The Louisiana populist., 1896-10-16

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there, and if he had quite forgotten
the old days.
The clock at last warned her that
she must be about her preparations
for supper, and after excusiug herself
she brought in a dish of oranges to
peel. She worked swiftly, though her
hands trembled and fe!s '.all thumbs. -
She had almost fir,sued her task, when
an orange s.. ped out of the dish and
rolled on the floor. Both stopped to
pick it up. and their hands met.
"Dear !" he said, holding out his
arms.
Miss Nancy gave one glance into
the face so near her own, and in mo-
ment was crying softly on his
shoulder.
What mattered the years of waiting,
the years of toll and trouble? Moth.
ing mattered any more.
The clock licked on, and Miss Abby
awoke from the little ''cat nap" she
she had been enjoying.
"Nancy!" !" che called, sharply.
Miss Nancy started, and raised her
crimson face with its new expression
from its resting place.
"Wait minute, dear heart" whis-
pered Jim. 81 want to know when
you'll go back with me. Invent away
to make q fortune and home for
you. They're waiting. When will
you go?"
"When will I go9" echoed Miss
Nancy, bewilderedly.
''Nancyl" called Miss Abby again.
'I'm 'fraid I don't know what
what you mean, Jim," faltered Miss
Nancy.
"Why, back out West. I've got q
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 you sha'n't
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-something?"
The flush in Miss Nancy face faded,
and 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 a moment,
then she continued, steadily:
81 shalt never leave her; so good
goodby, jim"
"AnG you'll sacrifice yerself and me
fer notion?" he replied. hotly. Gall
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 the yard and
down the hill, while one lonely woman
strained her eyes for last glimpse of
it, and the gathering fakes of snow
were already filling up its tracks.
She stood there 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 80 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
and 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 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. It
was very late when she dropped into
light sleep, and the morning soon
came.
The day passed dreariIy. Miss Abby
talked incessantly of Jim-Jim, until
her sister felt she should scream or go
mad; but she did neither, and was
only little more tender, little more
patient.
The night set in with a regular snow.
storm. Miss Abby declared they would
be showed in by morning. The wind
blew down the chimney with moans
like an uneasy 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
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 60 by
before the day was over and discover
their plight.
She lighted a lamp and did her work,
though in rather q 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