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

you. They're weiting. When will
you go?"
"When will I go?" echoed Miss
Nancy, bewilderedly.
"Nancy!" called Miss Abby again.
"l'm 'fraid I don't know what
what you mean, Jim," faltered Miss
Nancy.
sWhy, back out West. I've got a
pretty little place there, with thirty
acres or SO, and nary a mortgage.
You'll have neighbors, for there's three
other farms near, and yon sha'n't
work, Nancy, Til get girl"
"And Abby?" asked Nancy.
Jim Wilmot sta, ted.
"I had forgotten her," he said,
helplessly. "But where's the rest OF
the relations? Or why couldn't she
go to 'home' or-something?"
The flush in Miss Nancy's face faded,
and little line Of pain formed around
her mouth.
"She'd never stand it to leave this
place. She's lived hero all her life,
JIM" she said, slowly.
There was silence for a moment,
then she continued, steadily:
"I shalt never leave her; so good
goodby, Jim"
"And you'll sacrifice yerself and me
fer notion?" he replied. holly. "All
right, then, I sha'n't leave my farm
and settle down in this humdrum place
jest fer the sake of your sister. Good.
by, Nancy" And five minutes after
the horse drove out of tine yard and
down the hill, while one lonely woman
strained her eyes for . last glimpse of
it, and the gathering fiafes of snow
were already filling up its tracks.
She stood there o long while watch
ing the sullen clouds and the snow
that was coming thicker and faster.
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.
At last she reused 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
eud the invalid's, while the wind blew
furiously around the little old house
and fairly shook its foundation.
She sat by the fire with her head on
her hands long after her sister had
eaten her supper, and being satisfied
with the eyasive 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 drenriIy. Miss Abby
talked necessarily of Jim-Jim, until
her sister felt-she should scream OF. go
mad :, but she did neither, aud was
only little more tender, little more
patient.
The night tset 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 uneasy spir1t.
In the morning Miss Nancy was
startled by the darkness in the little
rooms. The wind he'd blown the snow
in big drifts against the windows and
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
wood. box. There was no stock to suf-
fer, and some one would surely go by
before the day was over and discover
their plight.
She lighted o lamp and did her work,
though in rather a hnlf.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
ut their situation. Indeed, her sister
hardly knew what to make OF her; she
seemed little wandering, and con.
fused 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
suddenly awakened by q shout and
the sound of some one kicking on the
side of the house. She hastily dressed,
and then enteIsd the sitting room.
"HiI" some called.
"Who is 1t?" she asked.
"It's me-Atwood-down to the
foot of the hill, yer know. Wife was
sick and I had ter 60 fer the doctor.
Be ye showed in?"
"Yes. Willyou git some one to dig
us out some time to.day?"
"All right. I'll git Sam, if he'll
como. Be back in an hour or two."
Miss Nancy sat down and waited.
The wood was almost gone, and she
was glad Mr.. Atwood had discovered
their predicament.
The clock had just struck six which
she heard shovel strike the house.
"We're here, Nancy-be out in O
shake" said Mr.. Atwood.
"All right" she answered, and went
into the bedroom to tell Abby.
But her sistere was sleeping quietly,
go she tiptoed back again.
After an hours hard shoveling the
door opened, and in the gray light OF
the morning she saw Jim Wilmot
standing before her. Mr.. Atwood, af.
ter assuring himself that everything
was safe, went around to the drifts
before the windows, and commenced
work again but Jim did not go.
"Nancy," he said, 'I was fool
the other day. I'm going ter sell my
farm and come back here. cam
live without yon. Nancy, will you
marry me:"
"And Abby?" she questioned.
"Abby shall live with US. You
eban,n't no eanarafad -