Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-05-29
New Series, Vol. q, No. Q.
! Old Series, Vol. 35, No. 3.


face would have gone straight to his heart /;
but he did not dare to look, and turning
away abruptly, walked down the garden
path with the garrulous old farmer hob
bling by his side. Nancy had just time to
escape her mothers eye by running up the
stairs. She did not faint; but God forbid
that girls should often know such misery
as she suffered then When she at last
joined the doctor, as in duty bound, the
stunned look in her face was pitiful. She
"was not well,n she said, in answer to his
alarmed queries.
1t was Nancy who proposed that they
should go 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 insupportable. Mrs. Armitage was
alone in her pew. and cried silently all
through the service. Nancy's heart so
went out to the poor woman that, when
they met in the isle, she pressed the hand
impulsively, saying, in quick whisper,
''Mrs. Armitage, Im so sorry for you ~
II don't want any of your sorrow ~ was
the sharp response. 'It's fine to talk but
you and l know well enough who's the
cause of it all. One word from you would
stop it now you were sorry enough ~
Poor Nancyl 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 aud with glittering eyes.
She did not cry. She felt as if she were 90
ing crazy, and in her desperation she did
not care if she did. Hour after hour pass
ed, and still she paced there till her
rigid face showed whitley in the first faint
gray of the morning. ''Oh, ,could be go
could he 60? 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.
1t 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 the hedge of blossomy li.acs, whose
potent Odor sickened her. Her mind was
in whirl. She did not know why she
was there, or what she would do. She was
in deadly fear lest some one should Disco
yer her, yet she could not go away. For
half an hour she crouched there shivering-
ly, never taking her eyes off Johns win
dow, but starting every time the curtain
blew. Suddenly step on the garden path
startled her so violently that she scarcely
could suppress scream. 1t was probably
some of the work people-oh, if they should
see herl A hasty peep through the BUSH
es showed her that it was worse than that;
it was John himself, st-iding straight to-
ward the gap in the hedge, and wearing 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 disturbed 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 folded
arms looking down at her moment before
his amazement found vent in the exclama-
ton:
''Naneyl' l'
He had never seen such utter abandon
and agony of shame as that with which the
poor little maiden Ind her face and covered
in the wet grass, with the cry,
''Oh, ,chat shall do Don't speak to
me /. Go away ~ and burst into storm
Of tears.
For answer be gathered the little wet
figure in bis arms, smoothed the tumbled
curls, tried to warm the icy hands, and did
not dare to question, while he soothed her
in his tenderest way.
Take me home," said Nancy, as soon
as she found strength to speak at all
81 shall do no such thing" was the de-
cided answer, as Johns disengaged hand
lifted her face so that he could see it, still
you tell me why you came. Nancy, |
couldn't help hoping little when l saw
you here. Don't make me give it up! l
thought my pride would support me through
any thing, but Pm afraid it won't" he end
ed, sadly.
''I'm so glad it WON'T" breathed Nancy,
in tones of heartfelt relief. But some
body'll see US. Take me home, John, and
III tell you all about it.''
How different seemed the way home,
with John at her side. But Nancy was in
no hurry to ''tell about itn She only said,
nervously, holding Johns hand in both
hers:
"PrOmise me you won't go away
"Ah, but L want another promise first"
Nancy looked back at the plumy hedge
whose shelter they had left, and said, with
a half smile, "You see the lilacs aren't out
of bloom yet, John; and l am-sorry, as
you said I'd be 20
"And the doctor p'' asks the critical
reader. All. Nancy is no model of Chris
tian maidenhood She is only faulty
young girl, erring and suffering, playing
her part in one Of the tragedies that are
played everywhere in the springs and au-
tumns, in the time of snowdrifts as well as
in the time of lilacs. Horper's Bazdr.
AN old farmer employed son of Erin to
work for him on his farm. Pat was con-
stantly misplacing the end boards in the
cart-the front board behind and the tail
board in front, which made the old gentle
man very irritable. To prevent blunders
he painted on both boards q large 'B,' theh
calling Pat TO him and showing him the
boards. said. Now. blockhead. you need