Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-01-12

lister spark her didn't yer. Wull
shes got two gals rs purt az their
nav. Reckon one on EN- God suit
yer"
Chris looked up caught Nancy's
eye aud frowned slightly. His owe
feeling responded to the look in hor
face. What to q real stranger might
have been amusing Jared upon him.
After supper they sat round tho
fire talking OF old times. Chris
! learned with q strange feeling OF be-
/ ing under a spell that all the boys he
II lemb ered OF his own age were
! citlor dead or had become grand.
fathers. yet no had not thought of
growing o,d. Pretty soon Uncle
Billy rose and said:
i reckon mo an my wife II go ter
bed. Nancyll 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:
! # have waited long fur yer Chris "
lie started.
Ibid you believe | would com5 !"
he asked,
Yes.
Viv.dly he recalled the moment
when boy no had hidden good-by to
a rosy cheek~. Girl. will you wait
for me. Nancy" he had sad. IN
come back and marry you some day.
ipip nf
ing than resolve, He had long for.
gotten till the freight reflected upon
her face flashed into II dark corner of
his brain, and it had all come back
to him. He could say nothing and
she began to tell him Of the long.
weary years she had waited. She
had no misgtvings; among her own
people she was accounted simple
creature She knew nothing of tho
gulf separating her and her old sweet.
heart He had not married, aud he
had come back us he said nc would;
that was enough for her,
But you're here now. Chris
She drew nearer him and laid her
cheek against his arm with simple.
chiId.like confidence. 1t seemed
wrong to touch her; and yet if ho
put her away from him, he would
have to tell her why.
This is an evening out OF the old
time Nancy. You and arc girl
and boy again. do you underestimate
he said. putting his arm about her
waist.
Yes. she said. with little hap.
Ply laugh.
Soon ho disengagcd himself and
arose. saying that nc was tired and
would like to go to bed. She went
with h IN TO his room. and before
leaving him lifted her lips for kiss.
Again he hcsitatod and STOPPING
kissed her forehead. He went to bed
but not to sleep. The sense OF the
irreparaOle wrong he had done this
girl burned into his heart tender
with its own pain. Wild Thoughts OF
solf.immolation occurred TO him. only
to be checked by the conviction OF its
hopelessneSs She would not be less
louely with him. They were utter
strangers for hcw little of the boy
she had loved was left in the man.
and how lost shc would 30 in the
world whore no lived.
He rose early and going iuto the
kitchen. found Mrs Grimes dressing
chicken for breakfast. The old
woman gavo him knowing look and
remarked with a chuckle:
,Nancy's been II waitin' fur yer a
mighty while. and here yer aire shur
nuE"
Did she tell you SOP
no; | knowed hit thout her tel
| lin me- She amt like other folks.
Nancy eint; sn"'s sort O. fool
body.
81 do not think SO"
Yer don't
She doesn't seem strong. IN
afraid she works too hard
us mounting folks all hef to work
Nancy amt stout She's got the
consumption. an the doctor says she
cant live the winter out. ="
Chris was going to speak but the
wOmau's cold hard face checked
him.
Who is your doctor" he said at
last
Nobody yer know; young Teller
he amt like DR.. Grain, he amt;
he's got larnen' an knows whats the
matter wi yer right of. u
What i his name?"
Jim Banks; he lives in Wade.
Vile.
Chris wrote down he name and II
plan began to form in his mind.
After breakfast he took his depart.
ure As he was starting Nancy came
up from the spring house.
Where aire yer goin'?" she asked
in some alarm.
10 Cranberry
'Yer'll come backpn
Yes some time.
She looked at him with patient
trustful smile.
'Good-by! God bless you" he said
and rode away. wondering why it is
that a strong and constant affection
is so seldom mutual
As he got on the cars at Cranberry
a gay voice greeted MIN:
Hello. Warren! I'm right glad to
see you" 1t was young drummer
with whom Chris was pretty well &C
quaiuted. He, too. had been up in
the mountains and was full OF anus
ing stories. from which it soon ap.
peared that he had been flirting out
rageously with the mountain lasses.
Look here, my boy" said Chris
after time 'lct me te you some.
thing. You can outlive all your carly
habits you may out-live most OF your
friends. but you'll never out live Il
promise you make Il woman. and il
you don't want to discover some day
that you are an unmitigated scamp.
you'd better make mono that you
don't mean to keep" Washington
4 Post.