The Tupelo journal., 1903-05-22

on in he morning. she said to herself.
She traced the work of a maraudiEg
rabbit along the rows of young cab
bage. and was attentive to everything
| apound her. When Miss Nancy at last
knelt down beside the row of peayines,
she was hnmming a tune. but she
ceased in a little while and smiled Bit
terly to remember that the man out
there walking with Mile had sere-
naded her with hat little song-a love
song it was, she remembered now-so
long ago. How different life had
seemed then! She had been wakened
from sleep by the song, and what silly
futterings had possessed her! Well,
it was good to know that there were
no more f1utterings. and that she
could work prosaically there, picking
peas for to-morrow's dinner, while the
man who had walked her with the old
song walked with Millie-who was so
young and pretty.
1t had grown too dark for her work,
and still Miss Nancy knelt beside the
peavines. her pan not half filled. 1.
wasthe sound of their voices hat start
led her from her revery. They were
strolling slowly back, close along the
garden fence. Miss Nancy started up
for fight, and then, forgetting that
the dark already concealed her,
crouched down and was still.
'And so you think you and Jack are
in love with one another" said the
man, rehectively. "And afraid to tell
Miss Nancy! 1t makes me laugh to
think of it, Millie-two such babies as
you and Jack"
I'm 49," said Mile, in eager dis
claimer; land Jacks 90"
"Yes-it's been a good many years."
the man sighed. simply. "Millie-I
wonder-do you think Miss Nancy ever
cared anything for me?"
Mile paused and wheeled around,
facing him in the uncertain light.
"Aunt Nancy?" she cried. "Why.
whatever made you think of that? L
haven't heard her say-but I shouldn't
think Aunt Nancy had ever loved any
body"
81 wish l knew" he said, obviously,
and in deep detection. There amt
many like her, Mile. 1 couldn't help
looking at her this evening and think
ing how pretty she was. after all these
years. And you don't think-she never
seemed like she cared for anybody"
They had paused beside the garden
gate, and their voices sank lower. After
awhile Miss Nancy crept through the
dark, and felt for the place where the
pickets were loose. Cautiously she
moved them, one by one. and making
her way through. left the fence open
to all the ~marapding rabbits that ever
were, and sped around to the further
side of the house with the speed of a
lapwing.
Somehow found her trembling way
into Miles room, and struck a match
and lit the lamp. The mirror on the
little dresser gave back a reflection of
a woman, her lips parted. a frightened,
joyful look in her eyes. A flush came
and went on her cheeks as she looked
the cheeks that had so long been set
tied in their calm paleness while they
fell away from the soft roundness Of
youth. Surely she was not so repul-
sive to look at, after all. Surely
The astonished mirror saw Miss Nam
cy snatch her hair down from its tight
coil and pile it up awkwardly again,
in trembling haste. Little fluffy curls
and tendrils broke out around her tenn
piles, and the light CLEANED in them.
If she only had a pretty ribbon. now
but she had only one. for Sundays, and
it was black. 1t had been years since
she had worn any but black ribbon, be-
cause it lasted so much longer-and as
for looks, who cared how she looked ?
Had she not told herself that a thou
sand times?
Even while she was saying it again,
she pulled down a drawer the least
little bit. A pink ribbon, one of Mil
lies ribbons, lay at the very top. If
she only dared-would they laugh at
her for trying to appear young, when
youth was so long gone by?
Mile had a light in the kitchen and
was talking merrily with the guest
when the door softly and shyly opened,
and Miss Nancy stood there, pink-rib-
boned, flushing. Mile cast one amazed
look at her, and discreetly fled, but
the man moved toward her, half-uncon-
scious!y, holding out his hands.
"Why, Nannie!" he cried. Nan
mel"
Years had slipped from Miss Nancy's
life.
"Millie didn't know Lon," she said.