Omaha daily bee., 1922-02-26
By Henry G. Ro7Oland

Matt and Nancy sank down on that mossy
hank 10 rect, not too close together and not
too far apart, and the music OF those liauld
notes found lts echo In Mats heart, lie
turned and looked at Nancy with the nrst
real appreciation Of her that he had so far
experienced. This Was because it was less
Tor her lovely piauant face and the physical
aspect OF her delightful personality than
something far deeper which gave 10 all OF
this the Nancy soul. Just as a moment be-
fore when drinking from his hands he had
nrst become aware of the Nancy perfume
Something OF the same sort must have
entered Naneys consciousness, because now
as she looked AZ Matt with eyes Ike violeis
drenched In dew their expression was that OF
a lack OF recognition, or at least the lack Of
what she had seen NJ 20 recognize In him
before. At that moment the glance which
they exchanged was questioning, IL was
precisely as though each had said; But,
dear me. never guessed that you were you"
Followed that brief instant of ombarrsss'
nnent. a pause In which each made valiant
effort 10 adjust the mind 10 this fresh and
wonderful aspect Of each other. There must
have been some potent elixir in that clear
spring.
Nancy was the first 10 voice this new rela.
ton In cognate form.
but. Matt" she said. II never thought
that you could be so nice"
"rm not very" said Matt. "but found
out last night that you were. told May so.
Did she tell your"
"No." Nancy answered. "Neither May
nor believe much in repeating what people
say"
We'll" said Matt. then I believe Ill
follow her advice after all. and tell you my
self. ! think you are the sweetest, bravest.
truest.hearted glrl in all the world, ! love
you 10 death, and want you 10 marry me,
and quick. Will you. dear?'
He reached for the small hand which at
about that time the day before had landed
with such a solid swing upon his ear. But
astonishing changes Of sentiment can hap
pen within a day. and this vigorous extrcm-
fly. no longer militant. now nestled nutter.
ingly in Matts clasp. Nancy looked into his
eyes with that intense questioning which
requires more convincing answer than any
framed by the lips alone. She was trying TO
read the deeper truths which were inscribed
behind Matts eyes.
:" How am ] to know that this is not
another rush OF impulse, Matt?" she asked.
"Wen. IL II is sweetheart" said Matt
then it's one that has weathered number
OF hours Of the hardest thinking I've ever
done In my life. though I'm afraid that isn't
saying much.'
"Still.' Nancy murmured. no mere i'm.
pulse lasts that long, does it?"
Mine don't" said Matt Their life
cycles have never been more than a few
moments-after that the forces set in motion
may take any time to blow themselves out
" Then it really isn't impulse at all?-
Nancy asked
Matt shook his head. "If so, it's an i'm.
pulse that is going to keep on and on, like
the impulse that makes the tides 90 up and
down."
little smile formed on Nancy's lips, but
1t was the smile unlike any which Matt had
ever seen before. There was no scornful
twist at the end Of it, and it held a tender.
ness such as he could not have guessed those
red, rebelous lips knew how to wear
I'll have to consider that little" Nancy
said.
you're sure that you're not thinking
about that subsidy your uncle offered for
getting rid Of me?"
Sure" Matt answered with conviction
Honestly. Nancy, I'd forgotten all about it.
That shows what an improvident beggar I
am. I'd even lost sight Of the fact that I've
really nothing to offer YOU but an unpaid
income tax"
There's the extinguisher," said Nancy.
20, hang it ALL" said Matt, the extin.
guisher's perfectly good asset for the re-
mote future, but / don't see how I can
possibly wait for you that long. AL the
same. suppose that's the best 1 can hope
for. For all my nerve, it's not quite up to
asking you to marry me on the prospect Of
the extinguisher."
He loosed his clasp Of her hand but this
like kitten clinging to ones coat, declined
to be disodged. The small strong fingers
twined round those Of Matt
THE extinguisher is good side line,
Matt" said she, "but we're going to do
something better than that. You've done it
already several times. and you can do It
again."
But, Nancy" Matt protested, though
feebly. that's not enough for you to go on.
! shouldn't have spoken. l didn't mean to
speak-that is. right away"
"Impulse has Its advantages, Matt" said
Nancy softly. Besides. Uncle Jerry is not
the sort to so back on his bargain"
Matt looked uncertain and much distressed.
All those material considerations went
out OF my head after being shipmates with
you for little WHILE" said he. "If you
were mine. Nancy, nobody could possibly
give me anything else"
well" said Nancy. that needn't inter-
fere with their giving them to me-
Matt frightened That's So" he an
swered. After ALL they do owe you a lot.
dragged me with you, there's no telling what
might have happened And If only we could
once get fairly started, there's nothing in
this world could stop u.s.
Nancy drew little closer, then looked
up into his face with radiant smile and
swimming eyes.
"Of course, there's not. dear boy" said
she, $50 let's start"
Her face was close to his, red lips half
parted, and the breath coming in little gasps
between them. 1t was too much for Matt
In fact, he would not have been Matt If he
had not obeyed that impulse. There hap
pened then one Of those things to make
whole lifetime Of dreadful misery we'll worth
the living.
There is this advantage to a retrousse nose
whatever the traits said to accompany it.
1t leaves the lips available at such critical
moments as these, and in the kissing of
such girl as Nancy. who does not take the
business lightly, when once engaged upon it
becomes whole souled and perfectly absorb
ing occupation. The little bird sang louder,
then f1uttered lower to look.
When presently the bargain was all ar
ranged, sealed, signed. and witnessed by the
little bird, Matt drew In his breath deeply.