The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-02-26
Somebody Errs Surprising Nancy

lDl6 lTOm Tue llNluS-TuOm VI tuSl
bungalow home, she would say:
You see the welcoming banquet is
ready and the guests are soon to ar
rive!"
Or perhaps 1t would be better to
act as though she had been expecting
Nancy all along, and had planned for
weeks for her coming. She smiled
dreamily to herself as she saw, men
tally, the bewildered expressions on
their faces; she heard their excla-
nations of wonder and their rapid
questioning, but she only smiled mys-
teriously and led Nancy to the guest
room.
You shore look happy tonight,
chile" said old Anne, as Evelyn ap-
peared in her dainty blue and white
frock. can you grow prettier every
day. Mister Franklin mus take good
care OBJ you."
"Oh, Anne, do I look all right?
And will you fasten just this one
hook back there? ! couldn't quite
reach 1t. Thank you. Are the patties
ready? Now I'll take just one last
look at. everything"
The guest-roOm, dainty with crisp
ruffled curtains and bits Of hand
embroidery, and frightened with
fresh flowers, was immaculate, while
nothing more inviting could be i'm
agined than the dining table, with
its sparkling array of cutglass and
silver. Evelyn placed a match to
the candles, beneath their ribbon
shades, and a rosy glow spread over
the table.
ooh, it's just perfect" breathed
Evelyn, as she drew back admiringly.
A CHEEKY whistle sounded without,
that very special whistle by which
Jack always announced his coming
TO his bride. Evelyn flew to the door,
opened it, and-stared. Jack was
alone! Absolutely alone!
Hello! Why this festive air?" he
demanded, taking in party frock,
candelabra, and decorations in one
bewildered glance.
"Why, where is Nancy" asked
Evelyn, sinking Imply into the near
est chair.
Nancy? Up in Fremont, getting
dinner for her fond hubby, | sup
pose" stated Jack, with feeble at
tempt at jocularity. "You surely
don't think l have her concealed in
my pocket, do you, my dear?"
"Jack! But didn't you-weren'
yon-telephoning someone this morn
ing about your wife's sister coming
this evening so you couldn't 60 to a
directors meeting, or something?"
This morning? No, love, l can
prove my alibi easily-I was out In
the machine all morning, showing
property to that man from Michigan
Wasn't even near a phone. But what
made you think"
"Oh, dear! took down the re-
ceiver to call you up just at 10, and
: there / could hear someone talking
already-it sounded exactly like your
: voice, Jack Franklin-and the man
was saying that his wife's sister was
coming as a surprise. thought the
wives were crossed, and you were on
our line. Or, Jack, are you SURE II
: wasn't you | heard?"
quite sure" he assured her sol
emnly.
"Then whatever shall we do?'
: moaned Evelyn, with trace OF tear;
in her voice.
Jack was down on his knees be-
side his wife instantly.
: "Why, sweetheart, what difference
: does it make? Can't she come some
other time just as well?"
ooh, but look" Evelyn pointed
tragically to the dining-room, with
its festive array. 'I've invited every.
I 1body-yes, everybody-all your rel
atives and mine, to surprise Nancy
; tonight, and now"
well" declared Jack, with mas
culine obtuseness, "the tables ready
and we're here, and there's something
to eat, isn't there?"
But, jack" she walled, "Tve in
veigled all those people into coming
here with the hope of surprise.
, didn't tell them why asked them
I lust said | had big surprise. And
now I haven't the courage to confess
} the true state of affairs to them. III
never hear the end of Tiny frs
affair, and the relatives-in-law com
ing, too" o, ,,o,,
= "There'll be some sort of surprise, Il
t I have to perform stunt myself
| Shall it be a soprano solo or Gre
/ clan dance? We can at least tel
, them it's housewarming. Cheel