The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-30
EVENING STORY
Nancy Decides.
BY KITTY PARSONS.

w ny won you ANdHSy
is it on account Of this soldier fell
low you are all the time writing to-"
81 don't know, Dick-I really and
truly don't know. 1 thought I did care
for you a few months ago. but now,
I'm not SO sure-I think perhaps we're
not suited to each other after all"
Then it is this other fellow. l knew
1t was and you've never even seen
him. either. Why, Nancy, he may be
entirely different from what you think
him-I can't bear to think of you car
ing for someone when you have no
idea what kind of a man he is. He
might be almost anything
But he isn't, Dick. No one could
be anything that wasn't wonderful
and write such beautiful letters-I
never read such letters before. I just
feel I've got to see him before 1 can
make up my mind about anyone else.
1t wouldn't be fair to marry you and
to think about him, would it? L may
be all wrong, of course, but it's the
only thing 1 can think of to do.
feel he and 1 have SO much in COM
mon-I never knew anyone like him
was really alive"
well. if that's the way you feel
about it, I guess we'd better call the
whole thing off. L never could write
a accent letter myself. w men does
Sir Galahad return ?''
HE gets here some time next week
ON sick leave. I'm to meet him the
day after he arrives-we'l have tea
somewhere, 1 think. He may not look
the way 1 expect him to at all. but
Nancy, promise me you won't go
to tea with him till you see what he
looks like first"
You're crazy. Dick-as if his looks
b.
| ings toward him! It's his mind I'm
thinking of, not his face
We'll, for my own sake, I hope he
won't exceed your expectations. When
do Pet my final answer,
I'll give it to you the day after
see him. But you ought to forget all
about me, Dick-f'm not the kind of
girl for you at ALL
We'll, I think differently, or
wouldn't agree to your arrangement
see the thing thru, and I'll see you
the day after our hero arrives. But 1
| won't wish him luck"
You're the incest person in the
world, Dick, and I'm not worth so
much consideration
Il don't agree with You about that
either"
The week after Nancy's converse
ton with Dick was a busy one for the
girl. Before she knew it, the day came
Nancy was in perfect turmoil of ex-
element. Again and again she went
over the picture of him she had
formed in her mind-every detail of it.
She was sure he would be tall and
dark and handsome all her life she
such man. Dick was blonde and
medium height and not at all mys-
FERROUS looking and she did love that
sort of man.
talked very much about themselves.
Their letters had been more about
things and ideas and the great war
But Nancy knew she would know him
at once-he would not disappoint her.
Strange as it may SEEM the man who
met her in the lobby of the hotel
where they had planned to see each
| other for the first time, was remark
| ably like her mental picture of him,
| except that he was some years older.
Just an interesting age. thought
Nancy. who believed that she was tired
of very young men.
| Il had an idea my godmother was
much older, he began. when they
were seated at a little table together.
Nancy did not like to tell him she
thought he would be younger, SO she
| only smiled and made some perfume
tory remark about how deceptive let
| ters can be. For some time they talked
| of commonplaces. then he said:
/ you've been so kind, so very kind
to me. my dear Miss Day I can't tell
you how much we fellows over there
appreciate the wonderful letters some
of you women write US. Why. many
of us don't hear from home for weeks
at time. And those boxes and knitted
things. tool felt must see you just
I to let you know what we really do
think of you all. Letters can't say
half of what we mean"
| 1T wasn't anything but a pleasure
to me- returned Nancy promptly,
blushing slightly at his earnestness.
! "Ah, but It was to me. Whether
you were 10 or 80. the kindness was
there just the same felt it all the
time. And I've told someone else
about tiny wife. She asked me to
give you this letter from her today.
to let you know how much she thinks
even scrubbed postscript on the bot
tom from one of the children. You
mustn't mind the addition"
"Oh, thank you." Nancy cried hasti-
ly. I'm to be married myself soon. I
thought I'd tell you this afternoon be-
fore 1 announce it to everyone"
Soon they parted with at feeling OF
mutual respect and admiration but
with no desire to know each other bet
ter.
I'm an idiot" thought Nancy, 81
never thought for a minute that he
was married. And-the children, tool"
Her sense of humor overca me her at
this point and she laughed till she was
weak.
/ Aside from the fact that he was
married, he had not been half so nice
| as Dick. anyway. From the first
| moment she had known that. She had
| almost been afraid that he would-she
had only wanted to make sure. And
she had.
The first thing Nancy did when she
/ got back from her tea party was to
rush to the telephone.