The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-05-13

that moment, since Toms return, had
she remembered what had transpired
the previous evening.
Oh. the horror OF the thought !!
Tom had come back, but too late; wa.
she not John Sprunt's aflianced wife:
in an agony OF despair and shame
she hid her face in her hands. Yes,
shame How could she ever confess
to faithful Tom that she had plighted
her troth to another?
But it bad to be told. Tom was
anxiously demanding what was the
matter.
"John Spruut was here last night"
she said at last, in u strange, unnatu.
raj voice, "and he asked me T. marry
him."
"Ha, ha, In! IL that ALP" laughed
Tom, immensely relieved. "But l
wouldn't look so solemn aboat it.
Don't you think it a capital joke?"
"No. 1 don't" said Nancy, bursting
into tears; "becanse said would"
A dead sQence followed this declAr.
alton.
Nancy got out her little handker.
chief and slowly wiped her eyes, steal.
ing a piteous glaLce at Tom, who sat
grave as n Judge. with perfectly in.
scrutable expression.
"Are you angry, Tom?' she asked,
timidly, when the silence grew un-
bearable.
Angry" with short, bitter laugh.
"Oh. no. I'm delighted, of course.
At the same time, it's an unexpected
honor. didn't know was taking Il
journey of thousands of miles to be
present at John Sp-unt's wedding.
But why, in the name OF WONDER"
breaking off his tone of polite irony
"wby didn't you tell me this at first"
"Because forgot" sobbed Nancy.
"Oh, why didn't you come IL day
sooner-iust one day."
"You don't mean to say You would
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. The sight
brought the penitent Tom to his knees
by her side.
w'm just 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 il again and again tc his
lips.
"This is mine now," ho said, reso.
lutely; "and | refuse to give it up
till you can tell me somebody else has
yonr heart.
"I'll just go over to the shop at
once, and see 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-
zled surprise. Together they perused
it. Their amazement ut it's contents
was equalled by wonder as to how it
got there. -
Suddenly Nancy exclaimed:
"Oh, think eau explain it. ! re.
member inst like dream seeing some.
thing white fall ont of one of the
pockets of Mr.. Sprunt's overccat.
Spook was poking about it in his
usual way. He must have been at his
old pilfering tricks"
"Oh, well, / would hardly call it
that. Lets say he took it in fit of
abstraction-just as Sprunt opened it
to begin with, wherever he got hold
of it. Do you understand the reason
of his sudden affection for you, Nancy?
The grasping old miser!"
At this moment there was loud rap
at the door, followed by the entrance
of the very individual in question.
His dismay on seeing n stranger may
he imagined. His first impulse was to
withdraw, but rom's voice arrested his
movement.
"What do you want, sir?"
Sprunt stopped, gave his q uestioner
baleful glare out of his little ferrety
eyes, and then utterly ignoring his
presence turned to Nancy.
GOOD morning, my dear. I dare
say you're surprised to see me so
early; but the truth is, Pm anxious
about a letter for you that the post
gave me through carelessness yester-
day. had it in my pocket for you
last night hut it's not to be wondered
at that. in the circumstances, forgot
it," with a leer at Nancy. "And now.
I'm sorry to say, it's nowhere to be
found"
"You don't need to waste your sor.
row on that. 1t has just been found"
said Tom.
"Oh, ah-I'm very glad," STAN.
mered Sprunt.
"rhis letter has been opened. Per-
haps you'll kindly give On account of
your proceedings with regard to it,"
continued Tom, sternly cycling the de.
linquent, who was mopping the per.
spiration off his honest brow.
81 am not accountable to you, sir, "
growled Sprunt. "Nancy, my dear, I'll
explain il all to you."