Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-09-14

mucn worse than that OF any mere &C.
quaintance. Every other man could
tell her of shis love, while it seemed to
Jim that he had lost right by gladly
agreeing to cancel their engagement
Ono afternoon he found her alone.
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 stiff1y in the
drawing-room.
Il should like it immensely" he an
swered, rising and opening the door
with alacrity. '"Will you take me to
your old favorite seat? have go often
thought of those days when i was
feeling homesick, Nancy"
Il thought you were very happy in
lndia?' she said, unresponsively.
80 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.. Fenstone?" asked Jim,
knitting his brows.
He is our curate," she answered. Il
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; 1.-The views are not to be
compared"
"You might have waited until had
mentioned the other" said Nancy,
raising her eyebrows.
IL beg your pardon" he said, ia
utter confusion. 81 thought you must
mean--in fact, l understood you to say
-that-that the view from Beacon was
finer than this"
Eyes, that is what Mr. Penstone de-
clares," she said.
What a hideous name the man hasY'
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-concea1ed an
ger.
You forget yourself, 1 think" she
answered, with gentle dignity. ''And
whom may marry can be no possible
concern Oh yours.
80, none, of course" he said, fu1 i
ously. Only you might have told me
the truth when you broke off our en-
gagement. 1t would have been just as
easy to say that you were engaged to
some one else at once"
You are entirely mistaken in think
ing that l am engaged to anyone -
said Nancy, calmly. Mr. Penstone is
married and old enough to be my
father. Shall we go in now, or have
YOU any other interesting accusations
to make?"
Forgive me, Nancy, was fOol!''
pleaded Jim, earnestly. II forget
sometimes that I have not still the
right to speak to you on such matters
For five years l have thought of you
as my promised wife, and now that
am with you | 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 i'm.
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
|
his love on her, believing that she dis
| liked him; and at last, after a 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 fol
calling that he was not slow in taking
| advantage of it. He found Nancy il
the garden, arrayed in large white
sun bonnet, busy gathering straw
berries for tea.
81 am going back to India; / have
had enough OF England
ITO India? At once? o, why?" she
asked piteously, growing very white
and looking at him with frightened
eyes.
DO you care. Nancy?" he asked
eagerly. Would you rather stayed?'
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 l stayed?"
IF say yes, would you stay?" she
asked, quietly.
only if you loved me-" he said. 81
| CdunOG stay On anu you Scy ttANC1
day, and feel that you will never care
for me. May l 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 loTs
me, dear?"
when did you begin to love mc?'
she replied, blushing under his gaze.
81 don't know; have loved you al
my life" he answered.
L don't know, either" she said;
when | was about four or five,
think
but, my darling, you broke off ou1
engagement" he said, wonderingly.
''Yes, from your letters thought
did not love you. They were so stupid
IL mean
"Yes; they were stupid, but your:
were silly, too, and / thought that was
| the kind of things Won liked" he said