The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-07-18
50 PER ANNUM.

poets. She could not have spoken for
her life, though she longcd to speak as
condemned criminal longs TO ask
mercy. Not once did John turn his
obstinate auburn head to look at or
speak to her, and at last he rose to go.
He interrupted himself while detail
ing particulars about grazing lands, to
say good. bye" while he just touched
her hand. If 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 to look, and turning away ab-
ruptly, walked down the garden path
with the garrulous old farmer hobbling |
by his side. Nancy had just time to
escape her mothers eye by running up |
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, rs
in duty hound, the stunned look in her
face was pitiful. She "was not well"
she said, in answer to his alarmed que
ries.
1t was Nancy who proposed that
they should go to church thatevening.
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 insupportabIe.
= Mrs. Arnitage was alone i'll her pew,
and cried throughout the service
2 Nancy's heart so went out to the poor
I woman that, when they met i'll the
G aisle, she pressed her hand impulsive-
. ly, saying in quick whisper, "Mrs.
! Armitage, I'm SO sorry for you !"
81 don't want any Of your sorrow p
t was the sharp response. "Its fine to
t talk; but you and know well enough
S who's the cause Of ii all. One word
p from you would stop it now if you were
I. sorry enough p
j Poor Nancy! The clock was on the
u stroke of eleven that night when her
u lover finally took his leave, and she
was free to pace the moonlit sitting
/" room from end to end with glittering
eyes. She did not cry. She felt as II
she were going crazy, and in her des-
/ peration She did not care if she did.
. Hour after hour passed, and still she
~ paced there, till her rigid face showed
u Whitley in the first faint gray of morn
u ing. ooh, would he go? Could no go ?
Would nothing happen to stop him 7"
= Scarcely knowing what she was doing,
u Nancy slipped through the door, and
hatless, trailing her dainty blue skirt
n III through the dewy grass, ran across lots
~ u to the Arnitages.
~ Il was all still dark and dewy. She
- heard the village clock strike three as
she paused on the outskirts Of the old
,o fashioned flower garden behind the
W house, and shrunk behind the hedge Of
to 5lossomy lilacs, whose potent odor
- sckened her. Her mind was in a
|, whirl. She did not know why she was
w. there or what she would do. She was
40 in deadly fear lest some one should dis
20 cover her, yet she could not so away
~ y For half an hour she crouched there
So shivcringly, never taking her eyes of
-, Johns window, but starting every time
-. the curtain blew. Suddenly step or
= the garden path startled her so violent
ly that she scarcely could suppress
!, scream. 1t was probably some Of the
~ work peope-oh, if they should see
No herl A hasty peep through the bush
80 es showed her that it was worse thar
{, that: that it was John himself, strid
80 ing straight toward the gap in The
-, hedge, and wearing a most unpropi
~ tious face. Nancy, in blind terror o
e. discovery, crawled on her hands anc
w knees close under the lilacs. Ho hal
I3 passed, was almost by, when birC
oJ that Nancy had disturbed flew GU
IN with loud chirpings. One ond Of tn
~ loosened blue sash had caught on
nv -" stiff bough, and the color arrested hi
20 eve. Two strides brought him to th
spot, and he stood with folded arm
0sI looking down at her moment beior
'u- his amazement found vent in the ex
~ ~ clamation:
m Nancy %
~, lie had never seen such utter aban
ia don and agony Of shame as that wit
ne which the poor little maiden hid he
lay face and covered IN the wet grass wit
l.v the cry:
o" "O6, what shall I do? Don't speaI
wa wa to me Go away!" and burst into
ie' storm Of tears.
Fer answer he gathered the littl
ne. wet figure in his arms, smoothed th
.he tumbled curls, tried to warm the ic
Ill hands, and did not dare to question
-he while he soothed her in his tendores
ON way.
liy "Take me home" said Nancy, q
Iy soou as she found strength to speak q