Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-21
down. She turned to her companion
with a solemn face.


Jonathan. no m is going to know
this secret but you and me! ! am a
dramatist. You, don't look as though
you knew what that was, but it is
something that it's very. very hard to
be. and I shall have 10 work-like
everything! Right up one the branch
OF that tree is where Tn going to
work. I want you to take those nails
| put in your pocket and fasten this
box securely to the trunk of the tree.
Then I'm going to keep all my things
right in it and fasten it with this pad
lock I-borrowed-from your tool
box. 1tIl be just like a nest-and
I'll steal gu here and work and work
and then. some day, when I'm ia
nous, all h newspapers will print a
story telling how L'wrote my~first play
in an apple tree and that it was a
secret between you n me-, and
they'll want your picture! Now,
right here, Jonathan. I'll hold it and
you nail it tight"
jonathan didn't know what a
dramatist was. but he did know that
his little Missy" perched on the old
branch, was as pretty as any bird and
her eyes as bright as the sunshine
That filtered through the leaves of the
tree.
"oh: that's just fine" cried Nancy,
springing to the ground to survey
their work. Its as safe as can be
and you've helped me a lot, you dear
Old thing, you. Now we malst hurry
home or Blindy's dinner will be cold
and remember; cross your heart, this
Is q solemn, solemn s%ecret!"
She drew her fingers across his
worn gray sweater. and he nodded in
acceptance of the mysterious sign,
And as he followed her back through
the orchard to the mouse something
within his breast seemed to sing the
way it did each spring when he found
the first crocus peeping up through
the frosty earth.
Nancy found 1t difficult to keep
a tiny n of guilt at having left
Joshua and Jacob so abruptly
made her very attentive to Aunt sa-
brina's long story Of the blue
china was first brought to Happy
House. ~
Scarcely had Miss sabrina's door
closed upon her for her hour of rest,
however. h Nancy flew to her own
room. She gathered up her precious
manuscript case. a few favorite books
and a tattered dictionary, and started
out on tip-toe through the hall to-
ward the stairs. But though her sten
was light, its sound caught a certain
patient ear nearby.
Nancy! Oh. Nancy"
Nancy remembered, then. remorse.
fully that not once that day had she
run In to see poor little Aunt Milly.
went straight to her. In the smile
that greeted her from the couch by
the window, there was not one sign
to indicate that Aunt Milly had beer
waiting the whole long morning fol
her. to come.
Tive been 20 busy" explained Nan.
cy, dropping her load. II have 9
mind to tell you. Aunt Milly. I meant
IT to be a secret. only JONATHAN
And I'd % you.to know. too. Any
way. a secrets more fun when more
of US know it! You zee. I'd gotten a,
far q Jacob In my lessons on Lea.
Wits. and then Aunt Sabrina could,
int remember whether it was he o,
hia brother that vas killed in the wal
of 1872. and B'lindy rudely interrupt.
cd just because she haa no corr
starch! Oh, Aunt Milly. I'm dreadful;
nanute-I could have Rugged B'lindy
and her pudding! Why, I've sat To-
three days straight In q horrible stir
chair. listening to musty, dusty tales
and I wanted to scream! So I sale
l1'd find Jonathan and I bolted-ani
stayed away! And out in the or,
chard, right close to the bank. tn,
lgrandest idea came to me. To TX {
nest! And Jonathan helped MI. w.
mailed It to the tree to keep my thing,
in-these." indicating the pile 1T ,hel
feet. And Tmlgoing to hide thsre-
and work! And that's another secret