The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-12-21

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.
20, Zeb!"
The breeze blew the echo of her own
tones back into her face. Tears gushed
from her eyes and she sank down upon
the roadside to sob away lrer sudden
heartsickness.
By dawn the waters Of the Tuckn-
siege were high between Its banks.
and the boom-loggers were busy with
their RATS; but Zeb Norton, their for
mer foreman. was not among them.
Six years had slipped away. Nance
Hooper still lived with her father in
the cabin on the side of the mountain.
She still went out each evening to call
the hogs at the head of the ravine. and
in her heart still lived the old love
and deep regret
Zeb Norton had never been heard of
since his sudden disappearance. Gold
had been discovered on the Tuckasege,
and the community was wild with ex-
citement. But what seemed unfortu-
nate to the prospectors was that the
rich vein had been discovered Oh a
body Of land belonging to one Zeb
Norton, whose whereabouts were un-
known. They feared to proceed with
mining operations without having first
secured lease of some kind; ard
since this could not be obtained from
the owner the enterprise was at a
-standstill.
Half a year passed by. One day n
passenger stepped from the morning
train which stopped at Dollsboro, and
stood with his hands rammed down
into his pockets. He was dressed in
the style of n westerner. A wide
brimmed sombrero rested on his head,
and heavy brown mustache orna-
mented his upper lip. For a moment
he gazed all around him.
ITS not exactly like it used to be,
though it amt much changed, either,
he muttered. as he picked up his valise
and walked towards little boarding
house few yards away.
After dining the stranger spent sew
eral hours in wandering about the vii
lage. Late in the afternoon he sus-
pended his valise on stout staff, which
he rested on his shoulder and set off
up the river road afoot. Ever and anon
as he tramped along the highway he
would stop at some high point and gaze
away across the hills and valleys.
Just like they used to be, all just
the same," he would mutter as he
turned away and continued his journey
At last he reached the highest point
in the road, where it turned down the
mountain on the other side toward the
river.
"Just the same," he said; there's not
even a change in the road. Wonder if
Mark Hooper lives there yet?" he con-
tinued, as he looked toward the cabin
off to the right.
A little further along he turned away
from the road and walked slowly down
to where the fence crossed the ravine
Here he seated himself on an old, fast.
decaying stump, allowing the staff and
valise to carelessly slip from his shoul-
der. Then. pushing his sombrero back
upon his head, he locked his fingers
across his knee and gazed away
through the opening over the ravine
1t was almost sundown, and there were
few clouds in the sky.
Just the same" he muttered again,
after few moments silence; "every-
thing Just like it was. l wonder if
Nance did"
At last he arose, and, shouldering his
staff and valise, started back to the
road. And just as he turned his back
toward the cabin Nance came out with
her apron full of vegetables for the
hogs, and came on slowly down the
path toward the fence.
The traveller, who had walked on
without looking backward, had scarce
ly disappeared beyond turn in the
road when his ears caught the sounds:
"Pig-pig-pig-oo-ehl" as Nance called
the hogs.
Again the staff and valise slipped
from his shoulder; and, with his hands
rammed down into his pockets, he lis
tened, while his heart beat heavily
against his breast.
At last te turned about and slowly
retraced his steps. leaving his baggage
where 1t had fallen, in the middle of the
road. He approached within Q few feet
Of Nance before he stopped. Then
steadying his voice as we'll as he could
he called her name.
Nance suddenly turned about and
gazed upon the tall form of the west
erner. Then, bursting into tears, she
dropped her apron and impulsively
sprang toward him.
20, Zeb!" she cried through her
tears, II didn't mean it; you know l
didn't! o, why did you go away?"
"Nance," said Zeb, at last, II never
could think of loving anybody but you.
But when ] came back to look after
that gold mine ! didn't expect to find
such jewel as this waiting for me. 1t
appears like I am mighty rich all of a
sudden"
"Ain't half as rich as am now, Zeh,
T.. i