Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-07-11
By WILLIAM BLACK WV
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ana wei. L nave HothiiS ~ iNeiS-
Good night. Mr.. Kingston
And again she was going away, but
he caught her 10y both shoulders.
Nancy, Nancy, listen To me! How
can you be so unreasonable
She tore herself from him, but 1t was
only to burst into passionate Mt OF
crying and sobhing. her hands over her
face, her head averted. OF course lie
was beside her in moment. drawing
her toward him and petting her.
81 didn't mean it. Nancy! l meant
nothing ut ALI" he pleaded. Don't
make me miserable! l can't bear to
see you crying
at is of no consequence" she sob
bed. 1T has all come to an end now.
knew it from the beginning. And
and there has been enough Of misery
and enough of misunderstanding
auarreling-we were never suited for
each other - il has been a mistake
Observation-Disclosures now there is an
eud-and-and l am glad am very
glad" she said, with another burst OF
tears.
Come, come. Nanciebel." said he
soothingly and coaXingly. Don't say
everything is at an end on the very
night that | am going 10 appeal to my
mother and when | want all the self
confidence and courage | can muster.
Why don't you look on the brighter
side of things? Think how fond she is
of me. She would do anything for me.
And then. if it comes to that, | have
some claim to be considered. 1t wasn't
nice for me to be called away from OK
ford when my father died at the end
of my very first term. One single
term! But did | grudge 1t? No; not
when the mater put it before me and
said how lonely she would be in the
| world and asked me to be her com
panion. And here have | been living
in that old fashioned place, hardly see.
| ing anybody, with next TO nothing to
| do, and, when show my mother how
a little family of three would be ever
so much more snug and comfortable
| than our two solitary selves living
there, don't you think she will agreeF'
"You are so unkind to me, Richard"
murmured Nanciebel, with hidden face,
| but she did not attempt to get away
| from him now.
"No, am not. 1t is you who are so
unreasonable" he protested.
"Then say you will not do it again."
the half sobbing voice murmured.
"Fll promise you that or anything
else you like, Nancy" he said, "if you'll
only look up and let me see your face
and be good and kind again, as you
can be when you choose"
She did as she was hidden, and as
she dried her eyes she said
81 call it downright wicked of you,
Richard. when you are about to take
such a serious step to waste the time
in quarreling and trying to vex and
hurt me. How do we know how many
hours we may ever have together?
Perhaps this is the very last, and yet
you quarrer'-
81 am sure did NOT! 1t was you"
"Now, don't begin again, Richardp'
she said. "How can you be so unjust
and inconsiderate and unkind when
you know what have to suffer for
your sake? And are you really going
to speak to your mother tonight
When shall | know what she says?
Oh, | am so frightened when | think
of it! | lie awake at night wondering
how you will begin-wondering what
her answer will be. And know, dear
continued Nanciebel, with bit of a
sigh, that if she is angry with any.
body it will be with me. She will
blame it all on me. She will never
think it was You who-who-began tc
began to-
when once she sees your pretty
eyes, Nancy, she will understand the
whole affair."" said he. "And that is
what I am most anxious for. If can
only get her to know you-to know you
as you are--I have no fear. 1t would
be all plain sailing then"
"Mothers and sons havedifferent ways
of looking at things" said Nancy, who
had her little traits of shrewdness
Especially when it is some one the
son is fond of. Oh, just think of going
to see her! 1t frightens me to death
know what she will be saying to her
self: You-you impertinent wretch Of
a girl, how dare you try to entrap my
son? How dare you imagine you will
enter our familyT And | don't Rich
ard dear! | don't indeed | do no
dare to imagine anything of the kind
am too terrified. 1t would be far bet
ter to let everything remain as 1t is.
"You will go and get married to SOM
one whom your mother will approx,
of, and many year hence you will bt
saying to your wife: Il once knew CIR
called Nancy. She lived at Stratford
think she was little bit fond of me-
poor Nancy! And | suppose | may ge
married, too, but l wouldn't utter {
word to anybody about what is owe
, and gone. l would only think ant
think of the dear, dear winter night
, when you used to walk with me arm II
, arm and both of us dreaming of al
kinds of impossibilities and my hear
just beating and thrObbing for happi
I ness. And l will never, never par
with the locket, don't care who ma,
I object If. ever ! marry, will sa,
r this: We'll, you must take me as
( am, and | can't help rememberin,
things And l know this-what
r ever happens to me and whether mar
ry or don't marry the dearest name II
all the world will always be to me-
Richardw
[ "You speak very freely of the chanc
, of your marrying some one else" sal
he Though surely her artless comics