The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-06-15
thought hardly worthy of considera.


Having thus logically stated his cos
ne leaned his burly figure back in h
chair, stuck his thumbs into the arm
no'es OF his waist coat, and con
piacontly awaited a reply.
m very sorry" STAN cred Name,
whom the proposal had taken entirei
py surprise. eff you mean me. M,
Sprunt, it's quite impossible. f"
what. impossible !" almost shoute
ehh. gentleman, starting up in sue
"nuisSulsed astonishment that Name
with difficulty repressed smile. .Yo,
cant mean impossible, surelvp 70
my sake, take time and consider Tn
shops n good going concern. co,I,
keep You like ladv. A sill, oom'
ana gold watch and chain would h,
MORNING to me. And Two n snug bi
OF morey laid by"
THAT makes no difference" inIer.
fupted Nancy, little frown pucker.
ing her forehead. 'A
10 say that her elderly wooer ,vo,
uum bounded, is putting it mildly II
money made no difference. what on
earth would? He was almost Mt he
wis end, seeing his chance of five
hundred pounds visibly receding. when
bright idea struck him. The sent.
mental card was the one to play ON =
woman. f' oh
Accordingly, with n rueful look bo
"Ss if to depart. 'o
fered you'..Gan say no more. I've If.
you. Many's the !. it doesn't pIeoso
dear, Two thought of yCS,ncy, nv
solitarylike. Maybe, after thls,Sa 50
think about me sometimes sitting Ic IN
some"
'Oh, hush !" cried Nancy, smitten
with real conjunction for the pain she
was 1nllicting. "If it was anything
else, Mr.. Sprunt-."
''Ay, that's it," with heavy sigh,
taking step to the door. ''If you
knew how I've saved up, and planned
and counted on this, you'd be sorry
for me. You see disappointment
tells more on man come TO my time
of life. I'm not 80 young rs I once
was"
The smile with which he concluded
was more touching to Nancy than
tears. A wave of infinite pity swept
over her.
Sprunt paused half way to the door,
detecting signs Of indecision.
81 see you're not able to- bring your
mind to it" he said, humbly. II might
have known you couldn't. You'll not
let this make any difference between
us; it will kill me, if You did. Good
bye, my dear-God bless you'll You'll
never want friend rs long as old John
Sprunt's living. Good bye"
stop moment" said Nancy hur-
riedly. She WAS fairly overcome by
such disinterested affection. eff you
care SO much"
Scare |" broke in Sprunt. with gen.
uine fervor; lyon don't know how
much L care" (Which was quite true).
"Oh, Nancy just change your mind
and say yes. >"
Nancy said Eyes"
While this settling and sealing OF
his mistress's destiny was taking place,
it may he profitable to enquire, "What
was Spook after?"
During the most interesting part of
the colloquy he was intent on an ex
animation of the visitors overcoat-
foreign articles THAT is, those not in
digenous to Cherry tree Cottage) pos
sessing rare fascination for him.
Spool had terrible nose for dis
covering secrets The nearer he up
preached one of the pockets the keenel
grew the smiling; the reason being
that therein lay the fateful letter
which had acquired q very pronounced
smell of the ham it had been in close
proximity to all day.
Now, Spook had one weakness-auC
that was for ham. Ham in any shape
or form was to him irresistible. Fol
ham he would have stopped ut no
crime. how much less ut mere pocket
pickingl
After considerable mnnmuvoring, n,
deXterously inserted into the pocket
paw, and, without more ado, contrive.
to fish out the letter.
AS il fell on the floor, n suddcI
movement of SprunPs made Spool
think he was detected, and he precipi
lately fled, leaving his booty lyin,
half-hidden under the table, to be dis
covered in due time.
IL anyone had told Nancy the mex
morning, when she began washing he
| / NN'AeNNH tAfA NIt MOuiN ltNNb IL nat
done, she would have laughed tn
crazy prediction TO scorn.
But so il was dccreed.
She had given the preliminary wa.i
with water, when n shadow fell athwnr
the step.
Nancy looked mp in surprise, an
met the stoadfast gaze of TIL
bronzed and bearded stranger.
Uttoring m inarticulate cry OF hn
incredulous Joy, she sprang o her fec
] and took n step forward.
j The next instant the stranger
3 strong arms we're round her, and nj
lips wero pressed to hers in Ion,
passionate kiss.
. lt was Tom-Tom como back frol
the grave rs it were.
> Who could describe the feelings ,
o the long severed pair? Nnncy's GLOW
( ing face, when she raised it from h,
' lovers broad chest, looked almost
, young and rs fair ms when they Ina
g parted-and a thousand times hal
pier.
, Toms story was not n long one, bu
9 owing TO sundry mysterious interim
tons, IL took n good while TO tell.
, TO begin at tho beginning. he In
r worked his passage ont TO Australia