Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-10-18
WHAT She WANTED
And Woman-Like, Miss Nancy
Got It.
BY JEANNE o. LoIZEAUx.

Ay, came up from the lake and across
the veranda of the inn she noted that
aer Aunt AIMS busy chatter to Mrs.
ordway ceased, and judged that she
mad been the subject under discus
sion Aunt Ann was always hushing
herself at Nancy's approach, and the
girl had determined to find out why.
Now, instead of going up to change
her dress for a game of tennis she
turned summarily on the good-looking.
bronzed young fellow as they stood
together in the hall.
Pm going to change my mind in
stead of my dress, Mr.. Tenny. VIII
you mind If don't play until tomor-
row." He did mind, but said he did
DOT, as politeness demanded,
But you'll still go on the lake with
mo tomorrow" he asked as he
prepared to 60 She nodded her
brown head with its close braids, and
and he thought how adorable deep
blue eyes were, and a smooth tanned
face with an odd dimple In the left
cheek, and little boyish figure.
Rid of her shadow, Nancy deliber-
ately entered the almost unused Inn
parlor and sat down near the open
window to hear what her aunt, just
outside, was saying about her. All
summer the well-preserved old dame
had worn an indeflnable air of secrecy.
Also she had ceased to persecute the
girl with arguments why she should
marry and settle down" Why?
IF at twenty-four a girl doesn't
know what she wants she never will.
I'm letting her alone to see what she
will do. I've given her every advan-
tage since her mother died when she
was sixteen. She's had attention
enough for dozen normal girls, and
has made no use of it. She SHES
away from a decent marriage like a
skittish colt! Now she can have her
head! John Norton is coming up next
week"
She seems at least to know what
she doesn't want" snapped Mrs. Ord
way. John certainly has had sum
mary treatment at her hands,"
And seemingly Just because he is
In every respect eligible. 1t would
be just the thing any other girl In
her set would be wild to do, This
winter when reminded her that a
younger man would have the wild
oats period to go through, and that
he had passed 1t, she coolly said that
If there was a wildcat crop in her
family she'd help SOW as well as
help reap 1t. Well, he's coming for
another try with her"
"And-young Tenny? Who is her
"Nobody-that Is, a cousin of the
Fosters A civil engineer without a
cent to his name-going to South
America this fall, practically an ad-
venturer-but a gentleman. There
fore, Nancy finds him fascinating.
Well, this summer is the end IL
she refuses John Norton, I'm going
to give her the little $4,000 her mother
left her and wash my hands of her.
Let's dress for the afternoon. Isn't 1t
timer"
AS the old danes numbered toward
the front door, Nancy made swift,
silent flight to her own room and
sank into the first chair with both
hands pressed to her burning cheeks.
"And--I let myself be managed,
spied on. discussed like this!" A lit
tie thought reused her TO planning a
course of action. At least she would
not be on hand next week" to give
Mr.. Norton his chance" before the
assembled multitude! She would de-
mand her little $4,000, put 1t In the
bank, and study either nursing or
medicine, as she had begged to be al
lowed to do when she left college
three years before. She would be
happy to fall out of the circle of do
lessness and chatter.
As she dressed for lunch she felt a
new life shaping itself for her. East
man Tenny would-advise her. He
was a man of action. At thirty he
vas beginning to do things, II his
preparation had been long She would
ask him.
At the stairs foot he was waiting
and asked to lunch with her, and
afterwards led her to the porch and
with an odd look on his face said:
"Will you do me favor? I'm go
ing to South America day after to
morrow. Just have a telegram. VIII
you-give me all day tomorrow"
Something seemed to drop a weight
upon her spirit He was goingl
why, of oourse I'd like to-" she
answered.
Dress in tramping things, and 60
where say-without your aunt?"
"Anywherel" she replied with her
steadfast comradeliness.
The next day found Nancy and the
young engineer tramping the miles
to a rough half-mountain, lunching
over campfire. enjoying themselves
hugely like two children with no
mention of past or future. The
present was enough. In the early
afternoon they reached the wind
swept top and looked down on a world
glorious with late September colors
a glow OF splendor
1.-The world and the glories there
off," he quoted. Nancy, Just sit
down and let me show you some
thing"
She obeyed, and he seated himself
beside her. All he produced was a
thick package of kodak pictures. but
wonderingly she looked at them.
They we're pictures of bridges he
had helped build, then Of wild South
American scenery, Of gangs of men
at work, men In rough clothes doing
rough work OF mountains and deserts