The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-05-02
came every day, and at all hours Of The day,

1neTb was one ulHeTenCe DbtWetn tillS uhily
Intercourse and that Of the old times, and
that rather important one. Nancy lost all
her gentle brightness when speaking to Jim,
and was coldly, distantly polite to him. He
saw this, and no doubt resented II, but Nancy
never guessed that from his manner. He
did everything he could think Of to please
her, but with no outward effect. Inwardly
she knew that her love for him was
strengthening day by day, and that no
power OF hers could prevent II.
Jim was in most trying position. He
knew himself to be deeply in love with
Nancy his feeling for her had never died,
as he had imagined but with the knowledge
Of her as a sweet, noble woman came the
knowledge that he had forfeited the right TO
tell her Of his love. Her letters had been Of
kind of which he had wearied when he
ceased TO be a youth. But, anxious that his
own letters should not be as uninteresting
to her as hers were to him, he had written
In boyish, semi frivolous strain, which he
thought would be pleasing to her, as natural
to herself He could not understand how
such thoughtful, Intelligent girl as he
knew her now to be could have written such
shallow, characterless letters. He supposed
that she had not cared for him enough to
write about what she felt interested IN.
His position with regard to Nancy was
much worse than that of any mere acquaint.
ance. Every other man could tell her Of his
love, while II seemed to Jim that he had lost
this right by gladly agreeing to cancel their
engagement. What made matters worse
was that Nancy never appeared TO dream
that any other relation than the present
constrained friendship was possible between
them.
One afternoon he found her alons-a very
occu sudaoJ for ba rafu1
to avoid tete-a. tete with him.
"Shall we 60 into the gardenf she
asked, thinking that anything was pref.
cradle TO sitting stifily in the drawing
room.
81 should like IL immensely" he an
swered, rising and opening the door with
alacrity. evil you take me to our old
favorits seati have. 80 often thought of
those old days when was feeling homssick,
Nancy"
~ thought you were very happy in India, "
she said, unresponsively.
$50 was, but was homesick sometimes
especially when first went out"
"This is the seat, is IL notf she said, as
II she might have easily forgotten the place
where he had first told her Of his love.
"Yes, this is It, he said dreamily, looking
out over the cliffs and sea.
"Mr. Penstone and I always quarrel ovel
this view," said Nancy, anxious to prevent
any embarrassing pause.
"Who is MIR. Penstone 2" asked Jim, knit
ting his brow.
"He is our curate," she answered. 81
always say that this is the finest view in tn
town, but Mr.. Penstone maintains that tn
view from-''
"He must be an idiot, then |" burst IL
jim, hotly "the views are not to be com
pared /"
"You might have waited until had fin
ished the other" said Nancy, raising he
, eyebrows.
I'll beg your pardon" he said, in ute
confusion. 81 thought you must meant
fact, understood you to say-that-tha tn
! view from the Beacon was finer than this.
eyes, that's what Mr.. Penstone declares,
I, she said.
4 "What hideous name the man has |!
said Jim, irritably. "Of course you are de
= voted TO him, Nancy2'
Eyes; he is 80 very good and clever an
L pleasant" she said, surprised at his veh.
J, msnce.
4 "You are going to marry him, Isuppose.
he said, with ill.concealed anger.
/, "You forget yourself, l think" she al
swered, with gentle dignity. "And who,
| may marry can be no possible concern
yours"
n ooh, none, of course I" he said furiously
q "0nly you might have told me the trut
n when you broke off our engagement.
would have been Just as easy to say that 20
r were engaged to some one else at once"
a ''You are entirely mistaken in thinkin
Il that am engaged to any one" said Name,
/. calmly. "Mr. PenstOne is married, and oil
a enough to be my father. may have obs
q lete ideas about engagements, but was n,
n aware that even in these enlightened day
"a honorable women were in the habit of 81
q gaging themselves to two people at the san
Il time. Shall we go in now, or have You an
d other interesting accusations to makef'
II "Forgive me. Nancy | was a fool
h pleaded Jim earnestly. ~ forget sometim
% that have not still the right to speak to yc
n on such matters. For five years l ha'
thought of you as my promised wife, al
ize that you are mine no longer. Say tn,
ID you forgive me, Nancy, for my roughness al
W presumption"
There is nothing to forgive |" she sa
coldly. "Let us go in now. The evenin
!. are getting quite chilly"
= After this quarrel Jim found it impossib
n to be on the same footing of friendship wit
4 Nancy. She was colder and more co
rs strained than ever in her manner iowa
him; and though every day he felt mo
N clearly that his love was hopeless, he foui
Z. it more and more difficult to hideit from he
" He was too proud and too manly to force /
love on her, believing, as he did, that s.
ID disliked him. and at last, after a bitt
w struggle with himself, he determined to !
n. turn to India at once.
IA He had never been to the Ness lately wit
he out some valid reason, and this new decisi
was SO good an excuse for calling that
no was not slow in taking advantage of 1t.
at found Nancy in the garden, arrayed in
he large sun-bonnet, busily gathering stra
berries for tea.
~ "You fud it rather hot work, am afraid
va he said, looking down gravely into
n flushed face. "Let me pick some now.'
"Thank you," she answered, resigni
nd the basket; 'stooping SO much has tired
nm a littls.'
hs He had soon filled the basket, and tn,
off at his suggestion, they seated themsel'
ma under an old apple tree to rest. Mar
took oil her sun bonnet, and leant her b
81. head against the guarded trunk lauguid
ite Jim watched her as she sat there, think
that he would soon have only the meme
TX of her sweet, pure face to hear with him.
mt 81 came up this afternoon to say 60
bye," he said, breaking the long sile
w. rather abruptly.
,se Nancy started slightly, and raised
do eyes to his in wondsrment.
ON "Good-byes" she said. "Aud where
,ur you goingi"
rlv ~ am going back to India; have
enough of England"
I'll "To India at once Oh, why 7"
the asked piteously, growing very white,
,ch looking at him with frightened eyes.
of expression of trsmulous hope began to da
Ie.S~1 L. l.. H., L.,