THE STORY OF NANCE.

I inn the mountain side, where wan. IMj&tM come but rarely, a few * ran.-and soft-eyed, browsed lazily, .distance a faint tinkle came from the .lsk»Wj waifning her companions ii wander too far from home. The !!-_iies- of the air gave promise that would soon burst into a !,_-___. d-tnb creatures, with wise in l,!(*B_-g the rain-laden wind, betook -.readown the steep cattle-trail which ni Hardly had the crackling of their l-sag-the underbush ceased, when mil was caught up in an opposite di it, and a smart bay maze walked Njil-ig the path. Seated on her back, WW-, side Saddle, was a girl—no, a m,_oia a second look at her straight, ifHMrearing, in lieu of a habit, a tot-brown skirt that barely covered Wieet. Her figure, innocentof any giskTethat given by her light-brown os -OfflS-pun waist, woe compact and Safe-Mt what a French dressmaker JjMmetty, but fashioned after the *&!_■ On her head, or rather off of f H dangled a pink sunbonnet, show ; |wl»ll_de, with thick, frowsled hair Is dead autumn leaves in the Sethi, brisk pace of the little 'ops already began to patter 'es, and angry flashes momen id the sullen clouds. Break frpm a cum tree, the rider 6rße into a quicker pace, [thunder grew louder, and eachedthe foot of the moun- SflV.ftook them. A swift jjenard. white path brought It a log cabin squatted in an td. Tho wind and rain were awe with the week's wash « # rough palings. The air full of white balloons that w a shocking lack of dignity, r stood a queer-looking figure a his mouth and a despairing m As the mare pulled up negate, and her rider sprang Peofthe pipe and despair iaovement ana laid his corn ■Wttfeen the unchinked logs. « of her father, the girl burst laugh, and then ran after A few dexterous 't back the would-be balloons o landed rescued and rescuer Kcabin. Passing into the back fn was soon disposed of fenfire, while her father !___!_ a m r ° u g h JSK.' Jn-nuigtogoin Wed as dining-room, par. Member, she caught sight the door, She m eves rested on his figure \\m T SBemed to know in B|? *as tall and strong; .Mm .v bri S hten ed the js|tf that his eyes were Wew-sthe skies, and some- tee, and out of her face it white and de- S Dtai " laur elß that bloom -V_W_ Neither B P° ke > and .JJyib.madea.light t-_M_ cc . methiß - Some- CL_* d _-° clear thoughts. Hi »hlrl, while he told iS S girl with her Ch W " B i laßged hair w as ri fore J; h e sun had kissed St" __* dee P eßfc seati " kfoL « lllere are suDreme Ni'S?' - 30sfc tbafc find no h ßckt.!!i a;Bione throw n into Wffi BnCe - Th 6 stamping ..-OfftU 0 .. 36 upon the low H am !,, _.8 in g sight of the "Mis strong, hearty olt * rin _ from the storm, * an an Bwer he drew >y , t9lc *,andy e the y° un g man Swi^,! 8 Presence. >4 iv a h her „ fchiDk J am SSi_n;' a . d y efc '' sofar -D__lI DCUned t0 thiDk - Bhln e in Silver d distance to m think me

bold I am tempted to ask you to let me put up with you for awhile."

As his host made a disparaging gesture, he went on hastily:

" I am willing to take pot luck, sleep anywhere and rough it generally ; and as for remuneration— —" here he stopped short, and the old man, who had resumed his discarded pipe, regarded him atten tively. At last he drawled slowly :

"If yer be a'mind to stop awhile'long with wo 'uns, you be welcome ; but w. don't take no pay from our visitors." The young man hesitated, and would have demurred, but the other stopped him wibh a gesture. And so it was settled that John Loftus should stop at 'Squire Grady's and on tho following day bring his traps from the sleepy little town where he had put up. A silence, during which the 'Squire dozed and his guest revolved in his mind some means to compensate his generous host, lasted some time. At last the cob pipe fell from the parted lips of the unconscious smoker and went clattering on the board floor.

" Nance," called the 'Squire, starting up. There was no answer, so he shuffled through the low door in search of her. Nance had disappeared at the moment her father entered the house. It had grown quite dark, so dim he could barely see the figure seated in the doorway. "Ain't we goin'to have any supper to night, Nance V" he said, and his voice seemed very gentle as he spoke. The girl turned slowly, and lighting the small lamp that stood on the kitchen table, set to work. Looking cautiously at the open door, her father moved closer and half whispered : " Tho stranger's goin' ter stop with we'uns awhile to fish in ' Silver Creek,' and mebbe yer'd better make some Bhort-cake an' a cup of coffee fer his supper."

" All right," she replied, and he went back into the other room. When every thing was ready she hesitated, and then putting on a large white apron walked slowly through the door. Her father bad dozed off again, and she moved about softly, placing the dishes on the small square table. Sho had nodded to Loftus as she came in the room, but did not speak until she had quite finished her prepara tions. Then she went over to her father and said, bending over him, "Dad, will you come to supper ." The old man started up. " Why, yes, Nance; of course, of course. Mo and Mister Loftus hey been waiting some time. This is my pal, Nance, Mister Loftus. We're all alone, yer see-jest me and her— but we git along fust rate an' keep the farm goin'." He chuckled good humouredly, and Bat down to the table. Nance said very little, except when Loftus succeeded in catching her eyes and asked her a direct question. Then she answered him timidly, as if afraid of the sound of her own voice. Presently, when they had finished, and Nance had cleared away the things, and, with Loftus' assistance pushed back the table, the 'Squire said it was time to be asleep. He picked up a lamp and wished Loftus a good night's rest on the neat white bed in the corner. Nance followed, and looked back shyly from the shadow of the half open " Good-night, Miss Nance," said Loftus. " Good-night," she answered- softly, and vanished. _ ~ . The cool, damp air was full of new sounds, strange and sweet. The katydid s shrill chirp sounded faint by the side ot the babbling mountain stream. The silver ripples caught the white moonbeams and hurried them onward ; the pines nodded to each other in the darkness and whispered their secrets, and passion stirred in its sleep with an awaking sigh until the heart at rest in Nance's breast trembled with a vague pain until soft-eyed slumber kissed her cheek. Juno days pass quickly when one is young and measures the time by heartbeats, lo Nance a new life had opened, and too often John Loftus forgot his fishing to watch the light that came and went in her eyes at each varying tone of his voice He was a man who loved bfinement and culture above all things, but now and then in mad moments he forgot everything except the girl'at his side, and that the magic of her glorious beauty and superb vitality set all his puses tingling. Among hi. city friends he had admire-lthe dainty, delicate belleswith their countless accomplishmente-they had seemed to him the embodiment of all desir ableferninine attributes. And nowhe looked at Nance, noted each clear, full curve of her figure, each tint of her fair, warm skin: all the beauty and grace that nature had lavished on her. Ah, ib was a

struggle I John Loftus was human, very human, and little by little ho forgot that his stay in this enchanted spot would end with the summer flowers, forgot that there was any time save tho present. And so, day bj day, he and Nanco wandered over the mountains in search of new beauties, and they found the most beautiful tiling in nature, and the most deadly. Ho read much to her, books that she could under stand, poetry often, and the very tone ofchis voice told her the story. Why w»s it that ho always read of love — unhappy love? There eeomed to be a strange facination in the theme for them both. Once he partly read, partly told her the story of " Tristram and Iseult," and when the .oft, caressing sound of his voice had left them "where

"Don'tyou think they found each other up there ?" And she pointed to tho white flecked sky. Loftus smiled at her earnostties. and answered her, with a question. "Do you think there is a heaven up there ." imitating her gesture. She looked at him a moment, startled by his levity, and _aid gravely : "Mebbe it ain't there, but_ there is a heaven somewhere, and no one is very sorry because there ain't nothing to be sorry for. Sometimes I think mebbe it's across tho mountains whero tho sun goes every night. It's all bright and shiny there now, and mebb6 that beautiful crimson is the robes of God that lie against the golden throne. It must be all green and fresh like, the now wheat and birds everywhere, and cool, clear water, sweet flowers, and littlo children —angels." Her voice faltered, and some how Loftus caught her in his arms, and said many things, but she only heard that he loved hor, and that there were birds, and flowers, and streams here beautiful enough for heaven. And the mountains had lost their serene blue and looked dim and sombre. The gold cloud had vanished, and at her feet the water sobbed in the cool evening air. Far down the stream a single whip-poor-will uttered his plaintive cry, and it was dark.

Slowly they turned homeward, and when Nance said " good-night," she asked, half timidly, and so low that he could scarcely hear her:

" Won't you thank God because we're so happy to-night?" Again he laughed and kissed her lips, with half pitying scorn at her blind faith, but he said:

Creeds grow so thick along the way. Their bough" bide God-1 cannot pray.

She only understood the last three words, and turned sorrowfully away ; and the days that followed were like her dreams of heaven to Nance as she and Loftus wandered, hand n hand, up the mountains or along the creek side. Sometimes she wondered why she had not known before how beautiful the earth was. The blackberry blossoms clung to the rough-hewn fences like bridle wreaths and above these towered the stately elder bushes, with their soft, creamy _ flowers. How the bees held high revel in their yellow plush jackets and rifltd all the blossoms of their sweetness. But there was no beauty like her lover's eyes, no sound so sweet as his voice that whispered love into her ear. For all that tho earth was so fair and love so sweet, time did not tarry, though they took no heed of its flight. Wild lilacs blazed where the blackberry bushes had blossomed and bore fruit; handfuls of shrivelled leaves began to fall along the orchard fence; the"sumacs towered in crimson splendour and blazed out their life glory in the still, hot air, and the summer .lowers had died ; yet Loftus lingered far into the closing year. And in the soft summer haze, when all the mountains were ablaze with myriad colouis and misty with the purple glow of Indian summer, Loftus bade Nance good-bye. Close by the stream that had caught so many of their whispered secrets, where dainty ferns and gracefu .villows grew, they kept their tryst. And there were many kisses and soft promises to comfort Nance's grief. " Before the leaves had lost their colour I will be with you, sweetheart," he whispered, but the lie choked him, and Nance looked up, wondering at the strained tone of his voice. He loved her; she was beautiful, but she was ignorant, and he could not marry her. _he spell must be broken, then 'tis best 'twere done quickly ; and he rode away in the cool mountain air with many a backward glance and cheerful word. But Nance stood at the open gate and hid her face on "dad's" shoulder, and would not look the last of him. When the mountain ceased to echo his horse's departing steps the Squire led Nance into the little cabin and comforted her in his tender way.

" Now mind, honey," ho said, "it won't be long yer'll hoy to bo by yor.nlf. He'll be hack terreckly to take yer away from old Dad."

0, month of many memories, good-by ! Ghosts throng your moon-bathed nights and sultry days; They pathcr round mo in some silent place, Their breath is in t.o roses and their < .y In songs of birds that dire tho sunlit slcy ; They meet me in tho twlight face to face, And .when 1 walk through lone night-covered ways; In sadly-murmuring winds I hear them siph; Then am I us v man who soos in dreams Some dead, bolovod face, and weeing, deems The past, a d earn, the dream reality ! But, 0! tho bitter waning when, alas! Ho knows tho mocking dream for what it was, And gazes on a now d_y hopelessly.

There is no lesson of the many that women have to learn so bitter as the know ledge that they have been deceived. To a woman of the world the bitterness is com plex. Aside from tho stab to her breast, thero is in many cases the more serious wound of lacerated vanity, and it i._ not ditlicult to determine which takes the longer to heal. With Nance it was differ ent. Hor amour propre suffered not one whit, because she had no con.cio-isnoss of what Loftus' desertion implied. Her faith was as sturdy and strong as the mountain oaks. No thought that he had not meant to return crossed her mind. And so_ she went her ways much as usual, and if at times hor cheeks looked white and her lip trembled when Dad came back from town without bringing any tidings of Loftus, she hid her dimppointment bravely. All tho more so when she caught a troubled look on Dad's wiinkled-brown face. They had grown very close together in these last few weeks, and Dad was more gentle than ever with his motherless child. Once, when he had come back empty-handed from the village post-office and saw the eager light die out of Nance's eye 3 as he shook his head to her f-ilent question, he said -. "Nance, my gal, yer never knew nothin' about yer mother. I couldn't stand ter talk about her an' I can't yet, tho' _he died when yer want higher'n my knee. We knew each other ever since the was born, an' I loved her, too. Yer aro like she wuz at your age, an' she sot a store by me. I v/as savin' money to buy a little plot ground, so we could jive* hands f.r life, an' bed ter work like a hoss. An' then a stranger come to the town for his health, he said. He wuz handsom' an' fine, an' he would smile at Nell, showin' all his shinin' white teeth, till no wonder the girl was dazzled. I never said a word, but my heart'd almost bust when she'd turn im patiently from me to drink in every sound of that other's voice. I'd hey saved her if I could, but it warn't no use. One day he went away. He told her good-bye before us all, and took her hand, careless like. • Good-by, Miss Nell,' sez he, ' invite me te yer weddin' !' ■ An' that wuz all. She never cried out, or even called his name. ' Jim,' she sez to me, ' if yer still a mind to have me, let's be married right away I' So we were, an' sho was gentle an' kind, but when she smiled it made a big lump in my throat that couldn't be swallowed. After you came bhe seemed to fade like, and as you got stronger, she got weaker, till, one day she left us both alone." The old man's voice faltered, and Nance laid her face against his furrowed .h'eek, but her eyes were bright and dry. And from that time she knew her father believed Loftus would never come back. The trees dyed in lurid splendour, and on the autumnal blast came " The Cataract of Death far thundering from the heights." Soon all nature was busy spreading a vast winding sheet to cover the pinched, dull features of dead earth. In these sad chill days Nance sat alone often, and repeated to herself the tender verses she had'eonned in happier days. Thoy seemed to soothe her, so that she forgot the present in tho past. And the Hues that came to her oftenest were these : ... O'er all the hill-tops Is quiet now; In all tho tre .-tops Hearest thou Hardly a breath; Wait; soon like these Thou, too, shalt rest. With the first whisper of sprine; hope seemed to rally ; the anxious, hopeful look came back in her eyes. The very air breathed of his coming. The mountain s stream, swollen to a torrerlt by the spring rains, raged through the valley. The sound was loud and fierce, and where the cattle were wont to ford the silvery, laugh in"- creek, deep waters, muddy and turgid, awept along. Here Nance rode every day t "V-h the ford lest Loftua should come

to the other side. In her heart she felt his nearness, and a calm, quiet happiness filled her whole being. "It was too early for white boughs, too late for snows," and there came a day all wild and wet with the mad March weather, but there was a thought of May in Nance's heart. " Dad," said she, " he is very near to-day. lam sure. Why, it seems as if my heart can see him."

" I hope so, honey, I hope so," but the old man turned aside to hide a tear.

Nance hummed softly to herself aa she Fadddled the little mare, such a song of re joiclne: as the angels hearing must have echoed. Turning with a sudden impulse ere she rodo away, Nance kissed her.father twice.

" Who knows but I may find him on the other side of the creek ? How he will feel when I call out to him that he must go up by tho bridgo before he can get across. 0, daddy, daddy, I am so happy that I think the world cannot hold me." So he watched her out of sight down the path toward tho ford, and as she rode—

The wind hnd pilohed its voice so sweet. It seemed an angel talked behind each bush

A sharp turn and a steep slope led to the water's edge. Sullen and angry rushed the muddy flood. Branches of driftwood hur ried madly onward. Tho face of heaven frowned upon the turbulent earth, and across the hurrying waters was tho figure of John Loftus. 0, merciful heaven, send some pitying angel to stay him ere he rides down into the dark seething waters I Nance is coming ; 0, so swiftly, but already he has urged his trembling horse into the mad current. The animal swims on bravely, and then the rush of the water grows too strong, carrying horse and rider down the stream. And this is the sight that meets Nance's eyes as she hurries down the steep bank on the opposite shore. Loftus calls out warningly, but she is already in the stream making towards him. She is very near now. She hag caught his bridle, and pulled his horse from the middle channel into the quieter current near the shore. Her own horse falters for an instant and is drawn backward. And then before either of them have seeu it, a huge, black, drift-log has struck Nance full'against'thd breast and thrown her backward into the dark water. Loftus, turning, sees for one moment her white, upturned face, ere the cleft waters close over her. He is already on the rocky strip of shore, and dashing madly down the water's edge. But there is no glimpse of Nance—the waters, greedy of their fair prey, hide her jealously. Down by the sloping mountain side, where she had bade her lover good-bye, they found her-dead. Across her breast her hair fell in heavy dampness. In one hand, unstolen by the waters, she grasped tightly her little pink sunbonnet. And "the lifted sun looked on her face, down drifted to her dwelling-place." So, Loftus and Dad found her. All the care and heartache gone, all the weary waiting ended, and in its place the peace ful calm of unbroken rest. And, somehow, Loftus' mind wont back to the day when he had likened her to a field poppy wet with dew. Now, she was like a pale, sweet lily, broken roughly. Dad held her close in his arms, cold, and quiet, as his dead darling. And Loftus, with one last look, turned aWay and left bim alone. Over the mountain a sudden glory burst from the dark clouds, and a golden halo came down and touched Nance's forehead. And sheltered by the crimson robes of God closo to the golden throne, wag Nance. And it was all green and fresh, like the new wheat, and birds everywhere, and cool, clear water, sweet flowers, and little chil dren-angels—and with them Nance, like some

Sweet soul, who heard Death calling low, And followed him from dark to day.

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, MONDAY* NOVEMBER '.„ 1881,,

7



C Chopping Sausage Meat, Mince Moat, Hash, _ Guaranteed to Chop, NO£ Grind the Meat. ■ \bJL^ V% Hamburg Steak for Dyspeptics, Beef Tea for & (^M^*& r ' ""'<*''' *' § at h • *v, i _f A ' liltA Hf BTTT ATHPQ __ri_ wr .ti^Vw bodies and revers^/ ICE CREAM FREEZERS, \^^^ and General y^ £, QUEEN AND HIGH STKEETS, •/ALSO NEWTON, _sr_il-v7MAE--:ET, _A_3_T_D STT 3VC O IfT D S ST_e._EG__GT. . ___________________________________________________________^^



Smith and Caughey have received, ex s.s. Coptic, a large shipment of boys', youths' and mens clothing direct from tho largest clothing factory in England, 300 pairs men's strong tweed, trousers at 5s lid pair. A wonderful lin. of men's superior tweed suits at 21s, stylishly made and well finished. Their Geelong clothing obtainable only from them is, unsurpassed for cut, finish and durability. [Advt.] i Food for Consumptives. Scott's Emulsion or Puns Cod Liver Oil with Hvpophospkitr . op Lime and Soda, is a most wonderful food for the Consumptive. It not Only gives strength and increa.ea the flesh, but heals the irritation of tho throat ftnd lungs. It is very palatable: children take it like milk, and in all wasting diseases both for adult. arid children it is a marvellous food and medicine. Laree udsß-dlbottluofaUCheousUi 41 6 dud slid.



Public Notices ________..__-■__-_-_----«-— ———»______«-__«______»________--__ii_________________________________» - T. & S. Morrin & 00. (LIMITED), HARDWARE MERCHANTS, _-_&_ ETC.'; ETC. '* ' J ' '''' ; "- '•''• T. & S. MORRIN & CO. have now landed their SEASON'S STOCK of the under*. mentioned Goods, and invite inspection. GARDEN CHAIRS, GARDEN SEATS, &c. LAWN TENNIS GOODS. Single and Double String Tennis Rackets. A. SPECIAL LINE OF UNEXPENSIVE TENNIS RACKETS. TENNIS BALLS! | LAWN TENNIS MARKERS! I TENNIS POLES! TENNIS NETS ! LAWN MOWERS ! LAWN MOWERS ! New Improved Lawn Mowers, light and easy to work. Lawn Mowers at all prices. t. & s. T ' & S ' MORRIN & CO. JP MORRIN & CO. (LIMITED). (LIMITED). . y. ISS? } SELTZOGENES. { '*&$£ ICE CREAM FREEZERS! ICE CREAM FREEZERS! Freezers in stock suitable for the smallest family or largest hotel. ) WATER FILTERS ! GLASS TABLE FILTERS! WATER FILTERS! T.&S. MOEEIN&CO. (LIMITED), Furnishing Ironmongers N.Z. _____ CHEAP DRAPERS, CL(S|piERS, AND GENERAL STOREKEfIPRS. KARAFaj-HAPE BOJUD, O-SS^jl , <\ * •? '