Middletown transcript., 1920-12-04

running through the back Of little
AIMS head, as she threw the rugs over
the piazza railing and attacked them
vigorously with the carpet beater.
She made pretty picture there in
the morning sunshine, the sleeves Of
her pink smock rolled up to her el-
bows, and her cheeks flushed with the
exercise. and as she worked an old bit
Of dOggerel that she had learned as a
child came into her head, and she
sang, because the morning was SO
bright and the young man upstairs was
SO handsome-No! That wasn't what
she had meant to think at all, but she
kept singing and keeping time with
the carpet beater.
"Good morning. Jenny Wren! viii
you kindly stop your housewifely &C
tvities long enough to allow me to see
my way down the stairs? Your great
clouds of dust have blinded my eyes
to everything except the comeliness Of
my Industrious neighbor."
Ann stopped-mouth open, just as
she had been about to carol forth the
highest soprano note. and carpet beat
er raised. He was speaking to her, but
he was only joking with her, for even
at her most vigorous swings only a
feeble trail Of dust f1oated out on the
air; but the last thing he had said
AIMS eyes sought the toes Of her
sensible round-toed shoes before she
looked across at him shyly.
The young man from upstairs was
looking at her, and it seemed as
though If he really wished to navigate
the stairway in such terrible storm
Of dust there was nothing to hinder
his doing so. Instead, he leaned
against the railing.
''This Is a fine chance to get ac-
quainted," he said. Fate sends me
out on an errand while you are on the
porch and as we are going to be such
near neighbors, it's all perfectly prop
er. I'm Andrew Leonard. Andy suits
me better, and you're Ann Vraimen. /
saw your name on your trunk In the
cellar. and you're not yet old enough
to be called Miss Vraimen."
Ann. who wasn't old enough to be
called Miss Vraimen. found herself
shaking hands with Andy, whom she
thought, was old enough to know bet
ter, and after that it was easy.
When she had beat back the redness
into the roses. and. the greenness into
the grass. Ann tugged one Of the rugs
down from the rail and Andy dropped
on his knees and began to fold it with
deft turns Of his wrists.
"Where did you learn to do that?"
Ann inquired. Andy was gentleman.
at least, even though there had been no
formal introduction, and the warning
voices Of her staid country ancestors
.or the first time in her life went un-
needed.
Handy Andy. that's me-" he
grinned. II lived for five years on my
uncle's farm. 80 miles out"
Underneath the pink smock AIMS
heart gave flutter Of pure Joy. Now
she could own up to her 18 years of
country existence. He wouldn't care.
He didn't-for on the following Sun
day Andy was helping her over the
stumble and exclaiming with her over
the five little pigs that had just ar
rived at his uncle's farm.
1t was the third month of their
friendship and they were on one of
their frequent Sunday excursions to
the farm. when Ann broached the
subject of changing her name to An
nette. or Marian, or any other form
of Ann, as long as there was trimming
egough to take away the plainness. !
"Cut it out. kiddie." Andy advised.
It surely was fine to be able to boss
Ann. II like your name fine. My
grandmOther's name was Ann. and just
hook at mine-Andy! But you don't
catch me calling myself any fool
name like Androclus. do your
Ann laughed. How could she tell
him. that all the time she had been
planning to change it only for him?
Il like Andy for name; It's So
50 substantial" and then she laughed
again, for was that not the very quail
ity that three months ago she had
most hated?
THAT'S It," Andy nodded. "a good
substantial name. just like Ann. Why.
knew you could do housework like
| all possessed the minute lamped the
name on your trunk.
He drew her down beside him on an
| old fallen tree trunk.
"Ann and Andy" he mused. holding
her close, "a good combination. Don't
YOU think we ought TO make it sub
| stantial one. Ann dearY"
In his pocket dictionary he found
the word substantial and pointed out
to Ann its meaning-"actually exist
ing, not imaginary. true. strong"
Don't you think we could be all
that-together. Ann girl7"
AIMS heart was so happy that she
essayed just one feeble little word,
which. evidently. pleased Andy.
.Gee, honey" be whispered, "that's
velvetI"
william Jason Knew.
william Jason Tucker. four-year-