The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-11-08

demned criminal longs to ask mercy
Not once did John turn his obstinate
auburn head to look at OF speak to her
and at last he rose to 90. He interrupted
himself, while detailing particular
about grazing lands, to say " goodbye .
while he just touched her hand. If ht
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 hobbline
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, /" she said,
in answer to his alarmed queries.
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 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 pressed
her hand impulsively, saying, in quick
whisper, "Mrs. Armitage, Pm so sorry
for your'
II don't want any of your sorrowp
was the sharp response. +" It's fine to
talk; but you and 1 know well enough
who's the cause of it all. One word
from you would stop it now if you were
sorry enoughl"
Poor Nancyi 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
glitteriDg 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
Whitley in the first gray Of morning.
" Oh would he go? could he go? would
nothing happen to stop him f' 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 hedge Of
blossomy ilacs, whose potent odor
sickened her. Her mind 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 discover 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 violently that she
scarcely could suppress a scream. 1t
was probably some of the work-people--
oh, if they should see herI A hasty
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 wearing most
unpropitious face. Nancy, in blind
terror of discovery, crawled on her
hands and knees under the lilacs. He
had passed, he was almost by, when a
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 a moment before his amazement
found vent in the exclamation:
"Nancyp
He had never seen such utter abandon
and agony of shame as that with which
the poor little maiden hid her face and
covered in the wet grass, with the cry
"Oh, what shall / do7 Don't speal
to me! Go away" and burst into 6
storm of tears.
For answer he gathered the little wei
figure in his arms, smoothed the
tumbled curls, tried to warm the icy
hands, and did not dare to question
while he soothed her in his tenderest
"Take me home," said Nancy, as soor
as she found strength to speak at all.
"I shall do no such thing" was thu
decided answer, as Johns disengaget
hand lifted her face so that he could set
it, till you tell me why you came
Nancy, l couldn't help hoping a ittl,
when saw you here. Don't make mt
give it up! / thought my pride woult
support me through any thing, but I'm
afraid it WON'T" he ended, sadly.
"Pm so glad it WON'T" breathet
Nancy, in tones of heartfelt relief
But somebody'll see us. Take m,
home, John, and I'll tell you all abou
it"
How different seemed the way home
with John at her side. But Nancy wa
in no hurry to " tell all about it," Sh
only said, nervously, holding john
hand in both hers.
promise me you won't 60 awayW
"Ah, but | want another promis
first"
Nancy looked back at the plum,
hedge whose shelter they had left, ant
said, with half smile, "You see tn
lilacs aren't out of bloom yet, John; an,
l am-sorry, as you said I'd bep'
"And the doctorP' asks the critics
reader. Ah, Nancy is no model O
Christian maidenhood. She is only
faulty young girl, erring and loving an
suffering, playing her part in one of tn
tragedies that are played every where il
the springs and autumns, in the time @
snow-drifts as well as in the time Q
lilacs.
SAN FRANCISCO Post: The othe
day groceryman at Vallejo gave
large party, at which the daughte
Of hn