Arizona republican., 1891-11-26


 And so things went on for six years. Walter wrote often, but the cost of lv- ing had been great, then he had been robbed, and he wrote that he feared she would tire of waiting for him, and begged her to be patient, and added that the hope of seeing her would nerve him to new efforts, and he ended his letters with protestations of love eimmeasurable.
 No thought of deserting her lover had ever entered Nubbins' loyal mind, and her love grew and ripened and was fuller and deeper as she grew older and passed from girlhood to womanhood.
 At last year went by without news from Walter. Another wore its sad length along and no letter; third passed, and then his name was spoken in a hushed voice, as we speak of the dead, and other weary years dragged on, monotonous, heavy, freight ed with an unaccepted sorrow, until at last it was fourteen years since Walter had left his promised wife.
 Some said he had died. Nubbins could not accept his death as q fact. Some said he had married another. This reused her 10 anger, gentle as she usually was. Others again said, nodding their heads, that he had doubtless taken to drink like his father, and so had sunk so low he was ashamed to write, This she heard in pained silence, and only prayed in secret that it might not be true. Still he did not come, and she ceased writing.
 Fourteen years had brought silver enough to blanch the golden curls that clustered on Nubbins' forehead, and had stolen the delicate bloom of her cheeks and added quiet dignity to her manner, and she was now spoken of as the old Miss Preston, though she was but thirty two. The other sisters followed in age with about two years between them, and the youngest was almost seventeen. Blossom they called her still. She was almost the counterpart of what Nubbins had been at that age, only she was more lively, and was inclined to be coquettish, which her father vainly tried to check.
 So matters were on the last day of the harvest when they were stripping the trees of the winter apples, aided by sev- eral neighbors who were making frolic of it. It was the day before Thanks giving, which would be also harvest home" with Mir. Preston, and the even- ing was to be given up to games and amusements for the young folks The afternoon was about half gone, when they saw stranger coming swiftly across the meadow toward them. They watched him with high degree of cu- riosity as he came walking over the meadow with strong, firm steps, like a man well assured of his surroundings.
 He looked among the assembled peo- pie, and then his eyes fell upon Blos- som, who was standing beside tree, and he was by her side in a moment, and caught her by the hands and drew her closely to his breast as he said brok- enly:
 "Nubbins. my little wife! Forgive me this long silence, for 1 can explain it. Have you thought of me? You haven't changed bit, while have grown old and rough and gray. Why don't you speakF'
 "In the first place, you gave me no chance with your great grizzly bear hug. In the next place, am not Nubbins, but Blossom, and think have changed since you saw me last. So there, nowl Nubbins is over there by that pile of baskets I'll call her"