The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-08-21
NANCY'S DEVICE.

NANCY'S DEVICE.
A daintily shaped "little head, over
running with curls," enshrouding a
| fair, winsome face of perfect oval, that
seemed made for smiles and laughter
emily, and generally fulfilled the expec-
tations it aroused; but on the present
| occasion it must De confessed that the
prevailing expression of Hetty Blake's
| features was very cross indeed, as she
sat in the wide window sill, swinging
her pretty little feet and pouting pair
of exquisitely-curved scarlet lips, as
she plated and unplaited the strings Of
her broad-rimmed GYPSY hat
Il don't care" said Miss Hetty. Il
don't love Mr.. Meredith! And l don't
want to marry him. So there now"
And she nibbled at the hat strings
and frowned under her. level brown
brows, like pretty rebel as she was.
'.Hetty. hold your tongue" said La
vinia, her elder sister.
You don't know what you're talk
ing about severely uttered Mrs.
Blake, who was mixing up q batch of
| bread at the kitchen table. "Mr. Mer-
edith has house and farm worth ten
thousands pounds. And it's a great
compliment for him to speak to your
father about marrying YOU"
Then wish he'd keep his compli-
ments to himself" said the incorrigible
Hetty. Look here. Lavfnia, why
won't you marry hima"
Lavinia, overcome with Indignation,
dealt her roguish little sister box on
the ear, which Hetty narrowly escaped
by sudden depression of her head.
mo, but it would suit SO exactly"
said Hetty. ''Lavinia is just that sort
of personr'
''Hetty, don't be fool!' said Mrs.
Blake. "You should thank Providence
that MIR. Meredith is pleased to marry
you and put all nonsensical ideas
about Harry Waite out of your head at
oncer'
But Hetty frowned and pouted more
and more. and tried resolutely to keep
the big, bright tears from falling on
her hands.
What shall 1 dop' said Hetty to
herself. "For I never mover can mar
~ that bald-headed old man who talks
sik pockeI-nandkerchIe1! Ana III
sure Harry would shoot himself when
he heard of it!'
But all Hetty Blake's tears and lam
entations availed nothing. Her father
was a practical man Of the world. Her
mother understood the full meaning of
money, and SO the match was to be
hurried on. regardless of the feelings
of the bride-elect.
But Providence nterfered-thatk kind
ly Providence which has the interests Of
true lovers ever under its care.
Mr.. and Mrs. Blake had gone to at
tend chapel meeting twenty miles
away, with Lavinia in their train.
Hetty, being ''unregenerate," was
left at home to mediate over a volume
| of sermons.
"Now he sure. Hetty, you look well
after the house." said Mrs. Blake;
land see that Nancy feeds the young
calves regularly. and cares for the gos-
lings and the chickens. And lock up
the house at ten o'clock every night,
and be sure you don't lot in any tramps
nor peddlers."
.rll be very careful" said Hetty.
I'VE shall be back on Friday" said
have any leisure time you can turn the
sheets in the wash-basket, and darn the
thin places in the back-parlor carpet,
and do any other useful odd jobs about
the house."
So Mrs. Blake climbed into the cart,
| where her husband and Layinia were
already seated, and drove away, call
ing out directions to Hetty as long as
the house was in sight.
The heads of the family had not been
gone for more than two hours, when
Hetty came flying out to the kitchen,
where Nancy was making softsoap.
.'Oh, Nancy, what shall l dop"
cried she. Here's Mr.. Meredith, get
ting out of one-horse chaise at the
door"
"Why. 60 up and see him of course"
| said Nancy, who was one of the old
| family servants, who are becoming, as
race, extinct in England.
| Cant tell him that father and
mother are gone away?" pleaded Hetty.
| ''Nonsense!" said Nancy. stirring
| desperately away at her monster ket-
tie. You don't suppose it's your
| father and mother that he comes to see,
do you? Oh, dear; and there isn't a
scrap of fresh meat in the house.
thought boiled eggs and cold ham
would do for our noon bite"
$50 it will" said Hetty. IF we make
things too agreeable for him, Nancy.
he'll stay too long"
| Nancy looked round in amazement.
"And don't you want him to stayp"
| said she.
mol" cried Miss Hetty, with a
startled look. as some unseen umbrella
handle raped smartly on the door be-
yond. II can't endure him, Nancy.
IL hate him"
| And then she burst into storm of
| tears.
Nancy comprehended in an instant.
Poor dear! said she. $50 that's
the way the wind blows. is it? 1t is a
shame! Never mind. Miss Hetty; Wen
settle him."
Settle him" vaguely repeated the
girl.
"Hush!" said brisk Nancy. go and
let him in. know the man. My cou-
sin, Mary Ann Potts, lived as house
keeper to him for year. He's one of
those people that want everything to go
smooth Never would let Mary Ann
whitewash ceiling or scrub off floor
with sand and soapsuds. And of all
things in the world he abominates
house-cleaning. Wen clean house
while he's here, Hetty, eh?"
| The girls brilliant eyes sparkled
through her quickly-dried tears; a
lovely carmine color mounted into her
lcheeks.
s.Nancy.n she cried. ssyou are a Sec