Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-29
NANCY'S LOVER.
"Nancy!" said Mr.. Moppet.

I'd Inc elbow, was NdSulllS Tue lOdAldoI
dishes in deep pan of hot soapsuds.
Mr.. Moppet was hard featured elderly
man, with whitish blue eyes, a straggly fringe
of white beard beneath his square chin, and
a bald Uranium. Nancy was fresh colored
and bright eyed, with silky tendrils of auburn
hair dropping over her freckled forehead and
certain dimple perpetually playing at hide
and seek on her left cheek. The two com
pletely realized Snakespeare's ideal of
Grabbed Age and Youth"
I'm a-gom' to town." said Mr.. Moppet.
"You won't need to bile no pot victuals for
dinner. Waste makes want. A cup o tea
and billed egg and what's left O yesterdays
pork and greens-that'n be all you'll need"
Eyes, father, acquiesced Nancy
She was thinking of something else all the
while.
''And, talkin' bout eggs" added Mr.. Mop
pet, ''you may take four dozen up to Peach
farm. Mrs. Wixon wants plenty on em to
make cake for her niece's party. Better go
early this morning"
Nancy colored scarlet under the auburn
rings Of hair.
Cant l send 'em up by little Bill Becker,
father?n said she. webster Wixon will be
there, and-and don't like Webster Wixon,
Win req nose anu us COin
Mr.. Moppet frowned.
sNancy," said he, don't be fool can
see through We, like ye was pane O glass.
Webster Wixon is a well to do man, with
money out at interest," and you'd oughter be
tickled to death that he's took a notion to
you"
But, father
mot another word" grumbled Mr.. Mop
It's that foolish nonsense about Absalom
Parker, that hoped you'd got over long ago
Absalom hain't no property, and amt like to
have none, and no daughter O mine amt
goin' to marry your Grandfather Atkins
hired man. not if know it"
He paused with this multiplicity of double
negatives Nancy set her small, pearl white
teeth together; her eyes flashed with hazel
fire. 1t was a clear case of true love versus
money.
''Take them eggs straight up to Peach
farm" reiterated Mr.. Moppet, shaking his
forefnger at Nancy, "an' don't argufy the
pint no further I'm your father, and 1
know what's best for youl"
'But you're going right past the Wixons'
door"
mo, amt, neither Tn goin' the Horn
Hill road. I've been appointed by the supply
committee to buy an air tight wood stove for
the church" he added, with some compla-
cency The old ones rusted clear out, so
there's danger o. fire every time it's used, and
the brethren have subscribed twenty dollars
for a new one-leastways, a second hand one,
if it's Jest as good and trife cheaper. I'm
to use my own Judgment about that"
And he went out to the barn to harness
up" leaving Nancy ready to cry.
But she said to herself, as she flung the
dish water out at the back door, II wouldn't
marry Webster Wixon if there wasn't an
other man in the world And if can't have
Absalom, I'll live and die an old maid Oh,
dear! oh, dearl why need there be so much
trouble in the worldP'
And more than one diamond bright tear
drop fell among the eggs that she packed into
the fat splint basket for Mrs. Wixon's niece's
party.
Webster Wi1on, a fat, middle aged bache-
lor, was out helping to gather the October
apples on the north side of the house when
Nancy came up. He made haste to welcome
her.
GOOD mornin', Miss Nancy" said he. "As
bloomin' as ever, | see"
Here's your eggs" spoke Nancy, CURLY
y
Wixon.
I'm in hurry" said Nancy.
''But, Nancy
'My name is Miss Moppet, sir"
'I've got something very particular to say
to you, Nancy" urged the middle aged sutton
'It'll have to keep" said Nancy. I've got
10 get right home"
Cant walk with you a pieceg'
StT5 rather on 6lone - she rerSiStnJ
''Nancy-Miss Moppet-I must speakm
blurted out the old bachelor. II love you
better all the world l want to make YOU
Mrs Webster Wixon! There, that's what
had on my mind! And your good, Christian
minded father, he says it would suit him
exactly, andn-
Nancy wheeled around and faced her eager
swain.
is it me or father you're a-courtingEn said
she.
why you, Of ccurse,'
Then take my answer-noin
And without waiting for the return of her
basket she hurried away, her cheeks blazing,
her breath coming quick and fast.
''Fathern be awful mad she thought,
''but I'd sooner die than marry th.t mani"
Webster Wixon stood a minute gazing after
her in crestfallen silence: then he went back
to apple harvesting with an ominous COM
preston of his lips.
The madder she gets the prettier she
looks" thought he. We'll, well, time will
show. Brother Moppet says she shall be my
wife, and that ought 10 count for consider
able"
Mr. Moppet drove leiSurely on to Horn
Hill, drove an excellent bargain for highly |
ornamental wood stove, after having success |
sively interviewed every hardware dealer in |
town, and set forth to return with il in his |
wagon just at dusk.
Its a warm day for the time o. year," |
said he, land its easier travelling for the |
horse after dark. 1t amt a bad days work. |
come 10 think on = | beat Brother Piper !
down pretty well on the price. and its worth |
dollarn q half 10 cart the thing home over |
these bumpy roads They lowed twenty dol |
lars for it, and got ii for fifteen Takin' |
my time and trouble and wheel wear and |
horsefesh into consideration, guess won't |
say nothin' about the odd five dollars. Bust |
ness is business It's a proper, pretty pat /
tern. too-thistle leaves and acorns. Id like /
one the same fashion in my best room, and |
with long whistle-''why shouldn't have |
iti There's that second handed stove Gran |
'ther Atkins took for a debt from Scion |
oruoo. It's Jest standin' rustln' away III his |
back wood shed I'll fetch il home tomorrow
knd black 1t up, and let Elder Meachan sup |
pose got a bargain from somebody; and I'll /
nave the nice new stove for myself, and no
oody ii be none the wiser, now that Gran'ther /
Atkins is confined TO his bed with creepir' /
Paraiyss and Ahsalom Parkers up in the |