Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-07-15
Nan Met One of
the Hardwicks
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
BY JANE OSBORN
(copyright)

NCopyugnL)
GIT ISN'T as II there was any nour-
i ishment for me in meeting the
Hardwicks," argued Nan. "Mr. Thomas
Hardwick's married and besides I
wouldn't consider being wife of col
lege president. So that's that. So far
as any social advantage that can get
By passing around tea and microscopic
sandwiches at your friend Mrs. Hast
ings' while she and the wife OF the
new president stand in the front Of
the house and shake hands with two
hundred and seventy-nine women
well. I'm sure l don't see It."
Nan. you don't mean half you
say said her mother, feeling that
the best tactics now would be to make
light Of her daughters spirit OF re-
bellion. "Of course, 1t is something
OF an honor to be asked to assist at
the TEA. Only seven other girls have
been asked-but anyway even If there
weren't any 'nourishment' in going to
the reception-what do you plan to do
this afternoon that Is any more 'nour-
ishing'T
Nan raised her pretty eyebrows.
Haven't decided" said Nan. per
haps 1 shall go and seek my fortune"
And so 1t was that on the day when
all the women who were considered to
be Of any social Importance in Har-
rington-the seat of old Harrington
college-were attending the reception
given in honor of the new hostess Of
the presidents house, Nan Plat,
daughter of one of the leading
trustees of the college, was driving
little faster than the law allowed out
along the highroad, off toward the
lake shore whittier few motorists went
She had been driving about fifteen
minutes when she noticed q none-too-
good car drawn up at the side of the
road and little later a tall, WELL
built man In gray tweed peering
hxedly into the anatomy of the car
barred by the turning back Of the hood
cover. No one else seemed to be about
clearly 1t was her duty to ask the
stranger II she might be of help to
him. She stopped her car across the
road from his and in q few seconds
more was standing beside him. He
was quite q stranger. He didn't come
from Harrington-that argued in his
favor. He might be q person of an
adventurous nature.
Nan asked him whether she might
be Of help to him.
The man, who was apparently bliss
fully ignorant of the inner workings Of
his car or any other car, explained the
symptoms. His car jumped so that he
could go no farther.
Nan, rather proud of the knowl-
edge of cars that she had acquired
from her brother, knitted the pretty
brows over her light brown eyes,
looked at the man and then smiled.
She asked him for his tool kit and
then went to work.
After some ten or fifteen minutes
Nan put up the tools and stood up.
There" she said, II guess 1t is
all right. There was a leak In the
rubber tube to your windshield wlpex
and that affected your engine.
couldn't imagine what the trouble
could possibly be at first. 1 hope you
won't be late to your appointment-if
you had one"
The man laughed. Fortunately !
hadn't thing to do. But 1 do hope l
haven't made you late-wherever you
were going"
Il wasn't going anywhere either, +"
she said-and then quite bravely, II
was just killing time"
want to kill some moref" asked
the man and then seemed to be EN-
barrassed to think he had said that.
Il was wondering" he explained, "If
you would consider ourselves suffi-
ciently introduced to warrant my ask
Ing you to drink tea with me-there's
a decent sort of tea house a few miles
along"
At tea Nan became confidential.
Somehow this dignified man seemed
to invite confidence. She told him
that she had run away from a recep-
ton to meet the wife Of the new col
lege president. The man asked few
questions and then looked surprised,
and after that very much amused.
Then Nan said she found all college
people very, very dull"
Then the man smiled and the smile
turned into a hearty laugh. Then
when they thought of parting after
the tea party, the man produced his
personal card.
Perhaps should have introduced
myself before" he said. "My name is
Thomas Hardwick-"
Nan looked bewildered, then she
blushed, and she might very easily
have shed tears Of confusion, but Mr..
Hardwick held her hand reassuringly
In his. you see I'm just a dull sort
OF college president-but at any rate
am glad l am coming to Harrington.
Then may hope to see you oftener-"
Il didn't suppose" stammered Nan,
shat college presidents when they
were married took other girls off to
tea. It's perfectly all right, only I'm
surprised"
That's the joke" said Mr. Hard
wick. There isn't any Mrs. Hard
wick. My sister is my hostess"
Nan arrived home some time later.
Her mother couldn't keep her bit Of
gossip any longer.
There really isn't any Mrs. Hard
wick" she said. Mrs. Hastings
made a mistake and sent cards o1t
to meet Mrs. Hardwick instead Of
Miss, and when she found out It was
TOO late to send out other cards. SO
really the new president is a bachelor
Perhaps he'll marry one of the rlrls
here In Harrington