The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-07-11

"Well. those old college days we're
jolly, weren't they. Nan?" and Jack
Benton leaned against the mantel.
smiling down into the girls upturned
face yes. indeed. and I'm glad that
I ~rcsurrected all these old photographs
and souvenirs. since you enjoy looking
them over again. BY the way. that re-
minds me, Jack, Of a letter which came
yesterday; wait TIL / get II. III be
back In a minute" and Nan disap-
peared through the study door.
Handsome Jack Benton stopped over
the table and picked up one of the old
photographs that lay there IN a pile.
Our mandolin club" he murmured.
Fairly good picture. too. How young
/ look in It, thought And what's this?
Another group2 Oh. one Of those girls
societies; / suppose Nan belonged to Il.
Let's see II / can recognize any OF
their faces-ohl" The picture was
dropped as II Il had burned him. Ethel
Fanshawel"
The last words we're in a whisper.
as he Involuntary laid his hand on
the table for support. "Oh. poohi non
sensei What a sentimental idiot I ami
I supposed that was over. long ago"
he thought, taking a seat that was as
far as possible from the photograph.
Good little Nan! I'm glad she wasn't
here, just now. How astonished she
would have been to see mel"
Jack Benton and Nan Welsh had
kmnm mawawmArm $50 mNa~. H. hmH
made mud pies together in Mrs.
Welsh's back yard. and had handed
cookies from one chubby hand to an
other through the Stats Of the fence
that separated their parental premises.
Many a secret, cross your heart, GER
tain, true, hope to die II / ever tell,
had passed between them, then, and
through school and college days It had
been the same. but even our best
friends must not know everything.
81 told you I'd not be long, Jack"
said Nan, quickly, re-entering the
room, but the letter was mislRid. some
how, and 1 had to rummage through
my desk twice before I could find it.
It's from Sadie Allen. one of our old
NAAUU4 OnA XII lev naN uAG NOu AQQh-
ing so Cross for, Jack?"
ooh. nothing; a mere trihe. I was
thinking Of the ~cruelties Of existence"
You wretched pessimist, and with
my trying so hard to amuse you. I'd
have a great notion not to read the
news in this to you. and l wouldn't do
1t, either, but you happen to know the
people. Are you going to be good?"
yes, indeed" he replied. sitting a
sigh. I'm as meek as Moses. Please
begin"
Very well, then" said Nan. absent
ly, drawing her chair closer to the
light.
Dearest Nan'-that doesn't concern
you-I met the Penningtons'-no, that
isn't it, either. Wait a minute till I
find the place-here 1t is: You will be
surprised. Nan, to hear the latest about
one Of the girls Of '96. You know she
had two admirers-Tom Andrews was
one. Well, she engaged herself to Tom
and let the other fellow &c. I forget
his name, but he was a college boy, one
OF the old mandolin club that gave a
concert in Rochester the winter 1 was
there. Anyway, she was engaged to
Tom Andrews. l met her last month
In Pasadena. We were at the same no
tel, and one day had a little chat over
our embroidery. "Oh. Sadie" said she,
you don't know what good 1t does me
to meet one Of the old girls again!
And to think that you remember my
Tom! He's such a noble fellow"-here
she blushed and gave a shy, proud lit
tie laugh. 81 think there's nobody like
him. Oh, Sadie Allen, you must come
to the wedding next June. Promise
me that. Yes, Of course. it's to be at
my home in Memphis. Tom says"-and
so forth. and so on, Nan, nothing but
that fellows name the whole time!
"'The next day she came running up
to me on the hotel porch, saying, i've
got a telegram. Here 1t Is: Come
home. Great news. Tom"
"'she was wild with delight, and left
on the next train And, Nan, what do
you suppose was the great nows''? I
thought that he must have struck a
gold mine, at the very least So he