The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-08-03
How Nicholson's Court
ship Was Begun
By F. A. Mitchell

Nicholson met his fate in a library.
He was sitting in an alcoye reading
"Dombey & Son." A young lady in
street costume entered and passed her
eye over the books on the shelves. On
coming to a set Of Dickens works she
began to appear interested, scanning
the volumes more carefully. A librarian
was passing. and the girl called her.
us this the only set of Dickens works
in the library she asked.
II believe it is. Yes; I'm quite sure
we haven't any other. What volume do
you want?"
'Dombey Il Som 1t seems to be
out"
BEG pardon; here is 'Dombey &
Son." said Nicholson.
"Oh, l wouldn't think Of depriving
you Of it" said the girl.
II have nearly finished it, but shall
not be able to just now. beg you to
take it
Not on any account. so long as you
like reading it,"
well, then, l will complete it. l
, shall do SO in few minutes
Don't hurry. l shall not get away
from the library for some time"
! She left the alcove, and Nicholson pre-
/ tended to resume his reading but in
stead he followed her with his eye as
( she dawdled over the shelves, now
! and again taking out book, turning
the pages for awhile. then passing on
! to another Nicholson noticed her
| pose as she stood on one foot the 9TH
err incased in a slender boot showing
beneath her skirt, the boa dropping on
her shoulders adding to the picture.
Nicholson wore tiny bunch Of for
getmenots in his buttonhole. When he
had kept the book long enough to have
! made pretense of finishing 1t he took
one of the flowers from his buttOnhole
and placed it between the leaves of
the book; then, going to where the
! young lady was doing her literary
browsing, he handed it to her.
Are you sure you have finished itY'
she asked
quite sure-that Is, for this time
l shall doubtless read 1t again, or rath
er parts that are favorites Of mine"
II shall return 1t within week.
am a quick reader"
do you ever note parts Of books
that especially appeal to your" he ask
ed, looking ut the forgetmenot tha
hung without the leaves.
Sometimes" she replied, her eyes
directed also to the flower. TheI
thanking him for his kindness in let
ting her have the book she had COM
to the library for she bowed an adie'
and took it to the loan desk, where |
was duly stamped and handed back t
her.
A few days later Nicholson went int
the library at that hour In the after
noon when young women go gadding.
He had not been there long when tn
young lady who had wanted "Dombe
& Son" entered. Nicholson retreate
into an alcove where he could be 1
the shadow and look out at his charm
er who was under the skylight in tn
center Of the library
Sometimes a very big thing will ia
, to move one. and sometimes very Ii
tie thing will give one the emotion q
. his life. A very little thing at thi
juncture set NichOlson's heart beatin
wildly The girl wore faded forge
menOt in her corsage
Here were two persons Of Opposit
, sex who had met, conversed, the ma
had offered a token in his own del
| cate way, the girl had accepted 1t, an
: it would naturally be supposed thu
, this warranted Nicholson's presumin
r that it involved an acquaintance.
, Nevertheless he did not take adval
r tage of the situation. He cOnsidere
that situation mOmentous. Thus fl
t the moves on both sides had bee
, worthy of pair Of thoroughbred
e Nicholson had no idea of making
Z false move. Instead of walking pa
= the young lady, looking at her al
o giving her an opportunity to give hi
q nod of recognition. he got out
i. the library by the front door, viii
she was in the rear Of the buildin
q Altogether too much would Deepen
n should he meet her face to face, upt
a what she might decide to do. IL 81
O did not recognize him there would be
d fork in their paths which might new
4 bring them again together. At al
r rate Nicholson decided not to haZa
o a rebuff.
n The next day he went to the librar
8 found "Dombey & Son" in its pla
II on the shelves. took 1t out, opened
Il at the place where he had inserted 4
forgetmenot and found visiting ca
n which had apparently been left the
II for a book mark The name engrav
n on it was Miss Ella Stanley. Nich'
20 son took out Russia leather cas-
put the card in 1t and walked out
| tho library likp ono Whn had aphipy