The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-10
Nancy's Nod
Story of an Old Piece of China.
sroREs

FRoM SHoRr sToRsES.

( bent shoulders and the furrow between
| his eyebrows would have told one so
much at a glance.
He had the large, dreamy eyes of an
enthusiast, and his thread-bare coat
| seemed to point to the fact that what
ever 1t was that he worked at, he did
not find 1t remunerative.
| Miss Nancy got UP quickly and held
out two welcoming hands.
| You are just in time" she said. ITO
| have some breakfast. Rachels scones
are still hot, and this comb is fresh
! from the hive!"
He sat down without more ado. and
let himself to be waited on, and, while
! he was enjoying the new-laid eggs and
| other homely food she supplied him
with. he told her that he had brought
her a new book and quite budget OF
| news.
| The book was one she had long
wished to read-a modern masterpiece
but she gave a half-sigh as she took
1t. and said:
| 1T must have cost a dreadful lot Of
money! You ought not to bring me
such presents. Roger!"
| roger Leslie laugneu.
| ITS all right" he said, because,
henceforth. won't be quite dependent
on the few pounds have made by my
articles and criticisms. for have been
offered, and have accepted, the post
| OF village organist-not a grand one,
it is true, still 1t means ESQ a year,
and sometimes. as you know, have
been sorely in need of so pence!"
| He spoke in the matter-of-fact way
of person who knows that what he is
stating is nothing new to his compan-
ion, and also nothing to be in the least
ashamed Of
| They were both intimately acquaint-
ed with poverty and all it's restraints.
yet 1t had neither soured nor stunted
them-but it explained the pathetic
patience in Miss Nancy's eyes.
| Roger Leslie and she had loved each
other for Is long years. but had always
been too poor to marry. The son Of
an Oxford professor, he had been given
a splendid education. and then his
father had suddenly gone bankrupt
and died. leaving his boy to fight his
way in the world as best he could.
An uncle gave him small allow
ance, and a cycling tour had landed
him in this quaint old village, which
had so charmed him that he took up
his abode there, had fallen in love
with Miss Nancy and ever since had
| been the brightness and comfort of
! her life. which she allowed to herself,
had hitherto been rather lonely.
But as to marrying her--of course,
it was impossible. So he bded his
time and waited, hoping that his book
would some day be accepted by some
publisher-meantime, he wrote scien-
tific and literary articles for maga-
zines, and SD eked out small in
come.
He had honestly tried to get work:
indeed, he would willingly have taken
employment of any description, hut
for every post which was empty there
| seemed TO be hundreds of candidates
and Roger was never the one who was
selected. He had no influential inter-
est for one thing. and was too dreamy
| and absent minded to push himself
forward at the crucial moment, so
there he remained in the old world
village. Wasting his life," said ths
relations who had never lifted one
finger to help him--but who shall dare
say one life is wasted which sweetens
and comforts another"
'That is piece of news. and of i'm
portance " said Miss Nancy. You are
right to have taken the post-how diff
fently the organ will sound en- Sunday
now! OF course, it was the vicar who
offered 1t to you?"
"Yes. He told me he would have
liked to ask me long ago. but while
old Matthews was alive he simply
couldn't, for. as you know. he has
spent his life here, and nobody can
remember any other organist, but now
the POOR old chap is dead"
| "Of course, that makes all the diff
ference" she said quickly.
Eyes. Now for my other bit of
news--old Matthews things are to be
sold by auction next week in the mar
ket place. They say it will be the
queerest collection of nondescript ar.
ticles ever seen in this countryside"
Il have never been at an auction" )"
said Miss Nancy, absantly. II wonder
what 1t is like"
"Oh very commonplace as rule.
but sometimes, when one has known
the people. az on this occasion, it is
rather pathetic"