The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-06-15
UhANTSVILLE, W. VA TUESDAY IIrND . -

ask you again. So here / am. Y,
, wont send me away this time Ia
8 Nancy, will your" ''
nancy turned away her head with
sudden SILVER of anguish. Not =;
tnat moment. since Toms return. Ia
she remembered what had transniro
'ne previous evening.
Oh, tho horror of the thouob,
LON mad come back, but too late wo
she not John Sprunt's afIianced wiz
IN nm agony of despair and sham
she Ind her face in her hands. VI.
shame How could she ever COMES
10 faithful Tom that she had pliobto,
her troth to another?
But it had to be told. Ton,
anxiousiy demanding what was The
matter. VIZ
John sprunt was here Inst Mich, /,
she SAID at Inst, in strange. unpatn
RAJ voice, and he asked me to mnrrv
~ Tia. IN, ha IL TINT all ?" laughed
LON, Immensely relieved. "Rnt 7
wou,dA { look so solemn about il
Don't you think it capital ioko9v
mo. L don't" said Nancy burst;ro
into tears; "because 1 said + would !,
alton. ' "ooiar'
Nancy got out her little handkor.
chiel and slowly wiped her eyes. steal.
ing piteous glance at Tom. who sat
grave as n Judge, with n perfectly in
scrutable expression.
are you angry, Tom?" sba oolo5
,.imidiy, when the silence grew nm,
bearable. So" uu-
Angry p with short, bitter lauob
vOh, no. I'm delighted. of conrsn
iourfe same time. it's an unexpected
present ! didn't know was taking n
But why, in 2psands of miles to be
breaking off his toSprunt's wedding.
"why didn't you tell re of WONDER"
because forgot" soiite irony
"Oh, why didn't you cot first?"
sooner-iust one day." 'ency.
"You don't mean to say You wouts
have preferred me TO the young and
handsome and generous Sprunt"
asked Tom, with biting sarcasm.
Poor Nancy lifted her swimming
eyes in mute reproach. Tho sight
brought the penitent Tom to his knees
by her side.
''l'm just n perfect brute !" he de-
clared, kissing away her tears. "Can
you ever forgive me for being so
cruel?"
For answer Nancy silently laid her
slender little hand in his broad palm.
Tom pressed it again and again TIC his
lips.
"This is mine now" hc said, reso-
lutely; "and L refuse to give it up
till you can tell me somebody else has
your heart.
"I'll just go over to the shop at
once, and sec Sprunt myself" re-
marked Tom presently, getting
up. "Hello! here's letter, Nancy"
picking up the all.important docu-
ment, which had lain undisturbed
where it fell till now.
Nancy looked at the letter in puz-
lied surprise. Together they perused
it. Their amazement ut its contents
was equalled by wonder as to how it
got there.
Suddenly Nancy exclaimed:
"Oh, think l eau explain it. / re-
member just like dream seeing some
thing white fall out of one of the
pockets of Mr.. Sprunt's overcoat.
Spook was poking about it in his
usual way. He must have been at his
old pilfering tricks"
ooh, well, / would hardly call il
that. Let's say he took it in n fit oil
abstraction-just as Sprunt opened il
to begin with, wherever he got hole
of it. Do you understand the reason
of his sudden affection for you, Nancy
The grasping old miser l''
AT this moment there was n loud raj
at the door, followed by the entranc,
of the very individual in question.
His dismay on seeing stranger may
be imagined. His first impulse was t.
withdraw, but Toms voice arrested hi
movement.
"What do you want, sir?"
Sprunt stopped, gave his uestionet
n baleful glare out of his little ferret,
eyes, and then utterly ignoring hi
presence turned to Nancy.
GOOD morning, my dear. / dar
say you're surprised to see me 81
early but the truth is, Pm anxiou
about letter for you that the pos
gave me through carelessness yester
day. ] had it in my pocket for yot
last night; but it's not TO be wondcro
at that, in tho circumstances, I forgo
it," with leer at Nancy. "And now
Im sorry 60 say, it's nowhere TO b
found"
"You don't need to waste your sor
row on that. 1t has just been found,
said Tom.
ooh, nh-Pm very glad" stan
mercd Sprunt.
"Fhis letter las been opened. Pei
haps you'll kindly give an account q
, your proceedings with regard to it.,
continued Tom, sternly cycling the d,
linqueni, who was hopping the rei
spiration OF his honest brow.
81 nm not accountable TO you, sir,
{ growled Sprunt. Nancy, my dear, L
explain it. all 60 you"
"Just dare TO call this lady Won
3 dear again cried Tom, with such +,
| s.v0city OF aspect that "the Shop "backe
. mo or three steps to the door. 80
explaining, you may save yourse
tho trouble. It's nm III wind tht
blows nobody good" observed Ton
with a comicol glance ut Nancy ~ tl
door banged behind the banlc
schemer. "Tho very first thing yc
,r, ,,ut,. a. l. TN