Year: 1874


She did not faint; but God forbie
that girls should often know such
misery as she suffered then Wher
she at last joined the doctor, as in du
" bound, the stunned look in hel
face was pitiful She "was not well,
she said, in answer to his alarmed
queries.


1t vas Nancy who proposed thai
they should go to church that even
ing. In the corner of the high old
pew, with her veil hiding her face
She could at least be quiet, and one
hour more of effort would have been
linsupportable. Mrs. Armitage was
alone in her pew. and cried silently
all through the service. Nancy's
heart so went out to the poor woman
that, when they met in the aisle, she
pressed her hand impulsively, saying,
in quick whisper. Mrs. Armitage,
FIN so sorry for you!'


~ don't wantany of your sorrow =
was the sharp response. "Its fine
talk but YOU and know well who's
the cause of it all. One word from
you would stop it now ifyou weie
sorry enough


Poor Nancy The clock was on the
stroke of eleven that night when her
lover finally took his leave, and she
was free to pace the moon.lit sitting
room from end to end with set lips
aud glittering ewes. She did not cry,
She felt as if She was going crazy, and
in her desperation she did not care
if she did. Hour after hour passed,
and still she paced there till hel
frigid face shown Whitley in the faint
gray of morning. "Oh, would he 60.
could he 90! Would nothing hap
pen to stop him." Scarcely know
ing what she was doing, Nancy slip.
ped through the door, and hatless,
trailing her dainty blue dress through
the dewy grass, ran across lots to the
Armitages.


It was still dark and dewv. She
heard the village clock strike three
as she passed on the outskirts of the
old fashioned flower garden behind
the house, and shrunk behind TIE
hedge of blossomy lilacs, whose
potent odor' sickened her. Her
mind was in whirl. She did not
know why she was there, or wha!
she would do. She was in deadly
fear least some one should discover
her, vet she could not turn away.


For half an hour she crouched
there shiveringly, never taking her
eyes of Johns window, but starting
every time the curtain blew. Sud
denly step on the garden path start
led her so violently that she could
scarcely suppress a scream.


1t was probably some OF the work
people-oh If they should see her
A hasty peep through the bushes
showed her that it was more than
that; it was John himself, striding
straight toward the gap in the hedge,
and wearing a most unpropitious face.
Nancy, in blind terror of discovery,
crawled on her hands and knees close
under the lilacs. He had passed, he
was almost by when a bird that Nan.
cv had disturbed few cut with loud
chirping. One end of the loose blue
sash had caught on a stiff bough, and
the color arrested his eye. Two
strides brought him to the spot, and
he stood with folded arms looking
down at her a moment before his
amazement found vent in the excla-
nation,


Nancy :"


He had never seen such utter
abandon and agony Of shame as that
with which the poor little maiden
hid her face and covered in the Wet
grass, with the cry:


ooh, what shall I do? Don't
speak to me. Go away and burst
into a storm Of tears.


For answer he gathered the little
wet figure in his arms, smoothed the
tumbled curls, tried to warm the icy
hands, and did not dare TO question,
while he soothed her in his tenderesi
way.


Take me home" said Nancy, as
soon as she found strength to speak
at all.


Il shall do no such thing" was the
decided answer. as Johns disengaged
hand lifted her face so that he could
see it, It'll you tell me why you came
Nancy. / couldn't help hoping little
when | saw you here. But dom
make me give it up! | thought my
pride would support me through any
thing but am afriad it wont DO it,
he ended, sadly.


'1m so glad it won'tw breathed
Nancy, in tones Of heartless relief


"But somebody'll see ns. Take
me home, John, and III tell you al
about it y


How different seemed the way
home, with John at her side. BuI
Nancy was in no hurry to "tell al
about il" She only said nervouslY
holding Johns hand in both hers:


Promise me YOU won't 60 away.


"Ah. but | want another promise
first


Nancy looked hack at the plum!
hedge whose shelter they had left
and said, with q half smile: "Yol
see the lilacs aren't out OF bloom vet
John; am-sorry, as you said II
be-"


"And the doctor p asked the crit
cal reader. All, Nancy is no mode
of Christian maidenhood. She is on
ly a faulty young girl, erring AM