Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-20
* :
$kancie'S Guard ian;
IS BY p. =. Garnett =
BY p. =. Garnett



Nancie. Can you get a note to him.
Mamhny Jane?" . u
lymph! Write de note chile"
so she wrote the note, with tears
drenching her lashes, and it was SNUG
gled out by a swift runner. The an
swer sent her red and white by turns,
but finally defiance dried her tears.
I'll show him. she said, the pronoun
not referring to Captain Jameson.
The house was full of guests. Nancie
chatted and danced and ~nervously
watched the clock until it's strokes
counted twelve. Then, hurrying into a
travelling dress, she slipped out with
Nanny Jane They hid from the star
light under the shadows of the great
elms; already the girl was afraid. The
captain was leaning on the gate, and as
he opened it he gave a glance toward
the house that was apologize and
ashamed. Then he shook his head at the
old darkey.
MY dear girl, I've only a trap, and
we must catch the early train"
Nanny Jane didn't like the parting
sob of her little mistress, and going back
the half mile from the great gate to the
house her heart garnered misgivings.
The night was full of stars; but be-
fore three of the ten miles to the station
had been passed, clouds were rolling over
theem ad a clap of thunder had struck
and echoed again and again among the
hills.
I've been over this road twice, but
we'll. of course, you know it," said
Jameson.
tVaS.c' nnnrin0 ohooI a~;o,1y.
"but l can't see it," and the darkness
seemed to thicken with her words;
land I'm d%readfully afraid of thunder"
Thunder can't hurt you. But 1 hope it
will not rain; my umbrella and mack
lntosh are at the station"
But it did rain: began promptly and
fell as if it meant to renew the deluge.l
Captain Jameson Wore a jauty travely
ing cap and the water gurgled into his
ears and splashed down his collar.
Nancie Jared no better. The hunder hur-
ried on in threatening growls, with light
ming flashing nearer and nearer, and
then the wind began. Sight ad speech
were possible only at fitful intervals. The
horse presently began stumbling over
loose stones. On a sudden Jameson
pulled him up. "
What is it?" called Nance, holding her
hat against the WING and shivering with
cold and fright.
There's a pile of rock and underbrush
just ahead" said the captain, (which
reaches apparently into the heavens
above. We've strayed, it appears like
lost sheep" =..
oh" cried the girl, bursting into
tears" don't quote the Bible out here.
Take me home" ~ p
Upon my word" Jameson muttered
grimly, IT wish I ould To do him ius-
tice, he was thinking for Nancie as well
as for himself. They were certainly
missing the train, and the situation was
unpleasant, not to say ridiculous. To
make assurance of this doubly sure, a
swaying branch struck the horse across
his face and set him rearing and plung-
ing until he had the trap securely locked
between two trees and a shaft broken.
Jameson even under shelter had not a
saints temper. He climbed out, using
some rather forcible remarks, and took
the whip. But the horse had a temper.
too, and was quite as tired of the trip
as was his driver. He snarled, kicked,
out of his traces, reared to brush Cap-o
tain Jameson over with his shoulder,
and dashed home to his stable door. -.1,
AS for poor Nancie, her terror of tie
mar was growing like he" terror of the
storm. She reached out into the dark
ness with a ringing, passionate cfy.n
Ralph! Ralph zaCt
And she thought madness had struck
her when an answer came, clear and
strong and heartfelt: EST
"Here!" l7'
But the clang of spurred hoofs follow-
ed and in a momen Ralph had dis.
mounted beside her and she was smoth-'
ering a tempest of sobs on his breast. ~ 3
There, there, sweetheart" radiantly; =,
"be happy. I saw Nanny Jane. I'd
have overtaken you but for your turn
from the a I've been distractedlv
searching. I saw Nanny lane and sent
her to tell John and the others that Won
were riding with me. No one need know
anything else"
II know" Nancie cried, wildly, "and I
can't Dear it, -
NONSENSE; it's all over. Lift your
head, little one, till I get off my coat for
you. Where's Jameson? ?"
oh, I'm here" answered the captain.
and l owe it to you. If you had been
honest enough to confess she loved Won.
I'd be anywhere else"
Ralph flushed; and for that sweet in
ference. and the clinging of the girls
cold, trembling hands, he forgave the
nan all.
Come back with u.s." he said. quite
genially. It'll the next train and fairer
weather"
But the captain preferred the station
hotel. Ralph lifted Nancie to his horse
and he walke beside her. A mount for
her had been left at the turn. The storm
was abating when they came to it. y
1 say said the captain, with a rue
full glance at the drenched, ridiculous.
still sohbing little figure, make nv
apologies, old fellow, and wish vo,
joy" q
And Ralph thanked him quite as if he
saw the JOY en- route. But when in the
Oho 7 yyaf laurD -