The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-26
very evening he found a couple OF hogsheads

Of port wine in his garden.
"Now there was in the village a pretty,
lively girl named Nancy Holiden. Upon her
the Rev. Mr.. Airport, who was getting tired
Of single blessedness in such a monotonous
place as St Edwards, began to cast affection
ate eyes; for although socially she might have
been considered, from metropolitan point of
view, his inferior, she was most respectable
and weil-behayed lass, who lived alone with
her mother in a little white cottage built al
most on the sen edge
1T happened one night that the reverend
Gentleman surprised Miss Nancy in company
with smugglcr, and judged from some
bits of conversation he overheard that there
was n lovers quarrel going OH between them.
From that moment he noticed change in
Nancy Holliden. She replied to his saluta-
tons with bushing cheeks and downeast eyes;
he noticed coquettish touches about her
lress as she sat under him in church; she
was always at home when he caled on her
mother; lie met her at times and RI faces when
and where he least expected her. And, as he
was by no means bad looking N ian, besides
holding the high position of parsoil, he made
up his mind that Nancy had really thrown
over her old sweetheart, and was actually in
love with him as much as he was with her.
Mr.. Airport resolved that he would make
| his formal request for the girls hand on New
| Years Eve--an suspicious date, he con-
| sidered, when peace and goodwill would be
upper1nost in the hearts of women as of men
"I'ha fatefui night came-a Wild, gusty
night such as smugglers loved and shore-folk
feared The ringers had done their duty i'll
the old belfry, and the simple village folk
were streaming ont of the church porch,
shaking hands, concratulating, ard wishing
zach other everything good and kind, on
their way home to celebrate the birth of the
New Year with fun and feastingl The par
ion ard Nancy Holiden fingered behind
"'Of course Won cali guess, Manly, he said,
why | am keeping You behind the restH
"Of course Nancy had no idea, and looked
askance at him over her muffier. The parson
| continued:
"'Well, it's to ask you to be my wife
"Oh, Mr.. Allportr said the girl with we'll
feigned establishment. / really-oh, Il
you take me so by surprised
"'Tell me, Nancy he went on, seizins her
little thick-gloved hand Let me have a
happy New Year, for do love you so truly
and honestly Tell ING if you will take Inc
as your husband
1.-THE girl was silent for a few seconds, and
the Young man could almost hear his heart
beat during the suspense. At length she
looked in his face and said:
"'Mr. Airport, you are very far above me.
You are an educated gentleman, who might
marry any of the squires' young ladies here
abouts. | am only village girl
"sBut all that's nothing enthusiastically
began the young clergyman, Nancy went
On:
"'PerhaI,s not to you. But something else
may be. Do you know that am lovcd 10y
another man-indeed, | was as good a.
betrothed to him not month back
"'Yes, know it. replied Mr.. Airport, al
was to Ned Blackman, the-the-'
1.-The smuggler, yes finished Nancy. 'ioe
know it, | see, Well, I'm only simple
village girl know it, you know 1t
every one knows it. But have heart, and
Mr.. Airport, | have what I've read mos
women have, love of revenge. Ned Black
NAN deceived me- | will marry you ON OH
condition
"'Name it, Nancy said the young parson
struck by the intense earnestness of the girl
THAT you will find out for me, tell III
if you know, their secret, said Nancy
mean the sInugglers' secret
1T was the parsons turn to be silent now
"Why do you not answer me, Mr. Airport
"'How do YOU know that am i'll possessio
of the smugglers secretf he answered evas
lively.
Al know that you are; Ned told me- sh
replied But he told me nothing more
"The Young man still hestated, and h,
trayed by the nervous movements of b
hands and feet the conflict which was ragin
within him between respect for solem
promise, by the giving o: which he had save
his life and the intense love he felt for the gil
standing before him.
suddenly he seemed to make up his mint
and, taking the girls hand in his, led he
into the church. What followed hmm
diately my old gardener did not tell me, for
believe he had hand in the business; but
any rate neither Nancy Holliden nor NJ
| Allport were ever seen at St Edward
again.
when came here, ten years later, four
that the parsonage had never been inhabitt
/, since the disappearance of the lovers. As n
body claimed the wine | took possession of j
and | very soon discovered that neith
! my neighbors nor tho sick poor we
the less willing to drink it for its having con
from haunted house
. "That's the story of my wine cellar, 50 su
.. pose you ring the bell for another bottle. "
= Adapted from Frank Ateli i'll Belgravia.