Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-01-29

the lines that gathered there.
oh, thank you. but" she was
saying when Mr. Dickson stopped her
with n frown.
NO butts Miss Cricket! I'll wait
for you down here"
Nancy darted upstairs to her little
room. quite unconscious that she had
been looking pretty as a picture in
the eyes Of Benjamin Dickson. I'm.
known to Nancy, Belle Brown had
dressed the luxuriant. gray-brown
hair In another fashion and her skill
full fingers had transformed the ap-
p%earance OF the little over-worked
seamstress.
Without a glance In the mirror.
Nancy pinned on her Sunday hat and
brought forth with trembling fingers
an automobile veil Of pink chiffon
which she tied over her hat and about
her throat in a great FUZZY, rosy bow
that lent color to her pale cheeks. It
was a secret Of her W that Nancy
had bought that veil at the same time
Mr.. Dickson had purchased the red
car-one never knew when n would
be invited to ride-and although she
had waited many weeks for the invi.
tation 1t had come at last!
How kind Mr.. Dickson was-how
masterful his way with a woman!
Nancy Cricket was a very womanly
little woman and she dearly loved to
be bossed around by a big man.
Ready? All" Mr.. Dickson. looking
very youthful in his linen duster and
gauntlets with a cap In his hand.
handed Nancy into the car while his
admiring eyes rested on the trans
formed little woman, The street light
made it very bright in front of the
Beeks house so that when they rode
away all the women boarders who had
peeked from behind the basement cur
tains when the red a had honked its
departure, knew that Mr.. Dickson had
taken Miss Cricket out for a ride.
The red car glided down the street
and into the pleasant venue that led
to the park. Nancy leaned back in
her seat and sighed blissfully.
1t was a never-to-be-forgotten ride
for several reasons. First, Mr.. Dick
son had been silent for a very long
time when he suddenly asked In a
queer voice: Are you a suffragette.
Miss Crickett?"
And Miss Cricket, much surprised,
had gasped: Mercy no. why should
l be-"
so many women are nowadays"
he murnured In a relieved tone.
Miss Cricket was silent again--she
did not want to spoil this wonderful
drive by talking-besides, there was a
note in Mr.. Dickson's voice that dis
turbed her strangely; 1t caused her
heart to beat in a most unaccustomed
manner.
Around and around the park they
glided in the procession Of automo-
,biles that wound in and out along the
perfect roads. They listened to the
band concert and al last when it was
over they stopped at a pavilion and
Mr.. Dickson brought her out a plate
of ice cream. They sat in the little
red car and ate ice cream and listened
to another band concert.
At last they left the park and
turned back to the city. The little
red car went around a corner, chuckled
along a quiet side street and with a
derisive snort stopped in front Of an
old stone church with its vine-clad
rectory close by.
Mr.. Dickson was on the ground,
looking under the car. Presently he
arose. brushed his knees and leaning
against the cal looked up at Miss
Nancy perched on the seat.
This has happened" he said de-
l~iberately. and the masterful tone sent
delightful thrills through Nancy Crick-
ct, II came out to ask you to marry
me, Miss Cricket, and I couldn't sum-
mon courage to do it-but this blessed
little car OF mine has paved the way.
1t stopped right in front Of the church
and the minister's-and that's the
question, Nancy! What is your an
swer?"
In one binding flash the future was
revealed to Nancy Cricket-to marry
Benjamin Dickson whom she secretly
loved, to have a cosy little home
where she would have nothing to do
save to make it comfortable for him,
to ride In the little red a whenever
she liked. 1t was too much! Nancy
bowed her head and quite regardless
of the fluffy pink chiffon bows she
cried softly.
Mr.. Dickson was holding both her
hands in his when the door Of the
rectory opened and the rector's rotund
form came down the path Of the gate.
Good evening" he said pleasantly.
Have you had a breakdown? Can
| be of assistance?"
mo thank you-not this evening""
said Benjamin Dickson heartily. but
we are going to be married very soon
and then we will need your help
how soon, Nancy, tomorrow"
Nancy laughed a shaky laugh. One
month from now" she said firmly. and
with that decision MI. Dickson had to
be content.
The rector babe them goodnight
and the little red car. chuckled again,
and then buzzed home just as If it
had not contributed to make this a
wonderful evening for two people,
Copyright. 1913. by the Mcclure News
paper ~syndicate.)
me to call on the local Wears wife.