Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-03-24

! since, pT1m, Se- 1sNp were. dignided, to
 meet Alonzo Bur ton, who had been her sweetheart years and years ago?
 No doubt he had forgotten ell 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 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 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 a tune, but ceased in a 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 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.
 l And so you think you and Jack are 1 in love with one another" said the 1 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; land Jacks twenty-three. "
 "Yes-it's been good many years, D the man sighed, simply. "Millie-I wonder-do you think Miss Nancy ever cared anything for me?"
 Mil1ie 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 t think Aunt Nancy had ever loved any, body"
 T wish I knew" he said, dubiously, and in deep dejection. There aint 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 gate, and their voices sank lower. After awhile Miss Nancy crept through the dark, and found her trembling way into Millie's room, struck 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 I fiuffy curls and tendrils broke out around her temples, and the light 1 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 a thousand times?
 Even while she was saying it again. she pulled down drawer the least little bit. A pink ribbon, one of Mil. lies ribbons, lay at the very top. If she 1nly dared-would they laugh at her for trying to appear young, when youth was so 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- boned, flushing. Millie cast one amazed look at her, and discreetly fled, but the man moved toward her, half-un. consciously, holding out his hands.
 Why Nannie!'' he cried. Man nie!"
 Years had slipped from Miss Nancy'a life. I WAfiII{o didn't Lrow ou aha said