Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1893-01-27

TO supper.
so you've come back ter yer old
homo began Uncle Billy. ''Whers
yer companion?"
= Il haven't any
Not got none"
NO"
. Couldn't yer suit yerself out in
Californy?'
THE girl l wanted didn't want
me-
Il see. Well. yer ought Ter ha'
taken a wife wi yer. 'Taint ter late
We've some pretty right gals hero.
CAT this point Nancy who had gone
for can OF cherries re.entered the
room. Yer rccklet Sally Peters,
lister spark her didn't yer WulL
she's got two gals as purt as their
NAV. Reckon one on 'em GOD suit
yer"
Chris looked up. caught Nancy's
eye. and frowned slightly. His own
feeling responded to the look in her
face. What to real stranger might
have been amusing. Jared upon him,
After supper they sat round the
fire talking OF old times Chris
learned with q strange feeling OF be-
ing under a spoil that all tho boys he
remembered of his own age were
either dead or had become grand.
fathers yet he had not thought OF
growing Old. Pretty soon Uncle
Billy rose and said
Il reckon me an my wife Il go ter
bed Napcy'll keep yer company. -"
and he retired to the room beyond.
Chris sat looking into the fire.
Nancy drew chair near him He
was scarcely aware OF her presence
his thoughts being far away AT last
she spoke:
Il have waited long fur YER Chris. "
He started.
''Did you believe would como
he asked.
Yes"
Viyidly he recalled the nome mt
when boy he had hidden good-by to
n rosy checked girl. ''Will you wait
for me. Nancyp' he had said. 'Tll
come back and marry you some day. "
Idle words. containing more OF feel
ing than resolve. He had long for
gotten till the freight reflected upon
her face flashed into dark corner OF
his brain. and it had all como back
to him. He could say nothing. and
she began to tell him OF the long.
weary years she had waited. She
had no misgivings; among her own
people she was accounted simple
creature She knew nothing Of the
gulf separating her and her old sweet
heart He had not married. aud he
had come back as he said he would;
that was enough for her.
But you're here now. Chris
She drew nearer him and laid hel
cheek against his arm with simple,
child.like confidence 1t seemed
wrong To touch her; and yet If he
put her away from him. he would
have to tell her why.
This is an evening out OF the old
time Nancy. You and are cir
and boy again. do you understand
he said. putting his arm about hel
waist
Yes she said. with little hap
py laugh.
Soon no disengaged himself ant
arose. saying that no was tired ant
would like to go to bed. She wen
with h m to his room. and 6efor,
leaving him lifted her lips for kiss
Again he hesitated and STOPPING
kissed her forehead. He went to bed
but not to sleep The sense of tn
irreparable wrong he had done thi
girl burned into his heart tende
with its own pain. Wild thoughts O
self-immolation occurred to him. onl.
, to be checked by the con viction OF it
= hopelessness. She would not be les
lonely with him. They were ute
strangers for how little OF the DO
she had loved was left in the man
and how lost shc would be in tn
world where he lived.
He rose early and. going into tn
kitchen, found Mrs Grimes dressiu
chicken for breakfast The oil
| woman gave him a knowing look an
remarked with a chuclsle:
.'Nancy's been waitin' fur yer
Q mighty while, and here yer aire shu
l. nuf."
did she tell you so?'
4 mo; l knowed hit thout her te
. lin me. She amt like other folk.
l Nancy ain't; she's a sort o fot
Q body"
:. al do not think So" T.,
. Yer don't?"
''Sho doesn't seem strong. l j
/. afraid she works too hard"
4 us mounting folks all hef to worl
o Nancy amt stout She's got tn
d consumption an the doctor says 81
i. cant live tho winter out. ~
Chris was going to speak. but I'll
/. woman's cold. hard face checkc
+ him.
l Who is your doctor?" he said
last
Nobody yer know; young fell
he amt like DR.. Grain he ain
he's got larnen' an knows what's til
matter wi yer right off,"
l. What IS his name?"
Jim Banks; he lives in Wad
:. Vile"
Chris wrote down The name and
Il plan began to form in his mind.
After breakfast he took his depar
i ure As he was starting Nancy can
up from the spring house.
Where aire yer goin''" she asks
d in some alarm.
10 Cranberry"
II 'Yer'll come backP"
Yes some time"
't She looked at him with patien
T. trustful smile.
n .Good-bv! God bless you." he sa
W and rode away. wondering why 1t
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