The Coolidge examiner., 1934-12-21


IN big donation Tor the library. |
left the books with Mary Taylor,
but she suggested you might like
to look 'em over here"
Il would. can hardly wait 10
get back TO the library. Juanlta
says"
AN ready. feller.- called Mat
chew from below.
Mark went TO the stairway and
looked down.
why don't you join us. brother7
Nancy's been beautlfying herself
juSt FOR your benefit"
Matthew obeyed. saying as he
paused on the threshold: Il WAS
only thinking that two callers
might upset the invalid. How you
feeling. NanceT"
Great And don't call me an In.
valid. There's nothing the matter
except that my feet feel sort Of
well. sort % brittle -
"Mark Adam" called Miss Col
umb.ne. you come right down.
You've been there half an hour.
It's Mats turn now
Coming" called Mark and then
70 Nancy ~T'u drop IN later and
let you know N your brothers hat
siiu CTS his head. my dear So
long
As Mark departed. Matt drew a
chair nearer the bed.
"Yos appear 10 be submerged In
letters. kilograms and the daily
press" he told her. smiling. How
does Il make you feel. NanceY"
Her eyes lighted with something
near amusement.
1T may sound ungrnteful. but
most OF this business makes me
want 20 laugh It's awful nice for
every one 10 say such things about
Us: but I know. and you know. too.
Matt. that anybody else would have
done exactly what Jack and I did.
II Just happened to be us-,hat's
all"
I'm not 50 sure" said Matthew
gravely. -f-think you're wonder
ful. Nancy"
lie blushed little: and Nance
said: "I1l admit tha, Jack Is 10
took pluck 10 leave even the cold
shelter of that bus. you know But
70 make fuss over me isis Jus,
ridiculous Id hare been a COW.
ard 70 watch those klddles freeze
70 death and not do everything
could You know WOULD
There was silence a moment be
fore Matt asked do you rcmem-
Der the last time we sat under the
old pine. Nancy7 You told me then
that your courage had never been
tested and you wondered how you'd
show up In a pinch. Wei. you know
now. don't your"
"rd forgotten that" she an
swered softly: then lowered her
voice stiIl more. her face flushing a
little Matt. viii you tell me
something. hones;iy7 can't ask
Cousin ColumbIne. she looks SO
worn and tired; and I've got 10
know. It's about my feet. These
papers said I'd Jose them-that my
legs were frozen solid 10 the knees.
Was that the TRUTH"
Yes. that was true. Nancy. I'm
never going 10 forget the way
felt when the nurse told be an am
putatlon wasn't necessary. want
ed 10 cheer. or-or cry or some
thing. Miss Columbine did cry
when | told her"
Nance swallowed. and II struck
the young man that she was stln
frightened.
us there something else you
want TO know. Naneef"
"Only-only-well. Mark carried
me upstairs when came home.
Matt. Are my feet really all right,
or :"
So she's been lying there acting
cheerful and worrying about that
thought Matthew. Oh. she was
wonderful!
"Of course they're all right" he
reassured her. You could walk on
them now. only the doctor said you
weren't TO 20 too fast. That's
straight, Nancy. / wouldn't deceive
you at a time like this"
The girl sank back Imply against
her pillows.
Il suppose I'm moron; but I've
wanted TO ask that question for
days, and was too scared !" she
smiled now, at her own foolish
ness, and added: IF all those com
plimentary newspaper reporters
knew / was terrified at the though;
of ending my days in a wheelchair
guess they'd be frightfully disillu
stoned :"
"Disillusioned :" Matt's eyes flashed
with protective indignation. "Dis
illusioned Why"