Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-30
THEN START THE STORY
Having Cast OF Julia Grant, Dan asks
Nancy Cromwell to Marry Him

Having Cast or Julia Grant, Dan asks
Nancy Cromwell to Marry Him
A LII day long Dan could think Of
"A nothing but Nancy. He gave no
thought at sill to Julia and what he
had said to her the night before. She
was wiped from his mind entirely. One
thing worried him and that was the fact
that when he had called up Nancy that
morning she had been somewhat eva
sive about having him come to the house
that evening. But Dan was SO conf
dent. of himself and so sure of Nancy
that by night there was none of the un-
certainty left.
He went into the over ornate lobby
of the apartment house where Nancy
lived and took the elevator upstSirs.
There was soft light in the small
square hall, and beyond he could hear
Nancy's throaty laugh. He wondered
who could be in there with her. The
next minute he was in the room and
Nancy was rising to meet him. A
strange man lolled back in one of the
chairs, whom Nancy introduced to Dan
as Mr.. Whitmore. He was about
twenty two or three, with curly blonde
hair, a regular boy, and Nancy was
flirting with him gayly. 1t finally came
over Dan that Nancy was not going
to see him alone. He felt crestfallen,
and yet he convinced himself that Nancy
was doing this to pique him. It was
just her way of doing things. He could
wait IL she wanted to make it a game.
In leaving, however, he found it i'm
possible to see Nancy alone even for
moment, but he determined to run in on
her without telephoning the next night,
and he went off happy.
However, the next night when he
rang the bell of the apartment the maid
fold him that Miss Cromwell was not
at home, and it was not for four days
that Dan actually cornered the girl.
.. When he actually found himself alone
with her he regained all of his conf
aence. 'T7yhat do you mean by keeping
me away from you the way you have"
he began banteringly.
Nancy laughed. why haven't"
H "Yes, you have. You knew I had
something to tell you, you've known
it for a long time, and you've been
fighting shy of me purposely."
Nancy regarded him curiously.
What is it you have to tell me?" She
liked Dan in this mood, but the other
night he had frightened her with his
intensity.
Don't you really know what have
to tell yop?'',. -
NOT
Nancy raised soft blue eyes to his.
He'swept her up in his arms. 81 love
you,' he said triumphantly. 'I want
Seu to marry me. I'm free to ask you
that now, Nancy. Isn't It wonderfully"
:tNancy was struggling in his arms.
rg'1 don't understand" she painted.
'J.et me 60, let me go"
He held her closer. II tell you I'm
free, dear; we can be married now"
You're free" she repeated after
him, slim hands on his breast holding
him away from her.
y He smiled into her eyes and nodded.
But never said ] wanted to marry
you" Nancy's tone was not what Dan
had expected it to be; there was no
warmth in it, no thrill of gladness.
,n'.Of course you didn't; but you will"
Nancy was regarding Dan with almost
hostile eyes. She did not like his high
otbiuts, tHtTe was
something she had to tell Dan, some
thing that made all the difference in the
world.
He was deaf to everything she said.
( Consumed by his own want of her, he
could not visualize the fact that she
might not want him. Then suddenly
his arms dropped away from her as she
said clearly in her high. sweet voice:
"F'I can't marry you"
He stared at her.
81 never thought you were serious;
Itthought you We're just playing" she
went on, when she saw his eyes.
,s'You let me kiss you, and hold you
III my arms"
# Nancy flushed scarlet. "Yes," she
said little breathlessly, "but not the
way you did the other night; before it
wasn't really love- making, and I knew
youtwere engaged"
Tomorrow the fact is demonstrated
that all women are not the same.)