The Tomahawk., 1918-06-06

- e..
was setting the table. >.-,
"Oh. Nanny! Guess who just
phOned-Dan Wilkinson! asked him
over to supper but he wouldn't come.
Said his manners were so terrible
from living on ranch that his aunt
wouldn't let him eat out. Ridiculous
boy! Just the same as ever, always
jollying somebody. Said he's come
over after supper for little WHILE"
'"Thatll be NICE" agreed Nancy 60
ing upstairs, where she changed into
cool, soft dress and rearranged her
hair. Finally she sat down before her
mirror and studied her face for mo-
ment. 80
Il wonder If he remembers" she
murmured. r ~" = al -
She wondered the same thing after
supper when he had held her hands in
his and looked down into her surprised
eyes. He was changed-sO brown and
strong, with that atmosphere about
him which gave one the impression
that he would reach out and take love
or anything else that he wished, with
out asking. For moment she, thought
he was going to kiss her-and when
he didn't she was almost disappointed.
They played and sang the old songs,
and they sat on the porch and talked
till late. Try as she would, she could
not turn the conversation from the
subject of herself and her work. He
quizzed her persistently about the
library and the nature Of her work
there. That seemed to be the thing
.uppermost in his mind. And for the
first time in her life she found the
subject wearisome. Her Life Work"
she had acquired the habit Of calling
it. 1t had been so fascinating, so suit
ed to her temperament, and she had
succeeded in no small measure. But
he seemed obsessed with the idea that
she cared for nothing else. and as the
evening wore on he grew more
thoughtful, more grave-and when he
was gone she had the feeling in her
heart of having missed something.
The next evening he came early
without telephoning, and when she
came down he arose and looked at her
eagerly.
emily said I was to be your beau
for the party tonight" he smiled. And
then suddenly, relentlessly he drew
her into his arms with fierce earnest
ness. "You may have your life's
work." he said, looking deep into her
scared, gray eyes, and holding her to
his heart, t'but I'm going to have my
kiss this once If you hate me forever
afterWard!"
And then after what seemed to be
an eternity, he released her gently,
and after a half hour of troubled
silence they descended the steps and
started for the party at Dora Worth"
ington's. 1t was q jolly crowd, and
Dan Wilkinson was, of course, the
center of all the merriment as he
played and sang his rollicking songs,
for he was the prodigal returned to
them again.
So it was late when the party broke
up and the chattering couples stray
gled hOmeward through the slanting
shadows of the low full moon. Dan
held Nancy's unprotesting hand witt:
: her arm tucked under his own, and for
the most part they were silent until
they reached the house, where he halt
ed at the steps.
"A long time ago, Nancy, prom
ised I'd come back to the old town and
you. The old town seems different to
me, and changed, somehow, but you
haven't changed at all. There's
nothing to keep me here, nothing
could keep me here, in fact, for my
place lies out there in the West, and
so I'm going back tomorrow"
But you've been here such little
time, Dan," she protested. -
"Long enough" he smiled, wistfully,
ito have kept my promise. But you
have your life's work, can see that
and have mine, out in the wide spaces.
There are no libraries at the ranch,
Nancy. Nothing but great valleys,
and blue hazed mountains, and miles
and miles of sunlight on the hills.
Once thought that some time there
would be love there, too, but l was
mistaken. Goodbye, Man." lie turned
to 60, but as he reached the sidewalk
she rushed toward him.
'Dan-Dan! Don't 60 like that =
guess IL was wrong about my life's
work, DAN" Her eager hands were
on his shoulders. 1T seems that it 10
going 10 be miles and miles-of sun
light on the hills-and love, Dam"
And the next day the assistant libra
rian received the shock of her young
life. She was promoted. for the libra
rian had resigned.
Keen Sioht Of Ostrich,