The Southern herald., 1912-11-01
NRAI Sc NANTE
And Woman-LIks, Mss Nancy
Got Il
81 JEANNE Q. LoizEAUx

her Aunt AIMS busy chatter to Mrs.
Ordway ceased. and judged that she
had been the subject under discus
sion. Aunt Ann was always hushing
herself at Nancy's approach. and the
girl had determined to nnd out Why.
Now, instead Of going up to change
her dress for a game Of tennis she
turned summarily on the goodlooking.
bronzed young fellow as they stood
together in the hall
I'm going to change my mind in
stead OF my dress, Mr.. Tenny. WIN
you mind If don't play until tomor-
row." He did mind. but said he did
not, as politeness demanded.
But you'll stin go on the lake with
me tomorrow" he asked. as he
prepared to go. She nodded her
brown head with its close braids, and
and he thought how adorable deep
blue eyes were, and smooth tanned
face with an odd dimple In the left
cheek. and a little boyish figure.
Rid of her shadow, Nancy deliber-
ately entered the almost unused inn
parlor and sat down near the open
window to hear what her aunt. Just
outside. was saying about her. All
summer the well-preserved old dame
had worn an indefinable air of secrecy.
Also she had ceased to persecute the
girl with arguments why she should
marry and settle down" Why?
IF at twenty.four a girl doesn't
know what she wants she never will.
I'm letting her alone to see what she
win do. I've given her every advan-
tage since her mother died when she
was sixteen. She's had attention
enough for a dozen normal girls, and
has made no use OF it. She shies
away from a decent marriage like a
skittish colt! Now she can have her
head John Norton is coming up next
week"
She seems at least to know what
she doesn't want" snapped Mrs. Ord
way. John certainly has had sum
mary treatment at her hands!"
"And seemingly just because he Is
in every respect eligible. 1t would
be just the thing any other girl in
her set would be wild to do. This
winter when / reminded her that a
younger man would have the wild.
oats period to go through, and that
he had passed 1t, she coolly said that
II there was q wildcat crop in her
family she'd help SOW as well as
help reap II. Well. he's coming for
another try with her."
"And-young Tenny? Who is he?"
"Nobody-that Is, cousin Of the
Fosters. A civil engineer without a
cent to his name-going to South
America this fall, practically an ad-
venturer-but a gentleman. There
fore, Nancy finds him fascinating.
Well, this summer is the end. II
she refuses John Norton, I'm going
to give her the little $4,000 her mother
left her and wash my hands Of her.
Let's dress for the afternoon. Isn't It
timer"
As the old danes numbered toward
the front door, Nancy made swift,
silent flight to her own room and
sank into the first chair with both
hands pressed to her burning cheeks
"And-I let myself be managed
spied on, discussed like this!" A lit.
tie thought reused her to planning a
course of action. At least she would
not be on hand next week. to give
Mr.. Norton his chance" before the
assembled multitude! She would de
mand her little $4,000, put 1t in the
bank, and study either nursing OF
medicine, as she had begged to be al
lowed to do when she left college
three years before. She would be
happy to fall out of the circle of do
lessness and chatter.
AS she dressed for lunch she felt 9
new life shaping itself for her. East
man Tenny would-advise her. HI
was man of action. At thirty he
vas beginning to do things, II his
preparation had been long. She woult
ask him
At the stairs foot he was waiting
and asked to lunch with her. ant
afterwards led her to the porch ant
with an odd look on his face said:
"Will you do me favor? I'm go
ing to South America day after to
morrow. Just have telegram. vii
you-give me all day tomorrow
Something seemed to drop a weigh
upon her spirit. He was goingl
why, Of coursel I'd like to-" sht
answered
Dress in tramping things. and g
where / say-without your aunt?"
"Anywhere!" she replied with he
steadfast comradeliness
The next day found Nancy and tn,
young engineer tramping the mile
to rough half-mountain, lunchin,
over a campfire, enjoying themselvel
hugely like two children with nj
mention of past or future. Tn,
present was enough. In the earl,
afternoon they reached the wind
swept top and looked down on worl,
glorious with late September colors
q glow of splendor.