The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-04-25

SGSSNNgMItS = valley sauI ID pJ
SseSS two hills, and be
yond the sloping lawns stretched {
wide expanse of sea-
Mr.. and Mrs. Messenger were sim
pie unaffected people, devoted to theil
children, and to Nancy, Mrs. Messin
gers young step-sister. They treated
her with kind Of reVerential tender
ness, chiefly due to the fact that she
was entirely dependent on them. Ane
in her turn, Nancy filled the place OF
loving elder sister to the tribe OF little
ones, and Of friend-in-chief to he'
gentle sister-in-law.
One sunny afternoon in early sum
mer Mrs. Messenger sat at the oper
BAY window of the drawing room, read
ing. She was placid little lady, sell
dom ruffied in mind or temper, anc
her sweet face and soft blue eyes were
pleasant to contemplate. The doo1
opened presently, and Nancy came IL
rather slowly. Her expression was a:
sweet and gentle as her sisters, but
her great dark eyes and firmly cu'
mouth and chin bore evidence of much
greater strength and individuality o.
character. She came over to the win
dow and seated herself in q low bas
1et-chair with an air of constraint.
ssI have had letter from Jim," she
,aid.
eyes; I 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. lie will be here to
morrow, I suppose"
"Nancy! really?" asked Mary, look
ing almost excited. ''Are you MOI
lelighted?"
"l-I-have confession to make,
said Nancy, nervously, looking out
over the sea. 81 thought I loved jim
when he went out to India five years
ago, but I was only seventeen then,
and did not realize what love meant
We had known each other all our lives.
md I mistook our friendship for love. ,
"When did you make this terrible
iiscovery?" asked Mary, in distress.
81 have felt it dimly for a year o.
two, but what made it all clear to me
was Jim's last letter. saying that he
was coming home. 1t filed me witt
dismay and fear. I felt that I simply
could not meet him as his bethrothec
wife, so wrote last mail, and asked
him to release me from my engage
,nent."
"Andwhat does he say?" Mary asked,
snxiously.
che is delighted," said Nancy,
Frightening. s'He says that his feel
ings have changed too"
s'I always think of you in the future
as his wife," sighed Mrs. Messenger
whose mind was slow to welcome new
ideas. care you sure you are wise,
2ear?"
..Quite sure" Nancy answered
irmly. :sAnd you will break the news
gently to Ned, won't you? And please
getreconciled to the arrangement soon.
feel SO delightfully."- airy and free!"
"You never limited at any change
before" said Mary, little reproach
fully. e.
II only knew it dimly, OF I might
have done so, replied replied Nancy.
gently. sAnd since I wrote to him
have been silent, to spare you any
anxiety. I have felt it for the last
three years in writing to him. Ny
letters have never been from the
present Nancy, but from the
Nancy as I could remember bel
at seventeen. In fact, I have been
writing down to the level Of his in
telligence as shown in his letters, and
that level is painfully low. But hap
PLY, you see, he is as pleased to END
our engagement as I am"
'sHe would be 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 u
"Oh, he is so boyish that he will
think me strong-minded, and therefore
dislike me-" said Nancy, laughingly.
sand did send him my last photo
graph, you know"
..Did you send that hideous thing?'
,sked Mary in surprise.
"Well," confessed Mary, rather re-
Iuctantly, 81 believed had some secret,
unconfessed hope that he would offer
to break off the engagement il be once
saw that hideous caricature. But here
comes Ned; I shall leave you to e1'
plain things to him."
4 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
spirit, she had been in o state OF ex-
hilaration which surprised her. The
world seemed wholly beautifully; life
was an unmixed blessing; sin ani
poverty were rarer than she had
thought. Walking quickly along,
absorbed in these pleasant reflections,
she did not hear footsteps behind her,
and was surprised at hearing herself
suddenly addressed. Looking up with
startled eyes she found young man
gazing at her with puzzled, intent
IMPRESSION in his handsome face.
"You are Nancy, are you not?" he
said, doubtfully, holding out his hand.
"Why, Jim, is it really YOU asked
Nancy, regarding him with surprise
.'Hcw yoa have grown! When did you
,ome? and how did yen find neT :
s'I came two days ago." he said, red
leuins slightly in irritation at her first
words. "Father Was anxious that |
should stay with him yesterday, but !
called at the Ness this afternoon, and
,Ira. Messenger told me where should
Sud you"
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