The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-12-05
BY MUTUAL. CONSENT.

shut In by two hi and beyond the
sloping lawns stH5S Ia wide expanse
of sea.
Mr.. and Mrs. h~essingel wrre sinp!e
unaffected people, Devoted 20 their
children, and to Nancy &ra. Messin-
gers young step-sister. Tbe5 treated
her with q kind Of reyeren Lai tender
ness, ehiedy due to the fact t4n she
was entirely Cananden~ upon them.
And in her turn. MAJ, He'd the place
of a loving elder Lister to tie tribe OF
little ones, and of friend in chief to her
gentle sister-in law.
One sunny afternoon III early sum-
mar Mrs. Messenger sat the open bay
window of the drawing room, reading.
She was a placid little lady, seldom
rufhed in mind or temper, and her
sweet face and soft blue eyes were
pleasant to contemplate. The door
opened presently, and Nancy came in
rather slowly. Her expression was as
sweet and gentle as her sisters, but her
great dark eyes and firmly cut mouth
and chin bore evidence of much greater
strength and individuality of charac-
ter. She came over to the window and
seated herself in a low basket chair
with ar air of c%onstraint.
Il have had a letter from Jim" she
said.
Eyes; I saw it on the hall table" re
piled Mary, laying down her book.
docs he say when he is comingG"
YES; he came by the same steamer
as the letter. He will be here to NOR
row, I suppose"
Nancy reallyY" asked Mary, look
ing almost excited. Are you not de-
lighted4"
'I-I-have a confession to make"
said Nancy, nervously, looking out
ove the sea. Il thought I loved Jim
when he went out to India five years
ago, but I was only seventeen then,
and did not realize what love meant.
We had known each other all our lives,
and I mistook our friendship for love"
when did you make this terrible
discoveryF asked Mary, in distress.
81 have felt it dimly for a year or
two, but what made it all clear to me
was Jim's last letter, saying that he
was coming home. It filled me with
dismay and fear. l felt that I simply
could not meet him as his betrothed
wife, so I wrote last mail, and asked
him to release me from any engage
ment."
And whatdoes he say 3" Mary asked,
anxiously.
He is delighted" said Nancy,
Frightening. He says his feelings
have changed too"
81 always think of you in the future
as his wife sighed Mrs. Messenger,
whose mind was slow to welcome new
ideas. Are you sure you are wise,
dear9'
Quite sure" Nancy answered,
firmly. "And you will break the news
gently to Ned, won't youG And please
get reconciled to the arrangement
soon. feel 80 delightfully."- airy and
freeI'
You never limited at any change
BEFORE" said Mary, a little reproach-
fully.
II only knew it dimly, or I might
have done So" replied Nancy, gently.
And since I wrote to him l have been
silent, to spare you any anxiety. 1
have felt it for the last three years in
writing to him. Ny letters have never
been from the present Nancy, but from
the Nancy az I could remember her at
seventeen. In fact, 1 have been writ
ing down to the level of his intelligence
as shown in his letters, and that level
is painfully low. But happily you see,
he is as pleased to END our engagement
as 1 am"
He would be much more likely to
object if he once saw you," said Mary,
frankly, ''for these five years have
done wonders with you in every way"
"Oh, he is 80 boyish that he will
think me strong minded, and therefore
dislike me-" said Nancy, laughingly.
"And 1 did send him my last photo
graph, you know"
Did you send him that hideous
thing9" asked Mary in surprise.
WELL" confessed Mary, rather re-
luctantly, 81 believe 1 had some secret,
unconfeseed hope that he would offer
to break off the engagement if he once
saw that hideous caricature. But here
comes Ned; I shall leave you toexplain
things to him