South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-28
Naneen
By A. Maria Crawford

Naneen cherished no illusions
about the smart set after the formal
dinner that had ushered in the gai-
ties for the house party OF which
she was the only insignificant MEM
Der. She had been private secretary
to Mr.. Munsen of Munsen company
and Son for two years when the
Munsens began planning an elabo-
rate week end entertainment at
their country place for a group of
their sons friends and to her pleas
ant surprise, she found herself in
Guided in their list Of guests.
on receiving the invitation, Ma
neen spent one entire Saturday af-
ternoon buying the frivolous things
for which she had never before had
any need The first evening as the
Munsens she had dressed herself
carefully, her young heart beating
high with the thought that she was
TO associate for three whole days
with cultured sons and daughters OF
the city's richest men.
Her disillusionment came very
swiftly Two of the girls drank so
much wine AT dinner that they had
10 be clrried upstairs by servants
and almost every man who came in
TO the drawing room after he had.
finished his liquer and cigars was
too utterly foolish 10 carry on any
sort OF conversation This was the
life. then. that she had read about
and enVied, considered Naneen
thoughtfully. as she looked around
the room at the girls, lounging in
dolently on chairs and divans. puff
ing at cigarettes and leaning their
half clothed bodies dissustingly near
the men.
She had discovered before dinner
that none of them We're very clever
having finished nothing. graceful
~, at some select school. she smil-
ed 10 herself at the memory Of her
nervousness over meeting them
she had been afraid that she could
not cope successfully with the
bright creatures who had both time
and money for everything desirable
in life.
1t was quite early the next morn
ing when i'm a chic serge suit and
stout brown walking boots, Naneen
aVailed herself of her hostess sug-
gestion TO get up and look over the
farm A BIT if she did not like TO
sleep late She found her pleasant
employer and his good looking son
at breakfast Both men rose quick
Is. greeting her cordially. and she
experienced her first real pleasure
at the much anticipated house party
while she sat at the table with
them. She announced her intention
of taking a brisk walk Whereupon
the Younger Munsen asked TO &C
company her. While he was gone
upstairs to get into a pair of high
boots. her old employer aimed a
broad side at her.
You met Miss Betty Galloway
last night. didn't your he began
laziIy. Charming girl. don't
mind tellingN you" here he leaned
conhdentially toward herr want
Don 10 marry her. Truth of the
matter isl have reason to believe
that they are already engaged"
Indeed" said Naneen LOOKING
the old man steadily i'm the eye. She
felt the blood flame into her face.
Her employer was taking care 10
see that she read the NO poaching
sign on his handsome son. she
made few agreeable remarks.
touched on the weather, the beauty
/ Of the meadows seen from the
| breakfast room windows and COM
mented with rare good judgment on
I his prize stock that she had noticed
the DAY before when she came
down. Then she excused herself
and went swinging of down a gravel
path between rows of early tulips.
/ To her surprise. she encountered
Bob Mayfie,d at the end of the path.
i've been here watching for you
Tor an hour YOU know. little girl,
n like YOU You certainly made a
hit with me last night" He caught
\ her arm and turned toward a little
knoll beyond which an orchard Of
fered a paradise of drifting bloom.
NaneeD breathed deeply and
threw out her arms in a gesture OF
happy abandon. To her astonish-
ment. Bob Maydeld put an arm
around her carelessly. Come on