The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-10-23
said s'It is about Nancy.

DIG q OCdQtl1u1, q iONCAy 81"
"Why, yes" Doctor Breeding
smilingly assented, rather amused
at the others indirection. 81 think
So"
After a moment Terrell came to
the point.
Med" he said, "here it is, in
words of one syllable: If-well, l
should like to marry Nancy"
Doctor Greetings heart quick
ened its beat; but he held his
tongue. Jerell went on, hurriedly.
"Of course, haven't spoken to
her." Terrell explained. "It seemed
to me that under the circumstances
l ought first to come to you-my
old friend, and Nancy's father"
And he continued: II see quite
clearly the difficulties in the way.
1 am twenty years older than she
is, twenty-five or three years older.
That is an obstacle. Then / have
known her, as a child and as a
young woman, for years; but she
has thought of me as an old man
who grew older-for as long. That
is another obstacle. There may be
still others. 1t may be that she is
in love with some one her own
age; and it may be that even if she
were not, you and Mrs. Breeding
would object to her marrying me,
either because I'm so much older,
or for some other reason
He hesitated, and when Doctor
Breeding still held silent, he went
on:
81 don't want to-distress her. if
she-already loves some one else,
some youngster her own age. And
l don't want to embarrass you or
Mrs. Breeding, by putting you in
the position of opposing her mar
riage to me-"
He hesitated, said then: "That's
the situation, Ned. What do you
Think"
After a moment Doctor Greed
ing chuckled. well, Ira," he said,
81 can't pretend to be-surprised.
I've not been blind to your new in
terest in Nancy in these recent
months. Mrs. Breeding has told me
some things about your visit with
them in Georgia" He added calm
ly: "And Nancy's fine. I should
have been more surprised if you
had failed to discover the fact"
He went on, thoughtfully: Nancy
has friends, of course-boys her
own age. A girl of twenty-five is
very much young woman, but
boy of that age is still boy. She
has a troop of these youngsters at
her heels most of the time; but no
one of them more often than the
others" He smiled. II feel sure
the field is open," he said.
''How about you? And Mrs.
Greeding?" Terrell asked bluntly.
The Doctor hesitated, then went
on: "The difference in your ages
may seem to her an obstacle, as
you say. She may feel it a barrier
too great to be surmounted. On
that point, l cannot speak. That is
for Nancy to decide"
Terrell said simply:
"Of course, in the last analysis.
But would you and Mrs. Greed
ing" ...
The Doctor met the other mans
eyes straightforwardly. II know
you pretty well. Ira," he replied.
If Nancy loved you and wished to
marry you, Mrs. Breeding and l
would be-gratified."
Terrell chuckled with a quick,
youthful pleasure; but he sobered
then. and he said gratefully:
Thanks, Ned. l appreciate your
attitude" And after a moment he
added: 81 love Nancy, Ned. And
I'm not as old as my years I've
lived decently. taken care OF my
self. l believe-if she came to
love mel could make her happy"
Doctor Breeding nodded. 81
know as much about you-physical-
ly-as you know yourself" He was
proud of his tone. It was dispas-
sionate and calm, with no hint in
it of the excitement he felt.
Terrell colored. There was al
ways in him something deeply lik-
able. He said awkwardly
81 know that this is-an old-fash-
ioned proceeding, my speaking first
to you And don't want to be
rebuffed. Are you sure she is
free?"
Perfectly sure" Doctor Greed
ing promised. II have her conf
dence. II there were anyone,
would surely know"
Terrell smiled, and his eyes light
ed. Thanks. Ned" he said. II
shall bank on what you say"
Doctor Breeding drove back up
town in complacent triumph. He
had no least misgiving of what was
to come Edward Breeding
was the only son of Maine farm
Ell. Even as boy on the farm,
he revealed some unique and I'M
usual quality; and his mothers
pride furnished driving motive
force. BY his own labors he put
himself through Bowdoin and aft
erward through Harvard Medical
.oL11l .,,l4r~ h. r1-lral caaOnl ~,