St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-11-02

to do five years ago.
Nancy lost all her gentle brightness
| when speaking to Jim, and was coldl-,
distantly polite to him. Inwardly she
knew that her love for him was
strengthening day by day, and that NO
power Of hers could prevent it.
His position in regard to Nancy was
| much worse than that of any nero ac-
quaintance. Every other man could
tell her of his love, while it seemed to
Jim that he had lost right by gladly
| agreeing to cancel their engagement
One afternoon he found her alone. .
very rare occurrence indeed. for she
was careful TO avoid : tete-a-tete with
him.
''Shall we 60 into the garden?" she
asked, thinking that anything was
preferable to sitting stifay in the
drawing-rOom.
II should like it immensely" he an.
swered, rising and opening the door
with alacrity. "Will you take me to
your old favorite seat? have 80 often
thought Of those days when l waa
feeling homesick, Nancy
| Il thought you were very happy in
lndia:' she said. unresponsively.
$50 was, but was homesick some.
times, especially when I flrst went
| out"
''Mr. Penstone and always quarrel
over this view," said Nancy, anxious
to prevent any embarrassing pause.
"Who is Mr. PenstOne?" asked Jim,
knitting his brows
4 ssU~ I. x,rr crr. e. sho anS~oraI ST
always say that this is the finest view
in town, but Mr.. Penstone maintains
that the view from
'.He must be an idiot, then" burst in
Jim, hotly; ''the views are not to be
compared"
| "You might have waited until had
mentioned the other said Nancy,
raising her eyebrows
II beg your PARDON he said, in
utter confusion. Il thought you must
mean-in fact. 1 understood you to say
-that-that the view from Beacon was
finer than this"
"Yes. that Is what Mr.. Penstons do.
clares,- she said.
said Jim, irritably. ''Of course you are
devoted 10 MIN, nancy
"Yes, he is SO very good and clever
| and pleasant" she said, surprised at
his vehemence.
You are going to marry him, sup
poser he said, with ill-concea!ed an.
ger.
You forget yourself, think" slie
answered, with gentle dignity. "And
whom I may marry can be no possible
concern of yours"
20, none, OF course" he said, fuai.
ously. "Only you might have told me
tho truth when You broke OF our on
gagement. 1t would have been just a.
easy to say that you were engaged 70
somo ono else At once"
You are entirely mistaken in think.
ing that I am engaged to anyone"
said Nancy, calmly. mir. Penstone is
married and old enough to be my
father. Shall we 60 in now. or have
you any other interesting accusations
to mAke?"
Forgive me. Nancy, was . fooly"
pleaded Jim, earnestly. II forget
sometimes that l have not still the
right to speak to you on snch matterA
For FIVE years ] have thought of you
rs my promised wife, and now that l
am With you I cannot always realize
that you are mine no longer. Say, that
you forgive me, Nancy, for my rough.
ness and presumption"
After this quarrel Jim found it inn
possible to be on the same footing Of
friendship with Nancy. She was
colder and more constrained than ever
in her manner toward him, and he
was too proud and too manly to forco
his love on her, believing that she dis
liked him; and at last, after . bitter
struggle with himself, he determined
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 taking
advantage of 1t. He found Nancy In
the garden. arrayed in . large white
sun bonnet, busy gathering straw.
berries for tea.
II am going back to India; ! have
had enough Of England"
ITO India? At once: o, why?" she
asked piteously, growing very white
and looking 1t him with frightened
eyes.
do you care. Nancy7" he asked
eagerly. would you rather stayedf'
MY wishes have nothing to do with
the matter" she said, rather bitterly.
Indeed, they have" he said, very
earnestly. Nancy. tell me- would
you rather stayed?"
III say yes, would you stay?~ she
asked, quietly.
Only If you loved me-" he said. II
cannot stay on and see You day after
day, and feel that you will never caro-
for me. May stay, Nancy?"
If you like" she answered shyly.
"There is one thing want to know"
he said, presently, looking down into
her eyes: when did you begin to lovs
me. dear?'
when did you begin to love mer'
she replied. blushing under his gaze.
81 don't know; have loved you all
my life," he answered.
Il don't know. either.~ she said;
when l vas about four or five. !
think"
But, my darling. you broke of our
engagement" he said, wonderingly.
"Yes, from your letters thought |
did not love you. They were SO stupid
IL mean"
"Yes: they were stupid. but yours
were silly, too. and / thought that was
the kind of things you liked, he said,
intelligence dawning in his eyes
Il thought you were terribly boyisb.
SO wrote very young letters. thinking
they would interest you." she said. be-
ginning to laugh.
I'VE both fell into the same mistake,
then, he said. laughing. too.-Wsv.
| erly Magazine.
| Blastus Godlys