The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1917-07-06
How Nicholson's Court
ship Was Begun
BY F. A. Mitchell


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.
as this the only set of Dickens works
in the library?" she asked.
II believe 1t is. Yes; I'm quite sure
we haven't any other. What volume do
you want?"
"'Dombey 4 Son. 1t seems to be
out"
BEG pardon; here is 'Dombey &
Son, said Nicholson.
"Oh, wouldn't think Of depriving
you Of !" 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, 1 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 it he took
one Of the flowers from his buttonhole
and placed 1t 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 itT
she asked
"Quite sure-that Is, for this time.
I shall doubtless read 1t again, or rath.
err parts that are favorites Of mine"
II shall return 1t within a week.
am a quick reader"
do you ever note parts of books
that especially appeal to your" he ask.
ed, looking at the forgetmenot that
hung without the leaves.
Sometimes" she replied, her eyes
directed also to the flower. Then
thanking him for his kindness in let.
ting her have the book she had come
to the library for she bowed an adieu
and took 1t to the loan desk, where 1t
was duly stamped and handed back to
her.
A few days later Nicholson went into
the library at that hour In the after.
noon when young women go gadding.
He had not been there long when the
young lady who had wanted "Dombey
& Son" entered. Nicholson retreated
into an alcove where he could be In
the shadow and look out at his charm.
er who was under the skylight in the
center Of the library.
Sometimes very big thing will fail
to move one, and sometimes very Lit.
tie thing will give one the emotion OF
his life. A very little thing at this
Juncture set Nicholson's heart beating
wildly. The girl wore faded forget
menot in her corsage.
Here were two persons Of opposite
sex who had met, conversed, the man
had offered a token in his own deli
cate way, the girl had accepted 1t, and
it would naturally be. supposed that
this warranted Nicholson's presuming
that 1t involved an acquaintance.
Nevertheless he did not take advan-
tage of the situation. He considered
that situation momentous. Thus far
the moves on both sides had been
worthy of pair Of thoroughbreds.
Nicholson had no idea Of making a
false move. Instead of walking past
the young lady. looking at her and
giving her an opportunity to give him
a nod of recognition. he got out of
the library by the front door, while
she was In the rear of the building
Altogether too much would depend,
should he meet her face to face, upon
what she might decide to do. II she
did not recognize him there would be
fork In their paths which might never
bring them again together. At any
rate, Nicholson decided not to hazard
a rebuff.
The next day he went to the library,
found "Dombey & Son" in its place
on the shelves, took it out, opened 1t
at the place where he had inserted the
forgetmenot and found a visiting card
which had apparently been left there
for book mark. The name engraved
on 1t was Miss Ella Stanley Nichol-
son took out a Russia leather case,
put the card in 1t and walked out of
the library like one who had achieved
a signal victory.
1t must be admitted that this is a
very unsatisfactory place to close a
story. Nevertheless 1t must be closed
here, for Nicholson, who told me the
story himself. did not proceed any fur
Their with 1t. He married the girl who
wore his forgetmenot and who care
lessly left her card in its place In
"Dombey & Son." But the only ad-
dition he made to his narrative was
that after their marriage he asked his
wife some questions about another sto-
ry-the story Of "Dombey & Son"-that
brought out an astonishing ignorance
- h. kaIa Indnad hn hod