The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-08

Han 1 year pissed 81. sbpe day 1
passenger stepped from tie morning train
which stopped at Dollsboro and stood
with his hands rammsd down into his
pockets. He was dressed In the style of
westerher. A wide brimmed sombrero
! rested on bis head, and q heavy brown
mustache ornamented his upper lip. For
moment he gazed all around him.
cts not exactly like 1t used to be,
though 1t amt much changed either" he
muttered as he picked up his valise nd
walked toward little boarding house
few yards away. 1t was noon, and the
traveller was hungry. Meeting the land
lady at the entrance, he gave her u 80
cent piece and asked the way to tho
dining room.
After dining the stranger spent several
hours in wandering about the village,
Late In the afternoon he suspended his
valise on stout staff, which he rested
on his shoulder and set off up the river
road afoot. Ever and anon, as he tramp
ed 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 usually mutter, as he
turned away and continued his journey.
At last he reached the highest point in
the road where it turned down the noun
tain on the other side toward the river.
Gust the same" he said. There's lot
even change in the road. Wonder IL
Mark Hooper lives there yet" he con.
tinued as he looked toward the cabin of
to the right.
A little farther 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 decay.
ing stump, allowing the staff and the
valise to carelessly slip from his shout
ders. Then, pushing his sombrero back
upon his head he locked his fingers across
his knee and gazed away through the
opening over the ravne. 1t was almost
shutdown, and there were few clouds in
the sky.
Gust the same" he muttered again,
after few moments silence. EVERY
thing just as 1t was. wonder IL Nance
did,
He closed his lips tightly against fur
ther utterance. There seemed to be a sud.
den breaking loose of something which
had been long tied up in his breast.
At last he rose, and, shouldering his
staff and valse, 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 with.
out looking backward, had scarcely dis.
appeared beyond a turn in the road when
his ears caught the sounds:
''Pig- pig pig-oo-eh" as Nance called
the hogs.
Again the staff and valise slipped from
his shoulder, and, with his hands ram
med down into his pockets, he listened,
while his heart beat heavily against his
breast.
At last he turned about and slowly
retraced his steps, leaving his baggage
where it had fallen in the middle of the
road. He approached within few feet
of Nance before he stopped. Then, steady.
ing his voice us well as he could, he called
her name.
Nance suddenly turned about and gaz-
ed upon the tall form of the westerner.
Then, bursting into tears, she dropped
her apron and impulsively sprang toward
him.
"Oh, Zeb" she cried through her tears.
II didn't mean it; you know l didn't!
Oh, why did you go away?"
Zeb caught her in his arms, and for o
few moments there was sweet silence.
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 am mighty rich all Of sudden"
"Ain't half as rich as l am now, Zeb,
for I've got you Back again" and, reach
ing up she took his rough cheeks between
her palms and kissed him under his big
mustache.-Chicago Record.