Show LITERARY LITERARY- DEPARTMENT Experiment Number One I N Nan an leaned thoughtfully against the bookcase and slowly drew off her gloves gazing seriously at Dick all the while Well little girl what's the trouble Has someone stepped on a spider or said Damn Now youre you're laughing at me Dick and and if you laugh I shant shan't tell you any any- thing Besides hilarity is out of place placE- This is a grave matter Then it isn't about yourself Certainly it is It About yourself and grave Really I did not think such a thing possible Oh you need not pull those faces With all the frank frankness ess of a privileged friend allow me to say that you are quite plain enough as it is Now sit down and tell me all the grave matter Nan hesitated a moment then growing growing growing grow grow- ing red as a poppy flung herself into a chair and stammered DickI Dick I want to fall to-to-fall to fall in love Phew said Dick Then throwing back his head he laughed And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind q quoted Nan reproach reproach- f fully ully Its awfully rude Nan I know but I couldn't help it There just see how solemn I am now Not a twinkle anywhere anywhere anywhere any any- where is there But Im I'm afraid this grave matter will be the death of me What on earth ever put that into your head It is funny isn't it said Nan laughing to But I want to write good stories and how can I write about love when I dont don't know anything about it It is all very well to say Darling he cried sinking upon his knees and pressing her lily fingers passionately to his quivering lips but how do I know what she thinks about it Instead of saying Rise my beloved and melting like a wreath snow-wreath into his embrace she might murmur Oh dont don't be so Youre You're rubbing all the the- wax off oft your moustache Now these are a few things I I. I want to find out for myself and the only way to do it she went on conclusively is to fall in love You You fall in love Oh oh oh N Nan an you II III I I could try How would you begin I I shouldn't begin at all II answered N Nan an with dignity It It isn't a girls girl's place He must make me fall in love with him and my part will be to the quivers that go through me II Oh you ridiculous girl And who is the lead leading ing man in y your ur farce Aye theres there's the rub as the washerwoman washerwoman washerwoman washer washer- woman remarked remarked remarked-no no it wasn't it was Shakespeare or else it was one of the two who two who said that But to come corne back you are the only boy I like so the difficulty will be to find find Why not try me II N Nan an looked infinitely amused Why you are my very best friend I couldn't even pretend with you II Play I was so someone eone else then Just till you get used to the thing you know You haven't an idea what a passionate lover I could be under the circumstances circumstances circumstances circum circum- stances said Dick eagerly And you f J I could call me Mr and be very formal What a brain you have Dick cried Nan admiringly Why haven't you made it manifest before Then you consent Why yes it will be great fun Well remember then that for a af f month a whole month you must forget your friend Dick and give every thought to Richard Altree your lover Richard Altree my lover repeated Nan How queer that sounds Well good good-by friend Dick she said extending extending extend ext in ing her hand but dont don't forget to come comeback comeback comeback back at the end of the month I will come back with my shield or upon it Now suppose that I make my first call Delightful Wait a minute Do you prefer to find me pouring studiously over Browning or sewing sewing- industriously ormay or 01 ormay may I sit in this rocking-chair rocking and just be comfortable You are the laziest girl I ever saw Suit yourself Then I shall be comfortable Industry Industry In In- isn't my forte and you must love me for myself alone All ready One On two three begin Fare thee well and if forever adieu adi adieu u my na native land back slave I will return etc etc said Dick and left the room Soon there came a gentle tap rap Go round to the back door shrieked N NanA Nan an A slight pause the then theu a more decisive knock I Come in she called in a quieter tone and in walked Mr Altree stovepipe stovepipe stovepipe stove stove- pipe hat cane and all carrying an enormous bouquet of burdock leaves and hollyhocks tastefully arranged in n a holder of scalloped newspaper Nan rose bashfully How do Mr Altree she said Fine weather were we're Maw to hum but if you'd like to stay a bit I wont won't I 1 wont won't you you sit down r l Dick gave her a withering glance but Mr Altree continued politely I I thank you Knowing you to be fond of flowers I brought ht these unpretentious unpretentious unpretentious blossoms May I hope that you will accept them Nans Nan's embarrassment became painful Oh I dont don't like to she faltered II Maw wouldn't let me She says as ashow ashow ashow how it aint right to tp except presents from no gentlemen youre you're not engaged engaged engaged en en- to Mr Altree's desire to laugh was clearly getting the better of him but he continued bravely I think your mother would not object object ob ob- to your receiving flowers I should also be pleased if you would allow me meto meto meto to escort you to the dance this evening Im awfully sorry Mr Altree but I Isaid Isaid Isaid said Id I'd go with Dick Oh Oh J say Nan exclaimed the young man ma forgetting his role for the moment you mustn't t refuse to go with me the first time I ask you N Nan an drew herself up haughtily I must remind Mr Altree that it is quite unusual for strangers to address me a as asNan It Nan Mr Al Altree tree duly went down on his knees and struck his head three times on the floor as a token of abject humility and then they both fairly screamed with laughter Nan youre you're old enough to know better gasped Dick Dont twit me with my age sir Youre You're two years ol older er than I Dick Im I'm afraid the scheme isn't going to be successful Its all your fault you little wretch You must behave yourself better From this time on henceforth and forever no nonsense Do you hear madam Be careful Youre You're flourishing that cane quite too near Do you really mean to on in this Dick Certainly I do For the en entire tire month to the millionth of a second r- r e Very well then Oh wont won't I make your life miserable You will pl play y your part honestly now Yes Cross your heart and hope to die Cross my heart and hope to die O silly Dont Don't call me pet names yet And if I give you a flower you will kiss it fondly and deposit it tenderly on our sternum with loving thoughts of me O 0 girl I I will do all that and more I will tie it about my neck with a blue ribbon Of course you wont won't mind it if it happens to work around to my spinal N Not ot in the least Oh Dick Dick how foolish wise people can can be be cant can't they And so the weeks passed happily away Dick was a patient devoted lover and Nan was well was well Nan was enjoying her experiment to the utmost Perhaps Mr Altree might have wearied of her naughty ways had harl it not nOl been ben for forDick Dick but Dick but Dick was trying an experiment experiment experiment ment too So he paid close attention to the wishes of Miss Nan and still found plenty of time to be he extremely interested in a certain pretty Miss H Nan noticed it what it-what what girl would not not and and very much wanted to talk it over with Dick j but Dick was a away way and Mr Altree would think It tt exceedingly impertinent impertinent impertinent im im- pertinent if she he mentioned the subject to him So there was nothing to do but die of curiosity or live in of of- finding out some day and ann Nan preferred to live And as the days flew by Dick found himself anxiously wondering it if the experiment experiment experiment ex ex- had It It isn't exactly the thing to do he thought but Ive I've got to know Ill I'll tell her Im I'm engaged to Miss All is fair in inlove inlove inlove love and war they say Ah here comes the lady How well she looks in pink Nan came very slowly She twisted the therose therose therose rose in her fingers nervously and stood with downcast eyes ir Dick Dick she said said- dont wait it until the end of the month I feel so far faraway faraway faraway away from you and weve we've always been such good friends Dick that I cant can't bear the thought of Oh of-Oh Oh Dick come comeback comeback comeback back again and call me N Nan an Was the experiment succeeding Poor Dick His voice trembled a little as he answered Not until the day after tomorrow I was about to ask if you knew of my approaching marriage Nans Nan's face was aglow in an instant Dick is it true she she- cried You bad boy why didn't you tell me before Of course its it's Vin the sweetest girl in the world Oh Im I'm so glad It isn't a bit polite but Im I'm going to hug you Two soft arms were flung about his neck and then Nan said softly I I am so fond of you Dick You'll always be my friend wont won't you Yes j always N Nannie annie he answered sadly The experiment had failed lean jean |