The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-01-06

was torn between has Icsue 40 lend
nnality 70 his words and appear sym.
pathetic,
Poor Dlck..e Nancc began 70 cry a
little, wipine her eyes with the corner
Of her white apron.
John looked at her for q second in
surprise, and then rose and came
round the tnble.
Nance, Nance he questioned
hoarsely. "lwhy do 100 cry for him.
LASS It's more than a year since you
heard a. vas missing out q India
there. And you know as mates in q
regiment said a. was wilful missing,
at that. cause a. wanted to go after
The gold and jewels and things to
make him rich. MP tot Z 'blackmoors'
o. 'scal
telled Oh,
years. wilful missing, they said, and
a disgrace to as country. Why do go
think O. him. lassg"
But Nance would not he comforted.
IN her heart she knew that Dick must
be dead, but the sudden thought that
never again would she see the hoy
who had first shown her the primrose.
paths Of love. who had first held her
to his heart, filled her eyes with tears
that would not be denied.
"a loved me, n loved meg' shc sob.
bed. III aid come back we'd been we'd
ded folk now"
Nance, Nancel' Johns face had
paled to a whltish tingo. Dicks dead.
/ am alive, and ! love you"
"Johnls
For months Nance had half dreamed,
half hoped for this avowal. and nov
1t had come when her heart was sick
for Dick: but she waa barely twenty,
ANA the present dwelt very much with
her Her defiant. scornful eyes drop.
ped, she dragged with both hands at
the corner OF her apron. the blush
that mantled In her checks spread un.
IN il met the little curls behind her
ears.
John pulled her into a corner Of the
ingIe-nook where they were screened
from slght,
Nance. Nance, ! love you!" he
whispered again
A new love fought with the old des
pei ately 10 Nance's heart
Dick ia dead. Dick Is Dead said
the new love. "Nho will hold yon In
his arms nowg Must you remain alone
with no one to love you. because Dick
Is deadg You are young-meant TO be
hnppy-and John is alive. He is here
BY your side, ready to kiss old sorrow
out Of your heart"
And John whispered 50 low that his
voice was hardly more audible than
the new logevoiee. urged her with
fe4trlsh, impelling words
'Must your tears fall until they
wash your beauty away. Nance?." he
saId. "Will you grow old and gray and
withered before your time, weeping
for one who was a disgrace to as king
and country? Besides, you have not
seen him for three years. Even IL 4 "a
return, you could not marry. What's
L good o a tlmeexpirpd soldier FOR a
hnsbandg"
Eyes, yes, A. know a was getting
those diamonds for rue. a. deserted 20
as aid have something TO eome back
TO me with A know How can Al mar
~ any one else?"
John rose and stood over Ler, a
hard CLINT h his eyes.
every well, then" he growlod rough.
~. III It is to be always tears, tears.
tears, A 90 my w way.
The girl looked up with sudden fear
"Lceget wants TO buy my holding,
be went on. "a can soon Fix Il up. An
Off W t brass to India to find this Dc
serler O. yoass. or got killed myself.
Seems you can only love the dead.
be added cruelty.
Nance stared at him in dumb won.
der as he made 70 move nway, then
suddenly SHE srlppod bis arm.
"Johnl No. mol You mustn't. yon
mustn't so away Suppose yru were 10
be killed--lIkc Diekg on, couldn't
live to have such sorrow twice John.
you have stolen my heart
"You love me, Nanceg"
For answer her slender arms were
round his neck, her fingers buried in
his hair, her lips ralsed 70 his. The
woman.loye had conquered The girl.
love.
Weak with sudden joy, half under.
stood. They held one another
tightly. lest their newly acquired pos.
session should slip from them.
"a loyp you's whispered the girl.
hreathIass. With kisses.
A sudden sound, and they flung
themselves apart. stafIng With scared
eyes into the room
The tramp stood ewaying By hla
fahle lie mlasd he inng lremhIlngIy
"a drunk. slle EIfcliahk turned cha
HobetTlne drops TINT raihea from tha
s.ytiAfa ~ hin Moslth gnfaa sbA tam.