Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-05-14

the grave as il we're.
Who could describe the feelings of
the lonR-severed pair? Nancy's glow
ing face, when she raised it from her
lovers broad chest, looked almost as
young and as fair as when they had
parted-and thousand times hap
pier.
Toms story was not long one, but,
owing to sundry mysterious Interrupt
tions, it took good while to tell.
To begin at the beginning, he had
worked his passage out TO Australia,
got place as shepherd on sheep
farm, and before half dozen years
had elapsed was himself the owner of
q large sheep run.
'And / wouldn't be hero now, con-
cluded he, eff, last Christmas, hadn't
come across Strathendy man Jim
Black, the ioiner's son. We got pretty
friendly talking about old times, and
he told me you were still Nancy Vale.
Folks said it was for my sake you
would not marry. When / heard that.
the real reason for your refusing me
began to dawn on me. made up my
mind TO sell out, aud come back and
ask you again. So here l am. You
won't send me away this time, little
Nancy, will you?"
Nancy turned away her head with a
sudden shiver Of anguish. Not till
that moment, since Toms return, had
she remembered what had transpirod
the previous evening.
Oh, the horror of the thought J
Tom had come back, but too late; was
she not John Sprunt's affisnced 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 had to be told. Tom was
anxiously demanding what was the
matter.
"John Sprunt was here last night,
she said at last, in strange, unnatu'
raj voice, "and he asked me to marry
him."
"Ha, ha, bal Is that all?" laughed
Tom, immensely relieved. "But l
wouldn't look so solemn about it.
Don't you think it q capital ioko?"
s.So, I DON'T" said Nancy, bursting
into tears; "because I said l would"
A dead silence followed this declar-
alton.
Nancy got out her little handker'
chief and slowly wiped her eyes, steal
ing piteous glance at Tom, who sat
grave as a Judge, with perfectly in
scrutable expression.
"Are you angry, Tom?" she asked.
timidly, when the silence grew un-
bearable.
"Angry?' with short, bitter laugh.
ooh, no. I'm delighted. of course.
At the same time, it's au unexpected
honor. / didn't know l was taking q
journey of thousands of miles to be
present ut John Sprunt's wedding.
But why, in the name OF wonder" "
breaking off his tone of polite irony
"why didn't you tell me this at first? ?"
"Because forgot" sobbed Nancy.
sob, why didn't you come 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.
"I'm just a perfect brutel" 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 mis- broad palm.
Tom pressed it again and again to his
lips.
"This is mine now," he said. reso.
iutely; ''and / rofuse to give it up
till you can tell me somebody else has
your heort.
"I'll just go over to the shop at
once, and see Sprunt myself" re-
marked Tom presently. getting up.
"Hellol here's letter, Nancy" pick
ing up the all'important document,
which had lain undisturbed where it
fell till now.
Nancy looked at the letter in puz-
zled surprise. Together they perused
it. Their amazement at its contents
was equalled by wonder as to how it
got there.
Suddenly Nancy exclaimed:
ooh, I think ! can 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"
'tOh, well, l would hardly call 1t
that. Lets say he took 1t in fit OF
abstraction-iust as Sprunt opened it
to begin with. wherever he got hold
of it. Do you understand the reason
of his sudden affection for you, Nancy2
Tho grasping old miser |"
At this moment there was a loud rap
at the door, followed by the entrance
of the very individual in question.
His dismay on seeing a stranger may
be imagined. His first impulse was to