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

ness when speaking to Jim, and was
coldly, distantly polite to him. He
saw this and no doubt resented it, but
Nancy never guessed that from his
manner. He did everything he could
think of to please her, but with no out
ward effect. Inwardly she knew that
her love for him was strengthening day
by day, and that no power of hers
could prevent it.
Jim was in a most trying position.
He knew himself to be deeply in love
with Nancy; his feeling for her had
never died, as he had imagined; but
with the knowledge of her as a sweet,
noble woman came the knowledge that
he had forfeited the right to tell of his
love. Her letters had been of kind
of which he had wearied when he had
ceased to be a youth. But, anxious
that his own letters should not be as
uninteresting to her as hers were to
him, he had written in a boyish, semi
frivolous strain, which he thought
would be pleasing to her, as natural to
herself. He could not understand how
such a thoughtful, intelligent girl as he
knew her now to be, could have writ
ten such shallow, characterless letters.
He supposed that she had not cared
enough for him to write about what
she felt interested in.
Nancy grew colder and more con-
strained than ever in her manner to
ward him, and though every day he
felt more clearly that his love vas
hopeless, he found it more and more
difficult to hide it from her. He was
too proud and too manly to force his
love OF her, believing, as he did, that
she disliked him; and at last, after a
bitter struggle with himself, he deter
mined to return to India at once.
He had never been to the Ness lately
without some valid reason, and this
new decision was so good an excuse
for calling that he was not slow in tax
ing advantage of it. He found Nancy
in the garden, arrayed in a large, white
sun bonnet, busily gathering straw
berries for tea.
"You will find it rather hot work, 1
am afraid" he said, looking down
gravely into her flushed face. Let
me pick some now"
"Thank you," she answered, resign
ing the basket; ''stooping 70 much has
tired me a little"
He had soon filled the basket, and
then. at his suggestion, they seated
themselver under an old apple tree to
rest. Nancy took off her sun bonnet,
and leaned her bare head against the
gnarled trunk languidly. Jim watched
her as she sat there, thinking that he
would soon have only the memory of
her sweet, pure face to bear with him.
81 came up this afternoon to say
goodbye" he said, breaking the long
silence rather abruptly.
Nancy started slightly and raised
her eyes to his in wonderment.
Good byeF" she said. "And where
are you going1"
Il am gsing back to India; 1 have
had enough of England"
ITO India9 At once7 Oh, why9"
she asked piteously, growing very
white, and looking at him with fright
ened eyes,
An expression of tremulous hope be
gan to dawn on Jim's face as he
how his words had affected her.
DO you care, Nancyp he asked,
eagerly. would you rather I stayed9"
my wishes have nothing to do with
the matter" she said, rather bitterly.
Indeed they have" he eaid, very
earnestly. Nancy, tell me, would
you rather I stayedl"
IF I say yes, would you stayG" she
asked, quietly.
"Only if you loved me" he said. Il
cannot stay on and see you day after
day, and feel that you will never care
for me. May I stay, NancyF"
IF you like" she answered, shyly.
Jim took herinto his arms and kissed
her very tenderly.
"There is one thing 1 want to know ""
he said, presently, looking down into
her eyes; when did you begin to love
me, deRrG"
when did you begin to love me2"
she replied, blushing under his gaze.
81 don't know; 1 have loved you all
my life" he answered.
81 don't know, either" she said;
when I was about four OF five, I
think"
"But, my darling, you broke off our
engagement" he said, wonderingIy.