Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-11-13
MISS NANCY.

1osSLAioei WIS SIoWluS OH, anu MISS
Nancy Camp, who sat at the window
watching the gray clouds shift across
the sky in heavy masses, wished in her
secret heart that 1t was gone.
who'd a thought it would hev come
off so cold after such n warm spell,
Nancy?" said a voice from the little
bedroom that led out of the kitchen.
ITS moderating. l reckon it's going
to snow," responded Miss Nancy.
Its jest like the November when
Jim Wilmot went out West. continued
her sister reminiscently.
EYES," was the low response.
""Twas a real warm Thanksgiving,
and then a day or two after it begun
ter snow, and the 2Sth-you remember,
Nancy-'twas the time they had the
Celebration in the schoolhouse, and you
and Jim went-my, how it did blow and
sleet! And on Sunday it was SO drifted
that Cousin Anne Camp-she tibet was
q Stevens, you know-couldn't git ter
meeting. 1t was the first time in 'leven
years tibet she'd missed hearing Elder
Dickens. She felt real bad about it."
added Miss Abby.
Miss Nancy drew her chair nearer to
the window and brushed her hand
across her eyes. There was no sound
from the little bedroom for a while.
The big. old-fashioned clock OH the high
shelf licked away the minutes, and
Miss Nancy rocked by the window,
with her hands folded in her lap.
"There's someone a-comin' across the
old BRIDGE" said Miss Abby, eagerly.
'See who 1t is, Nancy. Likely as not
it's that school teacher tibet boards
down ter Fosters, though it don't
sound like their team. She must be a
powerful sight O. trouble to EN-"
And Nancy pressed her face against
h pane obediently, although there
was a mist before her eyes that blinded
her a little. The wagon came nearer
and nearer until she could see that it
had but n occupant-a man of about
40, apparently, with n beard that per-
haps added a little to his age.
"Who is it, Nancy?:" questioned Miss
Abby, fretfully. sit amt her, is it?
My! 1t sounds as If it was coming in
in-here."
II don't Know" answered Miss Nan
cy. Like enough he wants some d.
rections."
HE? Lands! It's a man, then! Be
sure to tell him U.s."
But there came a heavy knock on the
door and Miss Abby subsidized. Slowly
Miss Nancy crossed the room and turn
ed the knob. There was nothing said
for a moment. The man looked steadily
at the figure before him; at the simply
made wooden dress with it's pure white
collar and cuffs, the slender, blue-vein-
ed hands, the face with it's firm mouth
and faded blue eyes. the hair parted
smoothly and with the same little wave
N front that he remembered so well,
and the high shell comb that was new
to him. He saw the wrinkles, too, but
he saw no more-the years of toll and
trouble that must have brought them.
All this he noted, and then held ont his
hand.
Nancy, have you forgotten Jim?"
She gave a startled glance into his
eyes, and a little crimson flush crept
into her cheeks. 1t reminded him of the
tine he had kissed her in the garden
back of the house.
''Who is it, Nancy?' whispered Miss
Abby from the bedroom. DO tell him
ter come in and shut the door, and-I
| want some more fennel."
"Yes, Abby answered Miss Nancy,
| opening her lips with an effort.
Jim Wilmot came in and closed the
door softly behind him.
as Abby very sick?' he asked.
'She hasn't walked for six years. .
answered Miss Nancy, mechanically
taking some ennel out of a dish on the
table and going into the bedroom Will
1t.
who is ity" whispered Miss Abby
egain.
Jim Wilmot." responded her sister.
"Jim! Lands o. Goshen! Well. we'll
| Who'd "a thought he'd IA turn up afte,
all these years. Do tell him to conc In
here fore he goes. Jim Wilmot! Well
never"
Miss Nancy gave a little pat to til.