Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-16
The Interference of
Miss Nancy.
BY Sarah Lindsay Coleman.

Copyright, 1901, by Daily Story Pub. Cos
Miss Cairns sat in a big rocking chair
on the broad porch. Her pretty brow
was puckered thoughtfully. Her eyes
followed the figure, tall and angular
one. that slowly climbed the hill.
Il don't care" She dashed the angry
tears from her eyes, and laughed at little
at the Righteousness of it all.
''She said'-the dimples stole into her
cbeeks-'that I was getting old am 2S
and that I might never have another
opportunity. 1 told her there was moth
ing but comradeship and friendship be-
tween us, but she didn't believe a word.''
Like troop Of ghosts, long dead and
forgotten, those old lovers that Miss
Nancy had brought so forcibly to her
mind, presented themselves. Her very
first, a handsome college youth-the rides
they had had, the drives, the walks, and
that last moonlit night when the strains
Of Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party" hoated
through the quiet village street. He had
gone back to college, and there had been
a good deal of pressure upon her before
the gifts went back, but in the end she
returned them-the poor little tokens. He
had written only this:
Il do no tblame you that you did not
keep the troth you plighted ere your
heart you knew,
Better the parting now than wake to
weep when time has robbed Loves
roses of their dew.
Another face shall help you to forget
another love shall in your heart be
shrined,
But II shall go down my darkened way
alone. forever seeking what l ne'er can
find.''
Miss Cairns quiet laughter rang on the
soft air. And she suffered SO. She didn't
know then that "men have died and
worms have eaten them, but not for
love-
The next she met him in the city, and
the roses on the table, his gift, the satiny
La Frances, turned up their pink noses
in perfumed scorn when he declared his
love and offered her fortune, position
everything that his kind, midde-aged
heart could think Of; everything that
woman's heart needed-save love.
One by one the procession passed on.
There were good many of them, lovers
OF polish and culture, and lovers without,
for Miss Cairns was the bOniest lass in
the countryside. The last one filed from
sight, and with growing sense of irri-
tation she thought of the neighbors in
Il.
What right had they to interfere? What
right to believe that every man in the
neghborhood that was civil, had, to
quote Miss Nancy, fallen a victim to her
fading charms? 1t was preposterous.
She hoped the young fellow to whom
Miss Nancy would marry her in spite of
herself didn't know how the neighbors
talked.
Two years before he had come from his
far-away home and thrown in his lot
with theirs. He was a machniSt, and
her father found him invaluable in the
mill. He boarded with them and people
had got into the way of inviting them
out. and associating their names to-
gether.
Miss Cairns got up and walked into the
house. 1t was dark when the young
Scotchman came in from the village He
went straight to Miss Cairns father.
They talked at length and at some low
voiced request the old man answered
heartily: AYE. aye. lad"
The young Scotchman ate his supper
in silence and smoked thoughtfully after
ward. Something has evidently upset
him. Miss Cairns watched him furtively.
She liked the determined set of his chin.
1t indicated character.
When the girl who moved about the
re ON and had taken out the tea things,
he crossed to the other side of the fire
place where Miss Cairns was busy with
some needle work.
Miss Cairns" he stood before her, his
back to the fire, will you marry me?"
NO" promptly.
''Will you state your objections?" he
asked, courteosuly.
TOO young" Miss Cairns spoke la
conically. Like Lillian Bell, she pre-
| ferred men at least thirty-five.
What else?" he questioned.
TOO slim. Not tall enough
what do admire in a man?'