The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-03-12

No, you are right. He is kind
and good. and l am sorry he Will
love me when l cannot love him.
But, why?
All, why2 said Nanette, shrug-
ging her pretty shoulders. But she
ran away then and began to concoct
a marvellous omelet for supper, sing
Ing in loud, clear voice, so that her
mother could not make her hear
| from where she sat in an inne- room.
Why? Never a word of love had
the young grocer spoken, though
his honest eyes told his adornation;
but Nanette knew that she always
| had the choice of the market set
aside tor her, and there was always
little overweight of all the choicest
things in her basket.
But the attentions OF the captain
soon became burden not because
of his prosecutions, but because
Madame Hillien became fretful and
exacting on the subject. 1t was all
foolishness on Nanette's part, and
no modest girl refused the husband
her mother offered her, she said.
But Nanette had been too long in
America though she was but twenty
two, to give up her freedom Of
choice for any old French custom.
Here girls choose their own hus
bands, she said.
And Madame Hillien screamed:
You would offer yourself to him!
Not SO bad as that, mamma,
though this is leap-year, said Nanette
for 1888 was but week old.
Leap year! All, you are a bold
girl!
But Nanette was not bold, and her
tender heart was sore over her lovers
silence. He was her lover; of that
she was sure; but he was poor, so
very poor, and needed wife to help
him grow rich. How she could help
him. How she would save in house
keeping, and make his clothes last
twice as long, and tidy up the rooms
the open door showed to be SO for
lorn. She was true woman, this
little Nanette, longing to give loyal
service where she gave royal love.
But he would not speak.
II is already two years we have
been in the house, Nanette thought,
and | know he loves me.
Something wonderful happened
just at this time. There was an old
uncle in France, a close fisted miser,
who had refused often and often to
help his widowed sister by so much
as pinch OF salt, and he died, leav-
ing to Nanette sum that made ten
thousand American dollars.
1t foirly stunned the little milliner.
To be so rich as that, when-and
here choking sob came into her
throat-when the man she loved
had not a good coat to his back,
though he worked faithfully to earn
one. Nanette grieved over her
access of fortune as much as she re-
joiced. She shrewdly suspected the
cause of Georges silence, and knew
that this legacy would be another
bar between them. Already her
mother was talking of moving into
better neighborhood and more com
modiors apartments.
The captain had offered his con
gratuiatious rather ruefully appre-
ciating the weight OF this new phase
of affairs.
| was sure of the mother he
thought, but now am not so sure.
1t was dusk when he ratified the
key in his own door, and did not
see tall figure near him, until :.
familiar voice in the darkness, said:
May l leave the keys Of the base
ment with you, captain?
Hey, what? You are going away?
Yes, l am going away, said
Geore Davis, very sadly. l hope
you will be very happy.
Oh, you do! Pray, what is there
to make me especially happy, just
now2
Then George flashed out:
If such woman as Nanette were
going to marry me, should not ask
that question, and something sus-
piciously like a sob ended the SEN
tence.
Who told you was going to
marry Nanette?
Madame Hillien.
Then she told a-ahem?-she
made a serious mistake. Nanette
has refused me distinctly on separate
occasions. So the way is open to
you.
All, no! l am SO poor, you see
| have no capital to start anything,
and | can only scratch out the barest
living. And now this money has
come. No! | will go away! You
see love her so much, cannot
stay any longer. My heart is break
ing.
Odd confidence! Well, yes; but
| think it must have been the dark
that opened their hearts to each
other. They we're such honest,
childlike hearts. both of them, to
great, bearded men.
am quite sure the dark was un-
answerable for what followed
George was leaning against the ban
ister when he said:
My heart is breaking!
Suddenly there was little soft
rustic above him; then he felt two
J arms Steal round his neck \ soft