Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-10-14

Il III
| SAYH ing the gray clouds
| IN 10 shift across the sky in
W o. heavy masses, wished
20 ~ in her secret heart
that it was gone.
"Who'd a. thought it would hev
come off so cold after such warm
spell, Nancy?" said voice from the
little bedroom that led out Of tho
kitchen.
.It's moderating. reckon it's 60
ing to snow," responded Miss Nancy.
'It'c jest like that November when
Jim Wilmot went out West" con-
tinued her sister, reminiscently.
| "Yes, was the low response.
'@Hwas real warm Thanksgiving,
and then day or two after it begun
te- snow, and the twenty eighth-you
remember, Nancy-'Swas the time they
had thet celebration IN the school
house, and you and Jim went-my,
how it did blow and sleet! And on
Sunday it was SO drifted thet Cousin
| Anne Camp-she thet was Stevens.
you know-couldn't git ter meeting.
It was the first time in 'leven years
thet she'd missed hearing Elder Dick
ems. She felt reel bad about it," ad-
ded Miss Abby.
Miss Nancy drew her chair nearer
to the window and brushed her hand
across her eyes. There was no sound
rom the little bedroom for awhile.
The big, old-tashioned clock on the
high shelf ticked away the minutes,
and Miss Nancy rocked by the win
dow, with her hands folded in her
lap.
"There's some one a.coming across
the old bridge" said Miss Nancy,
eagerly. ''See wto 1t is, Nancy.
Likely as not it's thet school-teacher
thet boards down ter Fosters, though
it don't sound like their team. She
must be powerful sight OF trouble to
'em."
Miss Nancy pressed her face against
the pane obediently, although there
was 3 mist before her eyes that blinded
her little. The wagon came nearer
and nearer, until she could see that 1T
had but one occupants man OF about
forty, apparently, with o beard that
perhaps added little to his age.
"Who is it, Nancy?" questioned
Miss Abby, fretfully. 'It amt her,
is it? My it sounds es if it was com
ing in--in-here."
s1 don't know" answered Miss
Nancy. Like enough he wants some
directions.
Gle? Laudsl It's a man, then! !!
Be sure to tell him us"
| But there came heavy knock on
1.-THE door and Miss Abby subsidized.
Slowly Mics Nancy crossed the room
and turned the knob. There was
nothing said for moment. The man
/ looked steadfastly at che figure before
him at the simply made woolen dress
with it's pure white collar and cuffs;
| the slender, blue.veined hands; the
face with its firm mouth and faded
blue eyes; the hair parted smoothly
and with the same little wave in front
that he remembered SO well, and the
high, shell comb that was new to him.
He saw the wrinkles, too, but he saw
more-the years of toll and trouble
that must have wrought them. All
this he noted and then held out his
hand.
"Nancy Have you forgotten Jim?"
She gave startled glance into his
eyes, and little crimson flush crept
into her cheeks. 1t reminded him OF
that time he had kissed her in the gar
den ut the back of the house.
"Who is it, Nancy?" whispered Miss
Abby from the bedroom. "Do tell
him ter come in and shet the door,
and-I want some more fennel."
eyes, Abby" answered Miss Nancy,
opening her lips with an effort.
Jim Wilmot camo in and closed the
door softly behind him.
sis Abby very sick?" he asked.
'She hasn't walked for six years, "
answered Miss Nancy, mechanically
taking some fennel ont of a dish on
the table and going into the bedroom
with it.
"Who is it" whispered Miss Abby
sgain.
"Jim Wilmot," responded her sister.
"Jim! Lands O. Goshen Well,
we'll, Who'd "a thought he'd a
turned up after all these years9 Dc
! tell him to come in here fore he goes.
l. Jim Wilmotl Well, neverl"
Miss Nancy gave little pat to the
pillows, and then entered the sit
ting room again.
eff you'll stay to supper, you'd
better put your horse and team under
the shed. We haven't hired man
now
"rrhank you" he said, GLADLY.
| She sent him littls sly glance as
he went out of the door.
In few minutes he was back again,
but the talk was little forced. He
told her how rough the life was out
West when he first went; how, after
many discouragelnents, little pros
perity came to him, and then he came
on visit to his folks, who told
him that, they lived together at the
little house, and that Abby was "sick
ly," though they didn't know she was
a regular invalid.
Miss Nancy wondered, looking a
the firm chin, and the hair that hat
been so brown now streaked will
gray, if it was not very Lonesome ou
there, and if he had quite fergotteI
the old days.
The clock at last warned her tha'
she must be about her preparation
for supper, and after excusing hersel
she brought in dish of oranges tt
peel. She worked swiftly, though he,
hands trembled and felt call thumbs.
She had almost finished her task, wheI
an orange slipped out of the dish ant
rolled on the floor. Both stopped t.
pick it up, and their hands met.
"Dear!" he said, holding out hi
arms.