The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-08-01
Nancy stood pulling the rose vines IN

pieces Wn1le 1Or nall an nOur the others
talked crops, politics and prospects. She
could not have spoken for her life, though
she longed to speak as a condemned
criminal longs to asks 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 detailing particulars about grazing
lands, TO say "Good-by" while he just
touched her hand II he had looked al
her, the miserable, pathetic look of ap.
peal 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 escape her
mothers eye by running up the stairs.
She did not faint; but Heaven forbid that
girls should often know such misery a,
she suffered thenl When she at last
joined the doctor, as in duty bound, the
stunned look on her face was pitiful.
"Shc was not WE'LL" she said, in answer
TO his alarmed queries"
1t was Nancy who 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 more hour 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 hei
hand impulsively, saying in a quick whis.
per, "Mrs. Armitage, / am sorry foi
youl"
~ don't want any of your sorrow ~
was the sharp response. ats fine tc
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 sorry
enoughl"
Poor Nancy! The clock was on the
stroke of II that night when her lover
(the doctor finally took his leave, and
she was free to pace the moonlit sitting
room from end to end with set lips and
wide, glittering eyes. She did not cry.
She felt as if she was 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 faint gray of morning.
"Oh, would he gol-could he go!-
would nothing happen to stop himl"
Scarcely knowing what she was doing
Nancy. hatless, slipped through the door
and trailing her dainty blue skirt through
the grass ran across the fields TO tho
Armitages'.
1t was all still, and dark, and dewy
| She heard the town clock strike 3 as sh'
paused on the outskirts of the oldfash
ioned flower-garden behind the house
and shrank behind hedge of blossoml
lilacs, whose potent odor sickened her
| Suddenly she saw him for whom sh,
watched quickly approach the spot, anc
| he stood with folded arms looking dow
at her moment before his amazemen
! found vent in the exclamation, Nancy y
lie had never seen such utter abandon
and agony of shame as that with which
the poor little maiden hid her face ant
covered in the wet grass, with the cry
"Oh, whas shalt dor Don sseak t.
mel Go away" and burst into storm
of tears.
For answer he gathered the little we
figure in his arms. smoothed the tum
bled curls, tried to warm the icy hands
and did not dare TO question, while h
soothed her in his tenderest way.
Take me home" said Nancy, as 500
as she found strength to speak at all.
~ shall do no such thing" was tn
decided answer, IS Johns disengage,
hand lifted her face SO that he could sc
il, "till you tell me why you came
Nancy, couldn't help hoping littl
when | saw you here. Don't make m
give it up! / thought my pride woul
support me through anything, but | Al
afraid it won't" he ended sadly.
"Im so glad il won't" breathed Nan
cy, in tones of heartfelt relief. "Bu
somebody'll see US. Take me home
John, and I'll tell you all about it.
How different seemed the way homo
with John at her side. But Nancy WI
in no hurry to ''tcll all about it," ST
only said, ncrvously, holding John
hand in hers: Promise me you won
go away"
"Ah, but want another promi.
first"
Nancy looked back at the plum
hedge, whose shelter they had left, an
J said, with half smile: "You see Il
liacs amt out of bloom yet, John, and
am-sorry, as you said ia be-"
"And the doctorl" asks the critic
reader.
All, Nancy is no model of maide
hood. She is only faulty young gil
! erring, and loving, and suffering, pla
, ing her part in one of the tragedies tn
), are played everywhere in the springs al
autumns, in the time of snow-drifts
. well as in the time of lilacs. s.-NeD Yo
. World.