The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-30

condition. She walked with affected
| weakness to his chair and handed MN
the magazine. AS she did so the VINO
blew her coat so that for secono
Archibald caught sight of the rufnes Oh
the negligee beneath.
You aren't laid up, too?' he asked
cheerfully. You don't look very SICK.
Nancy was aware OF the fact that her
| color was high and that her eyes We're
| bright. "a trifle. yes" she answered.
| She had accepted his thanks with
| touch of hauteur and was turning 70
| go back to her chair when Archibald
called her. Don't you get deuced
lonely? I mean, doesn't one get lonely
| though, sitting up here?"
! Nancy turned.
Archibald explained. 'T was just
thinking that if we could get some one
to introduce us it would make 1t jolly
| if we didn't have our chairs so Tar
apart so We could sometimes talk
| Bit
'I didn't know you felt the need of
an introduction" said Nancy, and then.
not exactly knowing why, she tripped
back to the elevator and down to her
| apartment.
The conversation between Mrs. Black
| and Mrs. White continued and for some
reason Nancy grew fonder of the fresh
air. In fact, Nancy had a way of
! making for the roof whenever she heard
Cn6 InuCn-QeL6SI6u D1dnOia STOP pray
| ing. Mrs. Black had learned all the de-
| tails of Mrs Whites sons accident.
and Nancy listened with well-feigned
| interest to her account of Archibold's
career.
interest to her account of Archibald's
chair behind her chimney. That day
she sat behind Archibald's chimney.
One day they happened to come up in
the same elevator, and without con-
sulting Nancy's opinion he requested
the elevator boy to place the two chairs
on the same side of the roof. That day
he tried in vain to open a conversation
with Nancy
The first day that Archibald could
hobble without a crutch he proceeded
| to drag his chair close to Nancy's.
Il want to talk to you seriously"
he said, $50 don't play any of your
funny little tricks this time.''
| Nancy looked haughtily at him, but
made no protest. When they were both
to her as if afraid that some one else
would hear
II want you to tell me honestly, does
that internal pianola bother your"
"Why?' asked Nancy.
Because If it does, will get a gun
and shoot it, or an ak and smash it.
You see my mother had an idea that
it cheered me, and so it did. and then
when she got to talking to your mother
she began to feel as if my life depend
lseu Oh IidNlIlS play all the time. Y GU
know how stubborn mothers are. So
she turns it on whenever I am in the
house. try to stay up here as much
as possible, so as to keep it off, but you
happen to come up soon after come.
Does it bother you?"
"'Not half so much as the way our
mothers talk about it down the dumb
waiter shaft. That is why am I'D here
so much.''
'"Is that the only reason you ever
come up here?'
"I don't understand" said Nancy.
blushing.
ooh, just thought perhaps, that per-
haps you came UP here some times Just
+ to torment me-" He looked almost
fiercely at the girl before him BE
cause you seem to follow me up here
when that pianoIa stops. I thought
maybe it was not just a coincidence. I
know you detest me or you would have
spoken to me one of these many lonely
days have been exi1ed up here. In
stead of that you have cut me Dur
posely. The only reason am here so
much is to get that pianola to STOP"
rs that the only. reason?" Nancy
asked this, and then wished she had
not
mo, it isn't" Archibald admitted. IT
come up here just to be tormented by
you"
This was the introduction. Then fol-
lowed two weeks of pleasant comrade-
ship on the roof, in which Archibald
was strictly impersonal-in fact so I'm
personal that Nancy was inclined to
feel offended.
They got very well acquainted. One
day Archibald, quite out of a clear sky.
asked Nancy to marry him. She was
prepared for this. for she had been
brought up to feel that when she and
an eligible man were concerned a pro-
posal was merely a question of having
a chance. and she had certainly given
Archibald a chance
Well Archibald" said Nancy with
a sigh of surrender, ct think 1 will
have to say yes And am so glad. -
she added, as If to give an excuse for
her hasty acceptance, ct am so glad
our mothers are so fond of each other. |
The way your mother held our
about that pianola made my mother
ike her from the first.''-(C Copyright,
cate.)