struggling smile.
"l-l don't know"
She did know when. in the late twilight,
she and the doctor walked together into
the dItsky sitting-room at home, where her
father was doZingand her mother knitting,
TO ask their consent and their blessing.
Dear me - said the good farmer. rub
bling his eyes. 1.-Two Sech pieces of news
I
only an hour sence that Johnnie Armitage
is a-going to Texas 10 kinder farm on his
own account. sOrter thought. too. I he
an Nancy fanced each other, but here
she's wantin' to marry another man. It's
GURUS -
Nancy had taken her hand from the doe
tors arm and had sat down in the window.
She heard, mistily, comments and congrat-
ulations; She answered questions, laughed
at Jokes. She walked down To the gate
with the doctor when he left. and stood
there under the lilacs, his arm about her,
replying To his tender talk but when he
was gone. leaving "A farewell kiss on her
lips, She rushed upstairs and threw herself
on the bed in perfect agony of sobbing
that she could hardly stifle in the pillow.
The story of the next week is hack
neyed. Such happenings are too common.
Nancy came and went like the ghost of
herself. but the whole village was gossip
ing over her engagement, and her eyi-
dences of trouble were ascribed to the
"qucerness OF girl just engaged" Lit
tie, tired Mrs. Armitage ran over across
lots one afternoon TO tell the EvaDses that
John was going Monday, and she guessed
he would manage To get over and bid them
good-by; and cried because her pet son
was going away. and was cool and sharp
TO Nancy, evidently susrecting that she
was the cause.
Perhaps light natures suffer most over
whelmingly. Often. in those beautiful
June days. Nancy. all alone i'm some shad-
owy. grassy place. with sunbeams SHIN
mering above. would wonder in dim,
childish way if she should not Idle when
John went" Only one hope was LETT
John was coming to say good-by. Oh, If
she could only let him know how it really
was. But how could she? And she would
look down despairingly at the little gold
circlet on her finger.
Sunday afternoon John finally came.
Nancy, sitting in the parlor with the doe
tor. caught glimpse of the well-known
figure AT the gate under the lilacs again.
For moment the room whirled around.
and she was deathly white then she rose
mechanically. saying that she must bid
Mr.. Armitage good-by, and went out TO
the doorway, where John was greeting
her parents. and warding off the New
foundland with laugh.
Yes" he was replying as Nancy came
up, "they say there's a pretty good chance
out there for n young fellow with health
and energy-How do you do, Miss Nancy?
and I've always been enterprising; so
mean to try it,.
Nancy stood pulling the rose-vnes in
pieces while for half an hour the others
talked crops. politics and prospects. She
could not have spoken for her life, though
she longed TO speak as condemned
criminal longs 20 ask mercy. Not once
did John turn his obstinate auburn head
10 look at or speak To her. and at last he
rose to go. lie interrupted himself, while
detailing particulars about grazing lands.
To say 'good-by' while he just touched
her hand. II he had looked at her. the
miserable pathetic look of appeal on her
childish face would have gone straight to
his heart but he did not dare 10 look, and
turning away abruptly walked down the
garden path with the garrulous oldfarmer
hobbling by his side. Nancy had just
time to escape her mothers eye by run
ming up the stairs. She did not faint
but God forbid that girls should often
know such misery rs she suffered then
When she at last joined the doctor, as i'm
duty bound, the stunned look in her face
was pitiful. She ''was not well" she said,
in answer 10 his alarmed queries.
1t was Nancy who proposed that they
should 90 TO church that evening In the
corner of the high old pew. with her veil
hiding her face, she could at least be quiet,
and one hour more of effort would have
been insupportabe. Mrs. Armitagc was
alone in her pew. and cried silently all
through the service. Nancy's heart so
went ont to the poor woman that, when
they met in the aisle, she pressed her hand
impulsively, saying in quick whisper.
Mrs. Armitage, I'm so sorry for you!"
II don't want any of your sorrow."
was the sharp response. 'lt's fine to talk;
but you and | know well enough who's
the cause of it all. One word from you
would stop it now if YOU were sorry
enough!r
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 meon-lit sitting-room from end
to end with set lips and wide glittering