The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-09-26

aWoke lToln tne llttle cat nap Sne nau
been enjoying.
"Nancyn' she called sharply.
Miss Nancy started and raised her GRIM
son face with its new expression from its
resting place.
''Wait minute, dear heart,' whispered
Jim. 81 want to know when you'll 90
back with me. l went away to make a
fortune and home for you. They re wait
ing. When will you go?"
when will l go?" echoed Miss Nancy,
bewildered.
"Nancy?" called Miss Abby again.
"Im afraid l don't know what-wh
you mean, Jim," faltered Miss Nancy.
why, back out West. I've got pretty
little place there, with thirty acres or so,
and nary mortgage. You'll have neigh
bors, for there's three other farms near, and
you sha mt work, Nancy, I'll get girl"
"And Abby?', asked Nancy.
Jim Wilmot started.
81 had forgotten her, he said, helplessly
"But where's the rest of the relations? Or
why couldn't she go to home or-some-
thing?"
The flush in Miss Nancy's face faded and
a little line of pain formed around her
mouth.
''She'd never stand it to leave this place.
She's lived here all her life, JIM" she said
slowly.
There was silence for moment, then
she continued, steadily:
81 shall never leave her; so good-good-
bye, jim"
"And you'll sacrifice yourself and me
for notion?" he replied, hotly. "All
right, then, I shan't leave my farm and
settle down in this humdrum place Jest fer
the sake of your sister. Goodbye, Nancy
And five minutes after the horse drove out
of the yard and down the hill, while one
lonely woman strained her eyes for last
glimpse of it, and the gathering flakes of
snow were already filling up it's tracks
She stood there long while watching
the sullen clouds and the snow that was
coming thicker and taste. Little puffs of
wind blew the flakes of snow against the
pane, and Miss Nancy wondered vaguely if
they felt unhappy because they melted so
soon.
Atlast sheroused herself and went into the
bedroom. Miss Abby, tired of calling had
fallen asleep. She was thankful for the
respite, and going out softly, prepared her
own supper and the invalids, while the
wind blew furiously around the little old
house and fairly shock its foundations.
She sat by the fire with her head on her
hands long after her sister had eaten her
supper, and being satisfied with the evasive
answers to her many questions, had gone to
sleep again. But the fire died down and it
grew chilly in the little kitchen, so finally
she, too, went to her nights rest. 1t was
very late when she dropped into a light
sleep, and the morning soon came.
The day passed drearily. Miss Abby
talked necessarily Of Jim-Jim, until her
sister felt she should scream or 20 mad; but
she did neither, and was only little more
tender, little more patient.
The night set in with regular snow
storm. Miss Abby declared they would be
showed in by morning. The wind blew
down the chimney with means like an I'M
easy spirit.
In the morning Miss Nancy was startled
by the darkness in the little rooms. The
wind had blown the snow in big drifts
against the windows and the door. What
Miss Abby had feared had come to pass and
they were showed IN. But there was no
cause for worry as yet, There was plenty
OF food in the pantry and wood in the
woodboX. There was no stock to suffer,
and someone would surely go by before the
day was over and discover their plight.
She lighted lamp and did her work,
though in rather half-hearted way; and
the day passed, and no one went by, and
the snow piled up higher and higher around
the house.
Miss Abby was very little frightened at
their situation. Indeed, her sister hardly
knew what to make Of her; she seemed
little wandering, and confused things
strangely.
The next day. late in the afternoon, it
stopped showing, but no one went by, and
the darkness came on again. Another long
night. Miss Nancy left a lamp burning in
the kitchen, and then went to bed.
Very early in the morning she was sud-
denly awakened by shout and the sound
OF someone kicking on the side of the
house. She hastily dressed, and then en-
tered the sitting room.
"Hin' someone called.
"Who is it?' she asked.
SITS me-Atwood-d to the foot of !
the hill, yer know. Wife was sick and
had ter go fer the doctor. Be we showed
imp
"Yes. Will you git someone to dig us
out sometime today?'
''All right. I'll git Sam, if he'll come
Be hack in an hour or two"
Miss Nancy sat down and waited. The |
wood was almost gone, and she was glad |