The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-09-15
he READ HIS ANSWER.
By Charles Sloan Reid.

/ : A Girl Pays For Her Coquetry by Be e
s, ing Separated From Her Lover. e
ig-pig-pig-oo-eh!'
Nance Hooper was standing at the
head of little open ravine which wound
away toward the foot of the mountain.
There was a low rail fence across the
head of the ravine a few yards from the
mountain highway. and against this
:ence Nance was leaning. A great mass
# flowing brown hair reached far down
below her waist. about which her home
pun frock was tucked into n large roll,
|. nus shortening her skirts, in order that
he might move about more freely. Up
10 the right of the raSine was a little log
ahin, where she lived.
1t was late in the afternoon. and as
lance called the hogs Il great crowd of
hem came Salloping UP the hill to serum
lie over the apronful of vegetables
-hich Nance threw over the fence From
ar down the ravine came the roar of
he Tuckasicge river as the waters tum-
led over the ragged powders that mark
d its bed. With her elbows on the
"nce and her chin resting in her hands,
ince fingered to listen to the roar of
ar water while she dreamed. Small clouds
;ere gathering in the sky all around.
nd the young girls eye watched them
lowly change from one shape to another,
forming to her mind the outlines of vari-
nIs animals and birds.
While Nance was thus lost in her
lreaming and picture making she sud-
lrnly felt an arm placed around her
Whirlng around. she found herself in the
embrace Of tall young mountaincer who
held her firmly about the waist and was
looking n world OF tenderness down into
her eyes.
'Oh. Xeb. how you scared me, Turn
me loose this minutc!" cried Nance.
struggling to free herself. At the same
time two bright tears came into her
eyes.
Won't you kiss me, NanceT asked
the young man eagerly.
mo. | won't. You didn't have any
business to scare me, that's what you
didn't"
Zeb released her and stood back. For
II moment neither of them spoke. Nance
again stood holding the top rail of the
fence and was gazing away down the
his eyes turned toward the ground. At
last he spoke.
Nance, I'm powerful sorry | scared
you"
The girl did not reply. There was an
other long pause. after which Zeb spoke
again.
did a big days work yesterday and
another one today. Nance. Put 45 logs
ipf, thn
He waited moment. during which he
cautiously raised his eyes to level with
the back of Nance's head.
IL got that strip of land paid for
last Saturday, and-and I've got enough
left to build house on it. Nance"
Still no reply.
wages are better than they have
BEEN" he went on. "and | thought we
might rs well get married now. That's
what I've come to see about, Nance. ]
think we've waited about long enough"
Silence still. Zeb sat down on an old
stump near by and waited long while
Finally he rose again and gazed up at
the sky all around.
From the looks of the sky the river'll
be high enough to float logs in the morn
ing" he said. thrusting his hands down
into the pockets of his pantaloons and
striving hard to clear strange huskiness
from his voice.
They're putting in machinery down
at Dillsboro to start up a locust pin fac
tory. Nance. Reckon | could get n good
many locust blocks off of that piece Of
land I've bought"
Again Zeb's vision wandered toward
Nance. but she stood still motionless by
the fence. her long hair waving gently in
the slight breeze that was stirring. And
the longer Zeb gazed upon the woman
he loved the fuller grew his bosom. until
he could no longer withstand the press
ure. and his words were almost in the
tone of n wall us he sank back upon the
I'D stump.
"Oh. Nance. amt you ever a-goin to
say aEything?"
Nance continued as immovable as be-
fore. AT last Zeb replaced his big hat up
IN his head and arose.
IL know what's the matter. Nance" he
said 81 can seq il all now. Pole Dor
sr-'s been a-comin to see you of late. and
yes-I can see it now. Nance. You
don't love me any more"
Zeb paused to steady his voice, which
had grown little husky.
Nance" he continued. I'D aided for
you any time. and | thought you would
have loved me right on. Nance-right on.
But how'll can't say any more. Good
by. Nance"'
He turned and walked toward the road.
but he had gone only few steps when
he turned and came back again, going
close up to Nance. where he stopped
moment. Then he spoke.
Before 20. Nance. won't you tell me,
fair and square. is it me or Pole?"
There was no answer.
"Never mind, then. ! know that you
just hate to tell me that you don't love
me any more. and | won't make you.
Once more. Nance. Goodby!"
He stealthily lifted n wisp of her long
hair and fervently pressed it to his lips,
then walked rapidly away. Nance heard
the sound Of his footsteps growing faint
or and fainter as he assembled the hard
roadbed which turned over the hill just
above the cabin. Finally she looked
around. Zeb was just disappearing be-
yond the turn in the road. and to Nance
it suddenly occurred that he might never
return. A scared look came into her eyes,
and for moment she stood undecided
what to do. Then she sprang away from
the fence and ran up the road, hundred
fears taking possession of her bosom. But
Zeb was gone. "Oh, why did he go?
Why did he not wait just moment Ion
ger?" She quickened her pace and when
she reached the top of the hill was almost
out of breath. Zcb had gone out of sight
Gown the mountain. She tried to call his
name. but her utterance was only whis-
per. But at last she managed to call:
"Oh, Zeb."
The breeze blew the echo Of her own
tones back into her face. Tears gushed
from her eyes. and she sank down upon
tho roadside to sob away her sudden
LeartsIclnpbs.
The clouds began to gather, and at mid
night rain began to fall i'll torrents BY
dawn the waters of the Tuckasiege were
high between its banks, and the boom
loggers were busy with their RATS, but