The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-07-09
SHE SPOKE FIRST
ey HARRIsoN CHASE.

~ sa,sA's' e~e-esASA1
Nancy Earle was new-fashio
girl with an oldfnshloned name. she
believed In woman suffrage and the
power OF mind over matter. She
piAyed tennis and rode horseback.
When she reached the age Of twenty
five Nancy had doubts that such a
thing as love existed But That was
before she knew Henry Blauyelt
Henry was the "Son" In the firm OF
Hlauveit IS son, the most prosperous
DEPARTMENT store IN town.
Henry was also slightly old-fash-
Toned Ia regard to his consideration Of
the gentle sex. To him. girl fespm-
blcd a piece of priceless china which
too much handling would break. And
the fact that Henry Blauyclt fell IN
love with Nancy Earl was as much Of
a surprise 10 Henry as it was to the
rest of the town.
II happened ono sunny afternoon at
the Country club when Henry was sit.
ting In The cool shade of the big veran-
dp whcn the club messenger strobe by.
announcing telephone call for Miss
Nancy Earle Use boy called so loud
iy UNIT NY spilled some lemonade
ep MS Tow flannel trousers. az while
ie 'ras ruefully contemplating The dis
, asier Nancy herself came strolling by.
he searched his mind whereby he
might iind q plan which would lead 10
an Introduction Newton. however, is
rather a small village and before the
afternoon was half over, Henry discoY-
cred Tint at least ten Of his acquaut-
ances knew Nancy Earle intimately.
lie decided that Bob Melvin should
do the honors. Calling Eob aside, he
explained thnt he wished 10 be intro
duced 90 Miss Earle, and Bob, know
ing the characteristics Of both Henry
and Nancy laughed loudly
Henry failed to see anything TO
laugh about in his simple request He
mentioned this fact rather crisply to
Bob, and the official introduce once
brought to his senses, nunted up
Nancy and introduced her to Henry
Henry held mp three fingers Of his
right hand and muttered something
about being honored
Nancy ignored the three fingers,
seized Henry's yielding hand in her
own calloused one and shook it heart
nv
I'm glad to know you" she an.
( nounced. 1--WE been wanting to speak
to you about a tennis racket
bought it in your store only two days
ago, and yesterday a string broke. DO
you think / can get new one for itT'
Henry assured her hastily that he
would take up the matter himself.
That was tn, beginning Of three
months battle between Henry's ideals
and Henry's ideal. Henry's life was
mixture Of JOY and gloom. Whenever
Nancy smiled at him he lived for a
brief moment In Utopia. and OCCASION
ally, when Nancy indiferently told
him that she had already promised
somebody-or-other that he might take
her 10 a dance, Henry received a very
vivid impression Of what hades might
be.
But when the summer had almost
worn away he resolved to ask Nancy
to marry him. He had long since
changed his opinions regarding wom-
ans place in the general scheme Of the
universe.
It was after the late summer dance
at the club that Henry decided to take
the step which thousands Of young
men had taken before him, but which
Is always new It had taken him
long time to make the momentous de-
cision, not because Of any DOUBT I'm
Nancys mind. For he believed she
considered him old-fashioned and out
of-date and that she tolerated him
only because Of the kindness Of her
heart,
He was silent during the drive home
after the dance but when Nancy I
alghted from the car Henry followed
her and stopped for moment IN the
shadow of the porch.
Nancy spoke first.
"Wont you sit DOWN." she asked.
IL guess not" Henry had difficulty
In recognizing his own voice lid
Ike TO say something to yc1."
"What have ! done now to displeasc
you?' she asked
,"Nothing." There was a brief
pause, and then Henry took the
plunge. "I love you" he said
And Henry. inexperienced as he was
IN the art Of courtship, did the right
thing in exactly the right way. For {
he first time in his life he kissed n s
yir. BUT it was perfectly fitting and {
lroper-for they were engaged.
Copyright, 1917 by the Mcclure Newspa- 8
per Syndicate1