The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1922-10-27
THE MAGl
BY MILDRED WHITE

ance each day. David had been so
good and true until Teddy insisted
upon attaching himself to her train,
SO TO speak.
What Teddy actually did was to
camp upon her aunt's veranda, cheer
fully lending his escort unasked,
wherever Nancy at the particular time
might be going.
AS Aunt Phoebe, usually difficult
cerned, developed strong preference
for Teddie's good-natured society,
Nancy's problem was doubled.
When David first found Teddy, the
confident. ensconced upon her aunt's
veranda, and aunt presented him as the
nephew of her old friend, David well
coined him cordially. When, however,
Teddie's presence there became almost
continuous, David's cordiality visibly
decreased
Nancy's stay in the country town
had unfolded like an interesting story.
She had come, quite alone, to make
her home with Aunt Phoebe and at
first there had been long walks of ex-
ploration. She had come upon the
tiny cottage in the wood quite accident
ally the day of the big rain storm and
had sought refuge there. The neat
little house, almost hidden In the
green, reminded her of the fairy tales
Of childhood, where q queer old woman
might open the door and turn out lat
er to be a purveyor of magic, bringing
the invader to all sorts of realized
dreams. But this queer little old
woman occupant could not open door
for she was. it proved, very ill In her
bed, with brusque young doctor in
attendance.
1t was not until she was acquainted
with David Price that Nancy became
aware of the fact of his youthfulness.
In that hour of anxious and busy con-
cern Nancy recognized only his dig
nifty and power He ordered her to
prompt and necessary attendance and
her heart went out in admiring re-
sponse as she worked with him over
the lone old woman. 1t was pneu-
monia and together they saved her.
Together, you and l have saved her,
/ that was what David had said and
/ Nancy had thrilled with a satisfaction
never known before. While old Han
i nah remembered them ever In her
gratitude. Now that Nancy was part
of the small friendly town she
still visited Hannah and the two knew
a deeper friendship than those who
smiled at it could understand.
David had often stopped for her, re-
turning in his roadster from round
of calls.
Nancy's wistfull eyes were tear-flled
now in memory of those sweet after
moons in the woodland cottage.
She knew that David had intended
to ask her to marry him on that first
fateful evening of Teddie Ramsdell's
call at her aunts home Teddie's per
sistant presence had made the ques-
tion impossible.
Tactfully, on the evening that David
had said he would come to bid them
goodbye, Nancy endeavored TO make
the care-free, confident young man
aware of the situation.
David had been gone six months, an
unbearable six months, with no word
from him.
So Nancy grew more frail in appear
ance each day and Teddy still joyfully
sang his songs, strumming on aunts
piano and encouraged by aunt's en-
cores.
i The town paper announced that Dr
David Price would return shortly from
his studies abroad. Nan knew just
how 1t would be-Teddy at the piano
and very much at home in her aunt's
home, or Teddy walking at her side
down Main street. And the wise-ob
tuse man would again pass on his way
Nancys face looked almost etherea
when she stopped at the little house
IN the wood.
The old woman opened the door.
"Dearie," she greeted, II wish tha
/ might bring the old sunshine to y0ul
face; the old light to your eyes. Then
because one must have a confidant
Nancy told her story. Thoughtfully
Hannah placed the kettle.
"If you'll stay a Bit" she said, wei
talk things over, with a cup of tea
And | must run out first to hail tn
I halI-farm boy on his way home from
school. He does my errands for me
! in town.
When Hannah came back the white
/ cloth was laid and Nan was in at the
tinkling piano. She had sung perhaps
half a dozen songs that Hannah loved
when she heard a manly voice In the
kitchen. 1t was the hill-farm boy re
turned with his supplies, Nancy con
cluded and went on rather sadly with
her song. The song ended abruptly
"You!" cried Nancy, unbelieving Joy
in her tone, and in the kitchen ole
Hannah smiled.
Zone may play at being magi," she
told the happy Nancy later, "if one
lives In just the right setting, cot
In far wood. Now, at your aunt's
house there might be disturbing ele
ment."
"She sent the hill-farm boy after
me-" David said, and youth seemed tc
have returned to him In the coming.
'She said that the doctor was need
ed here, right away"
"Tea," remarked Hannah, lis ready