Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-11-26
NUMBER 48.

that. 1t came at last that even the
owners OF some Of the hidden stills
talked of inviting him to visit them.
| For three long months Nancy lived
in new world. There had been phys
ical and mental changes for the bet
ter. Unknown to even her mother,
| she tried to teach herself to read.
Shoes and stockings were precious
things among the people Of the noun
| tain but never since that first day had
Williams seen her barefOoted. She
had made herself new sunbonnet
She had sewed a flounce on her best
dress. She had made bow to wear
at her throat. She had cleared her
hair of tanglCs and felt wave Of
| pride sweep over her rs she caught
the young man looking ut ii admir-
ingly. She slyly watched him as he
ate. and she tried to copy him. lie
had seen these things and hundred
others. and they had made him smile
He had treated her in way as an
equal and in a way as n child. He
had been friendly, but he had never
talked love He had told her OF ro-
nance and adventure. Of the great
world 10 which she WAS stranger.
but not with any intent to make her
dissatisfied with her surroundings.
Had he been bit more observing he
would have seen the growth OF new
sentiments and. aspirations that she
lacked the womanly ingenuity to con-
ceal. but he went on regarding her as
child
One evening he announced that on
the next morning he must take his de-
parture. Together they sat on the
doorstep in the moonlight and looked
down over the forests and peaks and
were very quiet. At first he told her
Of the great ocean lying hundreds OF
miles away. OF the great cities teem-
ing with human life, OF the wonders
she might some day behold. and she
crowded closer to him like child.
Then she sighed and sighed and sigh
ed and moved away. BY and by she
entered the cabin and sought her bed
without n word. She did not appear
at breakfast She had risen and gone
out. He waited half an hour TO say
goodby. but as she did not come he
shoudered his pack and set out.
Half mile down the trail he found
her. She was seated on rock at
bend where they had often sat and
rested and talked.
"Come down. Nancy. I want to say
goodby." he called.
She came slowly. and he saw her as
he had seen her on that first day. Her
hair was hanging down her back,
stockings and shoes were conspicuous
" absent. and bow and tounce were
missing. Not exactly aS lie had seen
her on that first day. for now she had
been weeping.
"Why. Nancy. what iU lti" he ask
ed rs he took her hand.
"Its-!t's that | can't read" she al
most walled It's that | can't writ.
can't talk. can't 20 nowhere. can't
he nuthin' nor nobody. It's that am
pore and shacklety and ignorant AMI
have got TO live and die yere. It's
It's
But, Nancy he began. and then,
realizing her feelings, lie knew not
what to add.
You'll never come agin?' she que
ried
perhaps not"
"And I'll have no one-no one
Her eyes were east down and her
tears falling rs he held her hand. BY
and by he softly said
Il didn't know 1t till just now. Nan
cy"
"Rut il can't be-" she replied rs s!ie
raised her head and threw her hair
back. 1T can't be no more than the
eagle ana the crow. iou-you are ev-
erything: | am nuthin'-nuthin' but
pore ana ignorant and shacl;lety. just
fttCn for such Il life as this"
Then she bent forward and kissed
him. wrenched her hand away and fled
up the trail ana left him looking after
her and poldcring ana wondering AMI
feeling such pity us lie would never
feel for woman again He heard
her whistllng among the rocks. She
was fighting herself; he heard her
laughing. She WAS going back To the
old life with breaking heart. And
he knew she was right