Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-01-17

! were, d1gn1ned, to
 meet Alonzo Bur ton, who had been her sweetheart years and years ago?
 No doubt he had forgotten all about her-the boy and girl sweethearts- what did they matter to busy man? She would never let him see that she remembered.
 And the hour had passed. and now he had gone walking with pretty Mill lie through the orchard and across the meadow. And as Miss Nancy watched them away, holding the curtains with that trembling hand, she all at once | realized with 8 sense of desolation that little Millie, brother Johns orphaned baby, had grown up. When she came out presently into the soft spring sum set, there was look of grim com l posture on her face. She reckoned proudly with herself that nothing was altered in her level. hard-working life. She knelt down beside the row of pea vines. humming tune. but ceased in little while and smiled bitterly to remember that the man out there walking with Millie had serenaded her with that little song-a love song it was, she remembered now-so long ago.
 It had grown too dark for her work 1 and still Miss Nancy knelt beside the peavines, her pan not half filled. It was the sound of their voices that startled her from her revery. They were strolling slowly back, close along the garden fence.
 Aud so, you think You and Jack are in love with one 1.cpther." said the man, refectively. "And afraid to tell Miss Nancy! It makes me laugh to think of it, Millie-two such babies as you and Jack"
 I'm eighteen" said Millie, in eager disclaimer; "and Jacks twenty-three."
 "Yes-it's been good many years." the man sighed. simply. "Millie-I wonder-do you think Miss Nancy ever cared anything for he?"
 Millie paused and wheeled around, facing him in the uncertain light.
 Aunt Nancy?" she cried. Why. whatever made you think of that? I haven't heard her say-but shouldn't think Aunt Nancy had ever loved any body"
 T wish I knew." he said, dubiously, and in deep dejection. There ain't many like her. Millie. I 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 l gate, and their voices sank lower. After awhile Miss Nancy crept through the dark, and found her trembling way into Millie's room. struck a match and lit the lamp. The mirror on the little dresser gave back reflection of a woman, her lips parted. a frightened. joyful look in her eyes.
 The astonished mirror saw Miss Nancy snatch her hair down from it's tight coil and pile it up awkwardly again. in trembliung haste. Little flutfy cur1s and tendrils broke out around her temples, and the light l gleamed in them. If she only had a pretty ribbon. now-but she had only one. for Sundays, and it was black. It had been years since she had worn any but black ribbon-and as for looks. who cared how she looked? Had she not told herself that . thousand l times?
 Even while she was saying 1t again. she pulled down Q drawer the least little bit. A pink ribbon, one of Mill lte's ribbons. Icy at the very. top. If she -uly dared-would they laugh at her for trying to appear young. when youth was 90 long gone by? Millie had 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- bonsd. flushing. Millie cast one amazed look at her. and discreetly ded, but the man moved toward her. half-un- consciously, holding ont his hands.
 Why. Nannie!" he cried. Nan nie!"
 Years had slipped from Miss Nancy's life.
 "llillie didn't know Lon." che said.