The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-26
THE EVENING STORY
Nancy's Glove.
(By Ethel Barrington.)

IL ScC1l6Q 1aCTeulDlo 10 EtdlPu
Stone, waiting in the drawing room for
Nancy. where everything suggested her.
that they had come to the parting Of
the ways. Yet, on balancing his love
and poverty against the luxury and
power that enwrapped the girl, he had
to acknowledge the futiity of his
hopes. and had finally accepted posi-
ton with his cousin, mining magnate
in the west, determined to conquer the
paralyZing sense of loss.
Pacing the room with quick, nervous
tread, his thoughts dwelt on the previ-
GUS evening. when, with jealous pang,
he had seen others more eligible pre-
ferred.
AS he impatiently kicked a footstool
aside it brushed against a curtain, ex-
posing to view a glove, hitherto con-
cealed beneath the drapery. The glove
was long. its blush-rose tint the
counterpart of Nancy's gown, and
Stone laid it on the table, abruptly re-
Stunning his walk Returning, the I'm
gers lay toward him, and seemed so
alive with the impress of Nancy's nano
that they almost beckOned him.
With a whimsical smile for his folly,
the young man pressed it to his lips
AS he did so there dropped from the
palm faded boutonniere.
1t was a tiny spray OF jasmine, with
| white, leaves yel1owed. its perfume
nearly gone, but undoubtedly the same
| that he had taken from his buttonhole
when Nell, Nancy's small sister. had
| begged pin. How came 1T in the glove
| -Nancy's glove that she had SHOWN SO
| much concern at having lost? Hope
rose again in the young fellows soui.
was it possible that Nancy herself had
hidden the flower? Had her dlsmay at
tn, loss OF her glove been caused py
| the memory of the secret tnat IL neIo
The mere suggestion sent Stones blood
coursing through his veins like f1re. III
| this nroved true, what necessity was
there for his Punishment?
| Wheeling sharply about ne Iouho
that Nancy had entered ana . VA
| speaking my aunt regrets-iast night
| fatigued her greatly"
..I3 doesn't rnatter-not at ALL, ne
! stammered. still dazed by his discov-
ery. Then he smiled on Neil, VINO
leaned against her sisters knee
"Did you enjoy the dancer" ne IN
ou;red. and the child nodded in assent,
! adding regretfully:
/ But only for little wnlie.1ou,
dances-then Nan made me 20 to pea.
ct wager you enjoyed those Aoui'
| enioyed only one.
Ne1i aniffed incredulously. Hes pre-
tending. isn't her" she demanded OF
her sister.
"On my honor. no! There was run
last nieht-though a trifle one-sided.
stone threw a reproachful glance to-
ward Nancy's bent head you see;
Nell. dancing takes two-and l missed
sTherefore criticise my dance as I'M
event" Mischief lurked In Nancys aarR
ewes. when we paired off FOR supper,
/ I was reminded of Noah's ark the
animals went in. two by two.
with the decimal stands an empty
ought-admit it fell to my snare.
Scorning a reply the girl twitched
| teasingly at her sisters curls. until
the child shook herself free stone
! devo1tlv. If silently, prayed that she
might return to her dolls. He wanted
Nancy alone for this last hour.
a vase on the mantlepiece Nancy stood,
half pouting tearing the petals apart
| stones ewes followed each falling leaf,
his thoughts on the faded jasmine
MAN, here's your glove crleo NeIl,
from where she had been lingering
hooks upon the table. but Nancy with
mounting flush. commanded her to
Hannah must have found it, per-
sisted the child.
i Ralph stone fancied a new con-
/ seriousness in the girls voice that
thrilled his heart and plunged him
Iheadlong into unprecedented explain
"It was I who found it, Nancy-is
II to be an omen of happiness-are you
ssWhat does Nan care about gloves p
derided Nell, busily thrusting her I'm
gers into the glove. ahef Gdrsss fI d pon
ears. her companions were intent only
on each other.
"I came to tell you that am going
West. to bid you goodbye. | never
meant to return but 1ouno tnat
glove-I found
"What?"
"My jasmine-it was hidden in your
Glove he stammered huskily
rac% h ~
, rose into the fire. "You are SO bold
!, as to hint that 1 kept your miserable
, flower?" she demanded with tmperi-
Gus scorn. well, I did mott did
not!" The very vehemence Of her de-
= inial would have made an older man
doubt its truth. but Stone felt only the
biting scorn. perhaps. you flatter
yourself that I'm dying of love for you,
so you magnanimousl offer to aban-
don your western plans that you may
!. console newly, Ralph stone. 1 ac-
, tually-hate you-
: The man stood his ground. "I may
} have blundered," he admitted, his eyes
: dog-Iike in their devotion, "but I love
YOU. love you with my whole soul. Yet
iyou have only to assure me that you
had no knowledge of the flower, and
"T hid the Jasmine myself" NeI's
young voice quivered as she made con.
fession then running to Nancy and
hiding her face in her skirts as she
besougft. "Please don't be angry
Man."
stone caught his breath sharply as
: he clinched his hands, but when he
spoke his voice was steady. TITS al
right, Nell. Goodbye, Nancy" He die
l not look at either one as he passed
} out
Nancy's heart was in tumult as
: | she watched him go. He would return
: as he had done in the past Then
slowly, horrible fear gripped her
chilling her blood. stabbing her as will