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Show The Interforence ol Miss Nancy, nY SAltAH LINDiAY COLEMAN. tCop right, Itoi by Dally Hlory I'ub Co) Miss Cairns sit In 11 big rocking chair on the broid porch Her pretty brow was puckered thoughtfully Her eyea followed the figure, a tall and angular one, that slowly climbed the bill "I don't enre" She dashed the angry an-gry tears from her eyes, and laughod a llttto' at tho rldlculuusner's ot It alt "Sho said" tho dimples stolo Into her chccks-"that I was getting old I udi 28 and that 1 might never have another opportunity. 1 told her thero was nothing but comradeship and friendship between us, but she didn't believe a word." Like a troop of ghosts, long dead ami, forgotten, those old lovers that Miss Nancy had brought so forcibly to her mind, presented themselves. Her very first, handsomo college youth the rides they hail had, tho drives, the walks, and that last moonlit moon-lit night when the strains ot "Aunt Dinah's , Quilting Party" floated through the quiet vlllogo street. II had gono back to college, nnd there had been a good deal of pressure upon her before tho gifts went back, but In the end she returned them tho poor little tokens, He had written only his: ' "1 do not blame you that you did not keep Hi. troth ou pllKhtsd sr your heart yon khsw. littler the purling now than wake to weep when lime liae robbed 1-ove roses ot their dew Another face shall help )OU to forget, another love shall In your heart be shtlned. Hut I 1 shall so down my darkened way alone, forever seeking what I ne'er ran flnJ " Miss Cairns' quiet laughter rang on tho soft air. And she rrad suffered no. Sho didn't know then that "men have died, aud worms have eaten them, but not for love." , , J Tho next 'she met hint la tho 'city, and the roses on tho table., his gift", tho satiny La Frances, turned up their pink noses In perfumed scorn when he declared his too and offered her fortune, for-tune, position,- everything that "tale kind, middle-aged heart could think of; , everything that a woman's. heart needed asvo love i j I ' ( . 6ne by ono tho proccsclon 'pissed on. Thero wcro a good many ot them, lovers of polish and culture, and lovers without, for Miss Cairns was the bonniest bon-niest lass In Uie countr) side. The last one filed from sight, and with a growing grow-ing senao ot Irritation aho thought ot the nolghbors In goneral, and of Mlaa Nancy In particular What right bad they to Interfere'' What right to be-Hove be-Hove that every man In tho neighborhood neighbor-hood that was civil, bad, to quote Mlaa Nancy, fallen,a victim to her fading charms! It was preposterous. She hoped the young fellow to whom Mlsa Nancy would marry her In spite of her. solf aldn't know how the neighbors talked. Two ycara beforo ho bad come from bis far-away home and thrown In his lot with theirs. He was a machinist, and her father found him Invaluable In tho mill. He boarded with them, "Mlas Cairns, will you marry met" and people had got Into yie way of Inviting them out, and associating their names together. Miss Cairns got up and walked Into tho bouse. It was dark when tho young Scotchman came In from the village. He went straight to Miss Cairns' father. They talked at length, and at somo tow-voiced request ths old man answered heartily "Aye, aye, lad." The young Scotchman ate his supper In silence and smoked thoughtfully afterward Something has evidently upset blm. Miss Cairns watched htm furtively. She liked the determined set ot hfs chin. It Indicated character. charac-ter. When the girl who moved about tho room and had taken out tho tea things, bo croswed to tho other slilo of tho fireplace fire-place wTiero Miss Calrna wis busy with some needlo work. "Miss Cairns," ha stood bsfors her, j hlslback to the firs, "will you marry meV . -No," promptly "'"'III you state your objections?" he asked, courteously. 'Too young" Miss Cairns spoke U-conlcatly. U-conlcatly. Like Lillian Dell, she preferred pre-ferred men at least thirty-five. "What elae?" ho questioned "Too slim. Not tall enough." "What do you admire In a man?" 'Fearlessness and gentlriiMs ' Tho answer enme without hesitation. '"Won't jou grant me theso?" He stood oer her with laughing- eyes. "Ilemcmber tho i altos I've veaned, and the sitting hens V 0 conquered " ; sue iucb of marrying yodl Why, ws have dug up (ho violet beds, strung beans, sllilled pens together Goodness, Good-ness, man! I want some romsneo In my marriage What put such a thought In your hcid?" Sho looked at him scrutlnlslngly, "I thought as much. You met Miss Nancy, and sho told you that positively you were my last LCU1M , mkilB Hi ill- "I'll nover forgtvo you! noverl" hope. Sho ployed on your sympathies, and bade you como to the rescue. I'm awfully much obliged, but -but I decline de-cline with thanks." Sho sprang to her fout and made him a low, mocking bow "If you dislike me" 11 "I don't! Hut you nro not In loto with me. Sho turned to him sudden- ly: "Love comes love conies " sho faltered, and the color mounted to her brow. "Howt" he asked, esgerly. "With music," shs stld, slowly, "and light, and perfume. Oh, you know how love, comes " "Has It coma like that to you!" "No," sho said, reflectively, "It hasn't come at all " "Lovo'a a tender llltle fellow closed doorf and Icy manners frighten him nwsy, Jeonle", Ha took both her hands. "Ho crimes to so few of us llko thst. It's the dally association, tin gradual dependence) upon.eaetaother. It's propinquity. You're said a doten tlmoeyou would not be an old maid. Provo HI 'YouWsald tho tjllagers shouldn't know; a; breath of your marriage.' mar-riage.' provo Itl Pm going to Scotland Scot-land tomorrow." He laughed at her speechless astonishment, "You said )ou would glvo Hum something to talk about some day. Now Is your opportunity." "I've no clothes," said she, laughingly- "No woman over had, but tne now gray, sllk-llncd tailor suit looks brldcy enough. And there's New York It you want ifioro." , "Father," sho called to the man who came down the hall. "Why, fnthor,"sho faltered, as ho paused In tho doorway. door-way. "It's what yo threatened, lass. Jim's a good lad," "You woujd bo wllHngT" Thero was a tono of entreaty In. her voice. "Ayo, nyo, lass." Ho crossed tho room, kissed her and went out "You are so valuable to him," the tears stood In her eyes, "that be Is willing to lose me." "Might ha not gain a ton?" MscDon-Id's MscDon-Id's manner became suddenly business-like, shall It bo at 0 In the morning? morn-ing? 1 will attend to everything, and havo the Ucenso nnd tho minister here." Sho threw back her hoad defiantly. "Tho train leaves at 8. Mary will help you with your trunk And shall wo leavo our best wishes to the dear peoplo'wboliave simplified things for us, and to Miss Nancy an oxtrasbaro?" "Oh, how I hate you!" Sho stamped ttt foot; her face was aflame, her dark oyes flashed, and then hor slight form swayed toward him Mrs, Jamos MacDonuld'a husband re. irettrd that tho hour prevented tho villagers from attending tho ceremony, but nt the station the couplo wcro literally showered with rice and old shoes. t Mrs. MacDonald's pretty, smiling fato iuukiil back horn tho framo of the ear window, "I'll neor forglvo youl" her best girl friend called, "neverl" Tho' morning mists were lifting from the familiar hills and the birds sang ss If they would split their throats. "Miss Nancy," tho bride's host friend went up.to the middle-agod woman on the platform, "last night you circulated circulat-ed a report' that spread like Are. I didn't believe It. but It's true! Kven the trip abroad Is truol Wero you In the secret?" A close observer would have noticed that Mlaa Nancy was absolutely daied, but she smiled and kept hor counsel and so did tho groom, |