Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1910-10-14
NANCY'S GLOVE
By ETHEL HARRINGTON
Copyright. 1910. by Associated Literary Press

| The very vehemence of her denial
would have made an older man doubt
its truth, but Stone felt only the bit
ing score. Perhaps, you fiatter your
self that I'm dying of love for you, SO
you magnanimously offer to abandon
your western plans that you may con-
sole newly, Ralph Stone. l actually
| hate you"
The man stood his ground. Il may
| have blundered," he admitted, his eyes
dog-like in their devotion, but | love
you, love you with my whole soul. Yet
you have only to assure me that you
had no knowledge of the flower. and
will CO."
81 hid the jasmine myself" Nelrs
young voice Quivered as she made
confession, then running to Nancy and
hiding her face in her skirts as she
besought. please don't be angry.
Man."
Stone caught his breath sharply as
he clinched his hands. but when he
spoke his voice was steady. IT'S all
right, Nell. Good-by. Nancy. He did
not look at either one az he passed
out
Nancy's heart was In q tumult as
she watched him go. He would re-
turn, as he had done in the past. Then,
slowly, a horrible fear gripped her.
chilling her blood, stabbing her as
with physical pain, and roughly push
ing aside the childish hands. she rush
ed from the room. Before she could
reach the lower hall the door had
closed with sharp finality. Ralph
Stone had gone.
Late last night Nell awoke to find
her sister kneeling by the crib. her
own cheek wet with her sisters tears
What makes you cry. Mani" she
questioned. Cause l fibbed this aft
ernoon? l won't ever again: truly
thought
I've no right to scold, dearest. but
remember untruths injure Ill who
stoop SO low"
viii yours hurt your
Miner Mans laugh was curiously
like a sob, as holding the child close
she whispered. pray. Nell, pray that
mine won't count-just for this oncei"
Some months later the country rang
with the account of an explosion In
a mine, and Ralph Stones name was
on many lips. Commanding the work
of rescue until the owner could arrive
upon the scene, he had himself fallen
victim. First reports placed his
name among the dead, but later this
was contradicted. after which the
young fellow stood for the one 70
mantle figure in the horrible tragedy,
because OF a woman's blood-staincd
glove. found upon him. and from
which he refused to part even in his
delirium.
So diverse we're the descriptions OF
the glove that a week later the mine
owner stood, outside the improvised
hospital, in angry discussion with the
doctor over the publicly given to the
affair."
IT'S an 0utrage! This spreading
broadcast of a mans secret" y
The physician, unmoved, laid a kind.
ly hand upon the mans shoulder.
II tell you, sir, science can do no
more for your cousin. He could live
II only he had the desire, and that ]
believe no one can arouse in him eX-
cept the unknown lady of the glove.
1t is with the hope that she may read
the story. that l have"
He still lives, you say"
At the trembling eagerness of the
voice the doctor turned about to find
two women at his elbow, pale and
fatigued with a long journey. The
face Of the younger girl glowed with
soft radiance as she explained:
I'm Nancy-of the glove, you
know! My aunt and / have come"
you realize all that your comins
will mean to him?"
Nancy no longer pale. but blushing
bent her head.
Presently, the doctor led her to
small room that held only one cot.
The sick man did not turn his head
until she had dropped to her knees at
his side. Ralph, dear-Tve come"
Then the doctor. seeing the light
that flashed into his patients face
closed the door softly and went about
other work