Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-11-03

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kSZzE7S & A nate in possessing
%F; S\6jP so charming a
2NSS 81 III house as the Ness.
" S2IaNIY 1t was built at the
ssS&</ head of a narrow
valley shut in by two hills, and be-
yond the sloping lawns stretched
wide expanse of sea.
Mr.. and Mrs. Messenger were SIM
pie unaffected people, devoted to their
children, and to Nancy, Mrs. Messin-
gers young step-sister. They treated
her with a kind of reverential tender
ness. chiefly due to the fact that she
was entirely dependent on them. And
in her turn, Nancy filled the place of a
loving elder sister to the tribe of little
ones, and of friend-in-chief to her
gentle sister-in-law.
One sunny afternoon in early sum-
mer Mrs. Messenger sat at the open
bay window of the drawing room, read
ing. She was a placid little lady, sell
dom ruffied 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, bat
her great dark eyes and firmly cut
mouth and chin bore evidence of much
greater strength and individuality Of
character. She came over to the win
dow and seated herself in a low bas-
ket-chair with an air Of constraint
Il have had letter from Jim" she
said
eyes; ] saw it on the hall table,
replied Mary, laying down her book.
docs he say when he is coming?'
eyes; he came by the same steam
ship as the letter. He will be here to-
morrow, suppose"
Nancy! really" asked Mary, look
ing almost excited care you not
delighted?'
"I-I-have a confession to make,
said Nancy, nervously, looking out
over the sea. 81 thought loved jim
when he went out to India five years
ago, but was only seventeen then,
and did not realize what love meant
We had known each other all our lives,
and 1 mistook our friendship for love. "
"When did you make this terrible
discovery asked Mary, in distress.
Il 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. 1t filed me with
dismay and fear. felt that simply
could not meet him as his bethrothed
wife, so [ wrote last mail, and asked
him to release me from my engage
ment.
"And what does he say" Mary asked,
anxiously.
"He is delighted" said Nancy,
Frightening. "He says that his feel
ings 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,
dear
"Quite sure,' Nancy answered,
firmly. ''And you will break the news
gently to Ned, won't you? And please
getreconciledt to the arrangement soon.
feel so delightfully."- airy and free!'
"You never hinted at any change
before. said Mary, a little reproach-
fully.
81 only knew it dimly, or I might
have done so, replied replied Nancy,
gently. "And since 1 wrote to him |
have been silent, to spare you any
anxiety l have felt it for the last
three years in writing TO him. My
letters have never been from the
present Nancy, but from the
Nancy as ] could remember her
at seventeen. In fact, have been
writing down to tho level of his in.
telligence as shown in his letters, and
that level is painfully low. But hap
PLY, you see, he is MS pleased to end
our engagement as l am
"He would he 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 so boyish that he will
think me strong minded, and therefore
dislike me, said Nancy, laughingly.
''And did send him my last photo
graph, you know"
"Did you send that hideous thing9"
asked Mary in surprise.
"Well, confessed Mary, rather re-
luctantly, II believe l had some secret,
unconfessed hope that he would oae,
to break off the engagement If he once
saw that hideous caricature. But here
comes Ned; I shall leave you to ex.
plain things to him.
A day or two later Nancy started for
her usual afternoon walk along the
cliffs. Since she had been released
from the engagement, which for some
years past had been weighing on her
s1irit. she had been in state Of ez-