The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-27
5in's Thanksgiving.


over the eastern New England coast all the
afternoon; now a cold drizzio bad set In. and
the wind from ths northeast was getting
keencr and sharper. making the great troos
sroan and creak IA ID rudely tore their gaily'
roiored dresses, and Hung the fragments 20
the four corners OF tho earth. leaving the
great skeletons raising their hugo branches to-
ward heaven. as though imploring its proteo.
tion from such indignities; away to the north
stretched tho marshland. bordered by the
naked trees. wet spongy waste; TO the east
the pasture lands barren and dosoiatc. for.
sahen by the hooks and herds for the warm
barns and cattle houses In the vallsy below (:
TO the west and south lay the ocean In It's
solemn grandeur. tossing and hurling its
spray high In the mir.
Lower and lower hung tho fog. the wind
bagan 10 whistle shrilly around the sharp.
jagged rocks, and fino penetrating rain foil
noiseiessly. ~
Down tho shore road which outlined the
beach for mile or more. and lead from
diiapidated railway station to the village
proper In tho valley. came a solitary traveller.
His heavy coat was quite soaked through. his
slouched hat which was pulled forward upon
his brow. was dripping with tho fog. his eyes
Travelled over tho desolate meadows and
marches, and he shook his head.
"Ten years." he muttvred. "ton years. an
she promised to wait till came fer her. i
thought Ia forgotten how tho old place
looked, but IL kind er seems like hoine.v
Ten long years since he had lsft the village
to make his pile IN far Australia; ten years
since no had left Nance Bigelow, she had
walked down this very road with him .ho day
of his departure; how tightly che had eiung
to him, when she said In voice. that was
husky with tears: "I'n wait for you. Jim I:
ton years is long time. but I'll wait" ana
as Jim remembered these words, his heart
leaped within him. tho sun seemed to burst
through the heavy gloom. and tho long muddy
shore road veritable paradise. Those ten
years had made Jim "nigh on TO forty" and
the 'piie." which seemed then TO bo had fos
the asking. had proved but a vain delusion.
However, by sacrifices both small and groat.
he had saved money enough to buy small
farm and keep wife, and "wouldnt have to
ask no odds o. nobody" no said. He could
see the lights OF the village now twinkling
through the heavy gloom. darkness had over
spread the landscape, fierce tempest was
blowing the fog inland, while tho rain was
railing heavily; now and again "A startled sea
gull would start from the pathway with n
the warm welcome which awaited him.
Nance would drag him into the cosy kitchen.
whore tho evening meal lay steamng on the
table: he could see IL oil, and his steps quick
ened unconsciously.
In all the years tnat had separated him from,
Nance not word had he heard from, or Of,
her. but they wcro neither much on letter
writin'." and "ten years was ten yoars; and
IT. ...t A
sides. Jim always stuck TO tho old maxim, ''No
news was good news no thought OF change
or unfaithfulness had ever occurred. TO him
his love lad been tree. hers would be like
wise. God had preserved him: So In Jim's
philosophy. He had preserved her for him.
Only few more steps now. Yes there was
the kitchen light but somehow .Jim's heart
sank a lttlo: something was changed. The
gate stood wide open, ana no stepped within.
Oh! now he know the old apple tree was
down. and n new porch had takon tho place
Of tho old rickety one. How often Nance
had joked about the unstablencss of the old
one. Yet. was that ang Something was DIFF.
ferent. no thought piteously. whatf WHAT
His knees grew weak, and his heart beat ~
loudly that II seemed TO him as IL those
within must hear IL. and as no raised the ole
a clap CT thunder rent the atmosphere. A
clatter of dishes was heard. a chair being
pushed along the bare floor. rs IL It's occupant
were leaving the table, and steps approached
the door. Jims Knees knocked together, and
he clutcbed at the door post for support.
The door opened y tiny crack. and q woman's
voice asked In husky nasal tones:
"What d. ye want?"
lin putIed him aelf toyathor aca tattn..l
"Id like to see Farmer Bigelow; ism he to
homei''
Tho woman ebuckled. IL dunno" Then In a
hoarse whisper, Lord bless you. man. he's
been dead tnis long time
Jim started. "Eh Dead, did ye saw Wb-
where's his daughter. where's Miss nancy o..
The door opened about an inch wider. "she
lives cross the road over yondcr. She mar
riod Dan Cole, the blacksmith. but hos
"shet that door" interrupted a masculine
voice from within. Coin O. let al. tbe col
darned air in Connecticut inter this and
the door banged shut.
Married. marricd1 Oh. my Godrr jim
stage red like a drunken man To the gate.
".-I guess I'll stand here ill i think" hs
muttered, drawing his cold. wet hand across
his brow. Nance married--and--lives over
yonder. IL can't boar H. What shall i've
forf Nance, Nance. - he stretched forth his
arms toward tho little cottage. "You pro.
missed TO wait fer me. You said you would"
and as though impelled by some unseen force,
ne moved slowly across the road with his
arm still impioringIy before him toward the
light In tho window opposite until no stood
In its very rays Then with cry of Nance,
Nance" he foil to tho rain soaked earth and
knew no more
The wind blew wilder and nerccr. and the
rain. which came down az though 10 were
being poured from buckets. beat against the
little window panes with all its furious might.
IL was the FIRST sound that greeted Jim's re-.
turning consciousness, and bis first sensa.
tions those Of heat and light. Iio opened his
eyes with an effort. drowsy Dizziness, and
the light confused him; someone WIS bending
over him, and "a cool hand was on his brow,
two eyes were looking lovingly into lis.
"Am I In heaven ~ he asked slowly. as
Nance with meT' Then n surge OF remom.