The Coolidge examiner., 1931-01-30
Confusion Caused by
Typographical Error
By JANE OSBORN

SIT ISN'T as if there was any
nourishment for me in meet
ing the Hardwicks," argued Nan.
"Mr. Thomas Hardwick's married
and besides | wouldn't consider be-
ing wife of a college president SO
that's that. So far as any social
advantage that | can get by pass
ing microscopic sandwiches at your
friend Mrs. Hastings while she and
the wife Of the new president stand
in front of the house and shake
hands with 279 women-well. I'm
sure | don't see it."
man, 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 rebellion. "Of course, it is
something of an honor to he 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 re
ception-what do you plan to do
this afternoon that is any more
'nOurishing'?
Nan raised her pretty eyebrows
Haven't decided" said Nan. Per
haps I shall go and seek my for
tune"
And so II was that on the day
when all the women who were con
sidered to be of any social impor-
toDpa in Ho potop tho coot n4
old Harrington cOllege--were at.
tending the reception given in
houOr OF the new hostess of the
presidents house, Nan Platt, daugh
ter of one of the leading trustees
of the college was driving little
faster than the law allowed our
along the highrOad off toward the
lake shore whittier few motorists
went on week days after vacation
was over.
She had been driving about fit-
teen minutes when she noticed q
none too good car drawn up at the
side of the road and a little later a
tall, well-built man in gray tweed
peering tixedly into the anatomy of
the car, barred by the turning back
of the hood cover. She stopped
her car across the road from his
and in a few seconds more was
standing beside him
Nan asked him whether she might
be of help 70 him
The man. who was apparently
blisSfully ignorant of the inner
workings Of his car or any other
car, explained the symptoms. His
car jumped so that he could go 10
farther
Nan, rather proud of the knOwl
edge Of cars she had acquired from
her brother knitted the pretty
brows over her light brown eyes.
locked at the man and then smiled
She asked him for his tool kit and
then she went to work.
After some ten minutes Nan put
up the tools and stood up.
There" she said. 81 guess 1t Is
all right. There was leak in the
rubber tube of your windshield
wiper and that affected your en-.
CINE. couldn't imagine what the
trouble could possibly be at first.
| hope you won't be too late to
your appolntment-if you had
one"
The man laughed. Fortunately
| hadn't q thing to do. But I do
hope haven't made you late
wherever you were going"
Il wasn't going anywhere either
she said-and then quite bravely,
81 was just killing time"
want to kill some more?" asked
the man. and then seemed TO be en-
barrassed TO think he had said
that. Il was wondering" he ex-
planned, "if you would consider
ourselves sufficiently introduced to
warrant my asking you to drink
tea with me-theres a decent sort
or 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 q re
ception to the wife of the new col
lege president. The man asked
few questions and then looked sur
prised. and after that very much
amused. Then Nan said she found
all college people very, very dull.
The man smiled. and the smile
turned into hearty laugh. Then
when they thought of parting after
the tea party. the man produced his
personal card.
Perhaps should have intro
duced 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 reas-
suringly in his. "You see I'm Just
a dull sort of college president
but at any rate | am glad | am
coming to Harrington. Then may
hope to see you oftener-"
81 didn't suppose" stammered
Nan, "that college presidents when
then were married took other girls
off to drink tea. It's perfectly all
right. only I'm surprised"
"That's the joke" said Mr.. Hard
wick. There isn't any Mrs.
Hardwick. My sister is my host
ess."
Nan arrived home some time
later. Her mother couldn't keep
her bit of gossip any longer.