The Virginia enterprise., 1910-09-23

His Waiting Game
By CORA A. ORTIZ

blame him. It is only right that he
should turn away, and-elsewhere.
Every nice boy should marry"
Unconscfously she began to piece in
the probable details of the boys af-
fairs. "Of course, he has found her
by this time," she would say, "and l
think she is dark, because-because
I'm not. He probably wouldn't care
for my type again. But-but it cer-
ta1nly isn't like the boy not to Tess
up, in his frank fashion. He's prob
ably too absorbed in her. They'll be
married in the spring-1'm sure Of
that. The boy was always so impa-
tient about things. Yet he was pa
tient too. oh. well, he'll make an
adorable husband. She'll be lucky
girl. don't feel the least mite Bit
ter about it, for which am so
thankful. My work more than satisfies
me. I've no room for regrets.
Oh, no."
Then one day the exchange editor
was absent and Nancy must needs
look through great heap of papers
piled in the dingy Office. 1t was a
task she detested, and her scissors
made lstless work. She would so
much rather have been sent forth into
the sunshine. Ser eye fell on paper
from the boys city. With languid in
terest she began to CLEAN it's columns.
Suddenly she sat up very straight.
John Allen, 2?," she read. It was
marriage license notice, and that was
the boys name! Yes, he must be
twenty seven now. Her reasonings
were verified!
A most ridiculous blur came before
her eyes. She tried to wink it away.
1t was so senseless and unnecessary
for she was just as happy about it as
she could be. Everything was turn
ing out as she had figured it. True,
she had set the wedding for spring,
but that was a mere detail. Also her
heart became lumpy and uncomfort-
able. She grew angry with herself.
She was still angrier when the per-
sistence of the blur and the lumpiness
inside made it necessary for her to
be excused from duty.
What is the matter?" she ques-
toned herself over and over, as she
blindly made her way to her room.
me?"
The boys picture stood on the
mantle. She scrutinized the keen,
clear features. A strange tenderness
took unwilling hold of her. She was
swept from head to foot by some
thing stronger than her precious
work.
"Oh, boy" she whispered, aghast.
why didn't l know before?"
Years and decades and centuries of
misery passed! It seemed as if all
she had missed in the past crowded
crushing force that hurt her. In
desperation she tried to concentrate
her mind on her work, but the words
rang empty in her minds ear. Work!
Still came the dreadful reality what
else was left her but work? She saw
herself dragging through the years in
short, plain skirts. She felt that she
would go mad. With all her heart she
hoped so!
The postman's ring aroused her. It
was the boys letter at last. It
would tell her of his new-found joy.
YEARLY, she drew out the crisp, fa-
miliar sheets.
Why, what could it mean? There
was not a word about another-a
bride. Only the same persistent plead
ing. And please forgive me-" the
letter ran, "for waiting so long.
thought that perhaps, by a long. long
chance, waiting might make you care
a little. Has it, Nancy?"
John Allen! He had been only the
boy to her for so long that she had
almost forgotten what his real name
was until that day. She had written
it mechanically; had completely for
gotten to reckon with it's common
ness. 1t dawned upon her that there
must be hundreds of John Aliens In
the world. 1t couldn't have meant the
boy, after all, unless-no, the post
mark was all right, a day younger
than that of the paper containing the
notice.
Then the awe and the wonder of
the thing gave place to a great sob OF
happiness.