Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-06-20
AFTER THE YEARS
BY WALLACE A. MARTIN.

Copyright, 1918. by Western Newspaper Union.)
Everything satisfactory, Mr.. Bliss?"
! "Better than that. You've done won-
derfully fine. Twelve thousand dol
lars out of an investment Of fourl
What's your bill?"
! "The usual five per cent on the orig
inal capital" /
John Bliss pocketed the draft that
had just arrived from New York BY
mail, and drew out his own check
book, filed out blank and handed II;
to the broker.
eOh, saY!" IN sincere surprise .eY-
! claimed the latter-sa thousand dol
/ larsr
tits worth it to me-" averred his
generous client. 'There's restric-
i ton want to make: I.dont want the
public, and especially my wife, to
know of this transaction. OF course,
it was open and above board. and
square and Legitimate. but1 don't want
to be classed as q Spectator. It
places me ut point I've been trying to-
reach for years. intend to make
things a little more comfortable for
Nance. Comfort-Tn make it luxury,
If the dear thing will let mel"
It had excited and enthused him to-
make big stake all at once. 1t had
warmed his heart to think Of Nancy
They had been married for thirty
years. Their only boy had just en-
listed for the war. During the thirty
/ years, husband and wife had been real
workers. For ten years both had set
| tied down into a routine existence.
/, With daylight John was at his farm
work. Before daylight Nancy was up
and around, preparing breakfast and
starting the manifold household du-'
ties of the day.
| So 1t had come about that greetings.
had become purely informal, and COM,
panionship unconventional and COM
4 monplace. He had long since forgot
ten to kiss her, and she had accepted
! the lack of demonstrative affection as
latent sentimentality obscured by
pressing demands for labor. She was
firm at times, stern, but never cross
or perverse, while he valued her ster-
i ling qualities of sacrifice and toll at
their true worth.
But now with positive relief from
the fear of old age, penury, new
spirit was born In John. He was quite
gay and light-footed as he proceeded
to the bank to deposit his draft. He
was clear-eycd and smiling as he en-
tered the house, inspired with secret
plans for giving Nancy the surprise of
her life when the right moment ar
rived. She was keen-minded enough
to note his unusually jubilant mood.
"Letter from Arnold he announced.
"Just got it at the post Office. He's
been promoted to sergeantcy."
| "He deserves 1t, and won it am
proud of the boy" commented Mrs.
Bliss, with feeling. BY the way, Miller
was here today with his estimate for
painting the house,"
''We'll let the man we sell it to ur-
range that" observed John, and Nancy
stared at him.
"You're not thinking of that, are
you?" She inquired, eyeing him closely.
'Why, yes. Tell you. Nance: I've
been saving up and accommodating I've
had a little business windfall, and I
see my way clear to build on the viii
lage lot. It's your right, girl, to have
1t a little better and easier. You've
done more than your duty all these
years, and want to see you have
little comfort and happiness"
~,
mentarily. The lines of her face soft
ened. He had not called her "girl' for
twenty years! His hand rested ca
ressingly upon her arm and she quiv-
cred.
I'D like to have some of our old
friends to a sort of party, soon," pro-
ceeded John. s'We'll have to go out
more than we do, when we live in
town, you know, and get into the new
house,
"Don't go beyond your DEPTH" she
said.
"Tll not; did ever? I'm thinking
of how you will enjoy having little
rest from the grind, and a hired girl,
and the right kind of clothes. You
AIN DIS young DIS you once was, DuC
you're as straight as an arrow, and,
always held, was pretty woman"
'Nonsense!" derided Nancy, but the
compliment was sweet to her. Then, a
week later, when some dozen or more
friends passed social evening at the
old farmhouse, and John danced
J twice, bright and sprightly, with two
of his boyhood flames, Nancy expert
enced quite a pang of jealousy, and
was duly startled at the growing high
spirit Of her usually preoccupied help
meet.
One day she rested hand on his
shoulder to reach over and adjust a
window shade. Her cheek was tempt
ingly near to him. He uttered q
chuckle and kissed her.
! Smack! He drew back with ting
ling cheek from the impetuous slap.
Poor soul! Innate modesty, prim dis
dain Of sentiment through twenty
years had made her take even the con.
genial salute as an unwarrantable lib
erty! Then, overcome with mighty
revulsion in feeling, she burst into
tears.
He caught her hand and pulled her
to his knee. Reckon I deserve it,
neglecting you so long, Nance" he said