The Van Buren press., 1877-12-04

vain pretty well, Miss Nancy And now
don't dare to tell you what was going
to say before yen spoke
What was it I" quelied Nancy, curl
Gus and cautious.
cit was" said the Doctor, bending
, his own face closer to the curl shaded
t one at his side, F." that wish | had the
right to keep you with me, always. Miss
Nancy. will you look at me-will you let
me?
1t was we'll that the doctor did not
guess why, amidst Nancy's bright blush
es. her lips quivered, aud her eyes filed
with tears. She had made up her mind
to accept the doctor, but in this decisive
moment Thought Of John Armitage.
sent Pang, cruel in h,tensity, through
her heart. Then came the memory or
their yesterdays quarrel, and Nancy fal
tered with struggling smile:
Ill don't know"
She did know when, in the late twilight
che and the doctor walked together into
the d1sky sitting room at home, where
her father was doing and her mother
knitting, to ask their consent and their
blessing.
"Dear me p said the good farmer rub
bing his eyes. Two such pieces of
news in one day, g curious hereabouts.
| heard on'y an hour since that Johnnie
Armtage is goin' to Texas, t, kinder
farm on his own account. l sorter
thought, too, t he an Nancy fancied
each other, but here she's wsn,in' to mar.
ry another man. It's GURUS p
Nancy had taken her hand from the
doctors arm, and had sat down by the
window. She heard, mistily, comments
and congratulations; she answered ques.
tions, laughed at jokes. She walked
down to the gate with the doctor. when
he lett, and stood there under the lilacs,
bis arm about her, replying to the tender
talk; but when he was gone, leaving a
farewell kiss on her lips, she rushed up
stairs, and threw herself on the bed in a
perfect agony of sobbing that she could
hardly stife in the pillow.
The story of the next week is hack
neyed. Such happenings are too com.
mon. Nancy came and went like the
ghost of herself. but the whole village
was gossipping over her engagement and
her evidences of trouble were ascribed
40 the "queerness of girl just engag-
ed" Little, tired Mrs Armitage ran
over across lots, one afternoon, to tell
the Evanses that John was going Mon
day, and she guessed he would manage
to get over, and bid them good bye and
cried because her pet son was going
away, and was cool and sharp to Nancy,
evidently suspectng that she was the
cause.
Perhaps light natures suffer most ovar7
wnrrmIngIy. Often, in those beautiful
June days. Nancy, all alone in some
shadowy, grassy place, with sunheams
shimmering above, would wonder, in
dim, childish way, If she should not {" die
when John went" Only one hope was
left. John was coming to say good bye
Oh if she could only let him know how
it really was! But how could shep and
she would look down desparngly at
the little gold circle on her finger.
Sunday afternoon John finally came.
Nancy, sitting in the parlor with the doc
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 bye, and went to
the doorway, where John was greeting
her parents. and warding off the New
foundand with laugh.
=" Yes" he was replying, as Nancy
came up, "they say there's a pretty
good chance out there orayoung fellow
with health and energy. How do you
do, Miss Nancy ?--and I've always been
enterprising, so l mean to try it,"
Nancy stood pulling the rose.vines 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 the con
demned criminal longs to ask mercy.
Not once did John turn his obstinate au
burn head to lock at or speak to her, and
at last he rose to GO. He interrupted
himself, while detailing particulars about
grazing lands, to say" good bye" 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 to look, and turning away,
abruptly, walked down the garden path
with the garrulous old farmer hobbling
by his side. Nancy had just time to es-
cape her mothers eye by running up the
stairs. She did not faint; but God for
bid 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.' she said,
in answer to his alarmed queries.
TWAS Nancy that 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 lave 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 aisle, she pres
sed her hand impulsively, saying in a
quick whisper, 4" Mrs. Armitage, I'm so
sorry for you"
Il don't want any Of your sorroww
was the sharp response. ats 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 sor
ry enough"
Poor Nancy The clock was on the
stroke of eleven. that night, when her
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