Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-06

~ ture NaNcy'S heart refused to
a quiet down as a normal heart
4 \ Shcul6--after her terrible eX-
pcr!encc With the black racer"
snake She had walked right up on
the horrible :hing--which had reared
its head high into the air and pro-
CreGed To chase the screaming Nancy
STRAIGHT into the very arms OF her
r>Scuc-. And how could her heart be-
cG~le normal after that?
The Young man Ind been plowins
a. The field alongside Aunt SarahS
pasture: Nancy had heard the staccato
'S,,ut -Sput" of his tractor all morning
FIR she had hecu there iR the pasture
Almost nil the morning SSArChins diii-
r>ntiv for turkey nests. according u
Aun: Sarah'S rigid m>truCttons-and
"@liIn2 heartily that she had never
seen AuIlt Sarah and her crazy olo
turkcv hens.
Nancy hadn't wanted 10 leave al her
friends and come down to stay with
Amt Sarah while Uncle Oliver went 10
California. bat her mother was not the
KIND a woman 10 refuse her sister the
loan e a GauGlter in time Of need.
81 Nancy had come. Her mother had
said II her UNon her departure. NO
sacrifice eocS unrewar6ed. Nancy.
dear" hut very lonely and d!Scon-
tt1t,lN NatiAN SIX VI VIII AA.N'ASNAs>a''f
CDlaUHy--uItl now.
what would Aunt Sarah say when
sha heard that she had run squarely
into a younc mans arrls-and such
arms thew were-strong as STEEL And
such evcs-aT filled with suppressed
laurl7ter. But he hadn't laughed
not t!2cNi Later. Of course. they both
had. And. Nancy reflected. he WAS
fa-,ner boy. She'd never known they
looked like that--could talk like that!
WHY. he was head and shoulders nicer
than any hoy in her set at home-with
his cIean-ctlt features. his eager. APP
p~eciative ewes his straight black hair
end form. why he walked like q prince!
Even in lis Jumper and overalls and
his broad hat--hut wouldn't he be a
sumner in his extra best! And he lived
r!el2t over the hill there. in the white
house with the rambler rose
"your Aunt Sarah knows the Flem-
;rcs." he had told her. and he hoped
he'd see her often. How on earth was
Narcy's heart to ever become normal
again?
ELL" exclaimed Aunt Sarah when she
reached the house Your dress is torn
half off-your neck is scratched-and
your cheeks red-what's happened"
Nancy turned about. searching, fran
tically for the tear. Where. Aunt
Sarah? Where's it torr?"
There, ;cross your back-on the
shoulders"
And he hadn't told her, thinking no
doubt that she would be embarrassed!
No wonder" cried Nancy resent
fully. chased by a darned old snake
through bushes and briers! If it
hadn't been for that Fleming boy I'd
have been Bitten"
by a racer?" laughed Aunt Sarah,
Charley say?"
rs that his name? Charley-Char-
iey-Charley Fleming"
well for goodness sake, don't get
silly, Nancy! He's married-been mar
RED for nearly two years to the pref
test girl in Turner County. I've been
expecting to go over there any time-I
told Patty I'd come If she needed me-"
It would be unfair 10 Nancy to dag
nose her heart after tlat--a double
shock TO it, But it was still far from
normal even bv the next night when
an urgent knock soon after supper took
Aunt Sarah TO the front door. She re-
turned to the kitchen. where Nancy
was washing dishes. and reached for
her storm shoes under shelf in the
pantry. II had been raining all after
noon.
Its Charley" she said. 1--WE got TO
60 over there. You won't be afraid
here. viii you?"
Gee. I don't know. Nancy's eyes
grew round. and unconsciously she
shuddered
There's nothing to be afraid Of out
here" Aunt Sarah said decisively. IN
a city it's different
To Nancy il looked all the other way
around. There was the dark and the
beating rain. and the terrible alone
ness 10 fearl She locked all the doors
securely after Aunt Sarah had gone
out TO Charley Fleming waiting on
the porch Then she finished the
dishes and brushed up the floor. After
that there was nothing 70 do bit read.
Nancy couldn't make enough noise.
even reading aloud. 10 forget the rain
and the wind was getting Up, whipping
against the house angriiy.
She looked out the Kitchen window,
shading her eyes with her cupped
hands She felt suddenly chilly, and
stuck anotke. stick Of wood into the
range. Then she settled down with her
Bet there was no use! All at once she
Tea.izd that she was homeSick She
wanted her rnOther~-vanted her desper-
EteliyiIll~an Eancy's face began sud-
Gc92y 70 plcker. her eyes made ready TO
keep pace with the weeping clouds
when startling knock sounded loudly
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