The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-09-24

NNs r~NsNN .NN-'
that il was gone.
"Who'd "a thought il would hev
come of so cold after such warm
spell, Nancy?" said voice from the
little bedroom that led out of the
kitchen.
'lt's moderating. I reckon it's go
ing to snow," responded Miss Nancy.
''It'C jest like that November when
Jim Wilmot went out West" con.
tinued her sister, rominiscently.
"Yes, was the low response.
"'rwas real warm Thanksgiving,
and then day or two after il begun
ter snow, and the twenty.eighth-you
remember, Nancy-'twas the time they
had thet cel'bration In the school
house, and you and Jim went--my,
how it did blow and sleetl And on
| Sunday il was so dritted thet Cousin
Ammo Camp--she thet was Stevens,
you know couldn't git ter meeting.
1t was the first timo in 'leven years
thet she'd missed hearing Elder Dick
ems. She felt reel bad about it," I'D.
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.inshioned clock on the
high shelf licked 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 WHO 1t is, Nancy.
Likely as not it's thet chool.teacher
thet boards down ter Fosters, though
it dou't sound like their team. She
must be powerful sight OF trouble to
EN-"
I Miss Nancy pressed her face against
the pane obediently, although there
was a mist before her eyes that blinded
her little. The wagon came nearer
and nearer, until she could see that it
had but one occupants man of about
forty, apparently, with beard that
perhaps added little to his age.
"Who is it, Nancy?" questioned
Miss Abby, fretfully. at ain't her,
is it? My it sounds as il it was com.
ing .in--in-here.
~ don't know" answered Miss
Nancy. Like enough he wants some
directions"
"He? LANDS! It's n man, then
BE sure to tell him US"
But there came heavy knock on
the door and Miss Abby subsided.
Slowly Miss Nancy crossed tho room
and turned the knob. There was
nothing said for n moment. The man
looked steadfastly at the figure before
him ;'at the simply made wooden dress
with its pure white collar and CUTS
the slender. blue.veined hands; the
face with it's firm mouth and faded
blue eyes; the hair parted smoothly
and with the same little wave in front
! that he remembered so we'll, 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?'
hVhO ShNO ~ bNhitiIA BiuutO iulo LIE
eyes, and little crimson flush crept
into her cheeks. 1t reminded him OF
that time he had kissed her III tho gar
den Mt 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--l want some more fennel.
1 AENne hhtr " anasuaraI Nh
opening her lips with an effort.
jim Wilmot came ia and closed the
door softly behind hIn.
"ls Abby very sick?" he asked.
"She hasn't walked for six years."
answered Miss Nancy, mechanically
taking some fennel out of u dish on
the table and going into the bedroom
with it.
"Who is it?" whispered Miss Abby
again.
"Jim Wilmot, responded her sister.
Jim! Lands O. Goshen! Well,
well, Who'd "a thought he'd "a
turned mp after all these years? Do
tell him to come in here fore he goes.
Jim WIlmoti Well, noverl"
Miss Nancy gave little pat to the
pillows, aud then entered the cit
ting room again.
"If you'll stay to supper, you'd
better put your horse and team under
the shed. We haven't q hired man
now"
"fhank you," he said, gladly.
She sent him little 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 discouragements. 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-
iy," though they didn't know sue was
y regular invalid.