The Forrest City times., 1895-09-06

''I am older" she said, her heart sinking strangely. He might disguise the fact that he finds me a disappoiut- ing failure" she thought, rather bit terly.
 "Of course we are no longer boy and girl, he said. But l hope we shall always be friends, Nancy! We have been that all our lives, haven't we?"
 Yes, let us be friends" she said And. thinking that he was eager to inn press upon her that they were to be nothing more, she added: And it was very wise to break off that childish engagement before you came home, wasn't it?"
 "Y-yes," he said, doubtfully. ''Those boy and girl engagements never answer, do they? People develop so differently from what one would ex- pect. Judging from your letters, should have thought you utterly differ ent from what find you"
 You are equally different from what I should have expected you to be-" she answered But let us put up with each other as we are; we need not see much of one another, you know"
 They had just reached the gate lead Ing into the garden of the Ness as she said this and unconsciously she paused outside.
 Jim took this, coupled with her last words, as hint that he should go, and was more hurt than he cared to own. Good afternoon" he said, stiffiv, raising his hat. Your suggestion is brilliant one, and you need not fear that l shall trouble you with my pres ence more often than is necessary"
 'Good-by," she said. turning in at the open gate in order that he should not see the rising tears.
 Good by," he said, freezingly think ing her absolutely cruel in not shaking hands
 If Mrs. Messinger had been given to abstruse reflections she might have asked herself how Jim and Nancy could possibly avoid each other, ac- cording to the compact, when he was always coming-to the Ness? For he came every day and at all hours of the day, as he had been wont to do five years ago.
 Nancy lost all her gentle brightness when speaking to Jim. and was coldly, distantly polite to him. Inwardly she knew that her love for him was streng gthening 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 mere 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. a very rare occurrence indeed, for she was careful to avoid tete-a-tete with ! him.
 Shall we go into the garden?" she asked, thinking that anything was preferable to sitting stiffly in the drawing-room. "I should like it immensely" he an- swered, rising and opening the door with alacrity. Will you take me, to your old favorite seat? have so often thought of those days when I was feeling homesick, Nancy" II thought you were very happy in lndia?" she said, unresponsively.
 ''So I was, but was homesick some. times, especially when l first 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. "He is our curate." she answered. II always say that this is the finest view in town, but Mir. Penstone maintains that the view from" ''He must be an idiot, then" burst in Jim, hotly; ''the views are not to be comparedl"
 "You might have waited until had mentioned the other" said Nancy, raising her eyebrows.
 TT beg your pardon" he said, in utter confusion. II thought you must mean-in fact, I understood you to say -that-that the view from Beacon was finer than this"
 "Yes, that is what Mir. Peustone de- clares," she said. What hideous name the man hasr' said Jim, irritably. "Of course you are devoted to him, Nancy?'
 "Yes, he is So very good and clever and pleasant" she said, surprised at his vehemence.
 You are going to marry him, sup pose?" he said, with ill-concealed an ger.
 You forget yourself, l think" she answered, with gentle dignity. And whom l may marry can be no possible concern of yours"
 70, none, of course" he said, fuii- ously. Only you might have told me