The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-03-10
AT NACYs DOOR
BY EDITH M. LockEu

The next moment there. sounded the
peculiar little squeak of the door open
ing. Two hands met on the handle,
a girl and youth stared at each
other, then the squeak of the little
old door was drowned by laughter de-
ightfully young. Strangers they were
then, but when they met near the door
of Nacy's the next noon and the next,
they unconsciously felt that they were
not strangers, and nodded TO each
other in amused recognition.
The girl liked u E. c." as she
christened him, because of some mi
tials she had seen on a book he was
carrying. There was something whole
some about him. So she did not resent
it one day when she saw him making
his way toward the table where she
sat trying to enjoy solitary lunch,
Its good, isn't ft?' he asked, in
dicating her pie.
'Yes; it's almost like some other
apple pies I once ate" She smiled
wistfully. She was thinking of her
mother and an orchard, with rows and
rows of apple trees in the sunshine.
Presently she finished her lunch, and
gathering up some books, rose abrupt
ly. "rll be late if 1 don't hurry" she
said.
"Oh, so you go to school like the
rest Of us?" he asked
She nodded, smiling, and hurriedly
paid her check and departed. You're
a little fool, Ann Berry" she scolded
herself. you let j. E. c. think you're
going to school. You, mere Office
clerk and newell, listen to his enun-
citation and perfect English"
Still she made no effort TO avoid him.
Somehow, he always found place
at her table at lunch time at Mays.
They talked about books-that is
he did. Ann listened mostly, for
sometimes he talked of things she had
never heard of.
Ann was boarding and sharing her
room with a student named Rose
O'Neil, who loathed attending the
university almost as much as Ann
would have liked it.
ST hate it, I want to get married.
but my folks insist on my finishing
the course. Ann, be a sport and help
me with this" was her evening salu-
tation.
"Rose, it isn't fair to you" Ann pro-
tested. But it ended, as it always did,
In AIMS helping her.
Ann felt guilty; she knew why she
was taking such an interest in Rose.
She felt she was almost getting more
out of the course than Rose was. The
young man, her u. E. c., at Nacy's,
was her inspiration. She wanted to
understand the things he talked about.
Many of the themes Rose handed
in had been written and typewriter
by Ann and Rose had signed them.
Rose would come home telling her of
being commended by the English in
structor for her original stories.
As the days passed along. there was
noticeable change in Ann. She was
careful of manner and speech. She
threw her whole self into her work
Yet Ann was swept from her feet
when the president of the firm asked
her if she would consider going to
Chicago.
1--WE need someone like you," he
said. You understand what we're
doing here; we want to put the same
thing over in Chicago. We want you
because we can depend on you, and
you have no home ties.
That night Rose was quite persist
ent. Ann must write story for
her. Her sweetheart was coming to
see her, so she wouldn't have time.
Ann wrote story for Rose-her
own. 1t was filled with loneliness, and
yet with the hope of happiness-flled
with apple blossoms and rows and
rows of apple trees in the sunshine.
Rose signed it and passed it at class
next day.
1t was lunch time at Mays. Ann
nodded to her ~. e. c." She didn't
want to acknowledge to herself that
she loved him, would miss him in
Chicago You're a little fool, Ann
Berry. You had better go to Chicago
and forget"
"Hellol Why so blue?" he asked,
lightly.
"rm trying to decide to go away.
yet, somehow" She stopped short
what was she saying? 1t passed un-
noticed, as he handed her an envel-
ope. There was a generous check in
side, made out to her and signed by
the editor of a large magazine.
"It's your story. l sold it. took
it TO a friend of mine. He thought
1t was great. It's a wonderful piece
Of work. said 81. E. c." eagerly.
But Ann, flushed and bewildered,
said, "I don't understand"
Heavens, 1 am telling the story
backward Ann Berry, look at me. I
rather recognized that story. 1t was
like you. You see, 1 got Rose O'Neil
to confess. I rather bribed her. She
told me everything she could about
you. You see, I'm the English instruc-
tor at the university. You're not
angry?" he questioned.
"No-but-oh, it's good of you, but
it only makes things harder" she said.
"You see, I'm going to Chicago. I
suppose Rose told you that?"
He nodded Yes, she said some
thing about your not having any home
ties; but, Ann, / was hoping you'd
hurry up and know me better, so you
would consider some"
81 might she said, smiling through
a mist of happy tears. as they went
out together. through the door of
Mays.