The Somerset reporter., 1889-11-21
SELECTED.
NAkCY'S LOVER.
Nancy said Mr.. Moppet.

sNNNS - ~ Rms
Nancy said Mr. Moppet.
"Sir?" responded Nancy.
Mr.. Moppet was coming in from thu
garden path. Nancy, with plump white
arms barred to the elbow, was washing
the breakfast dishes in deep pan of hot
soapsuds.
Mr. Moppet was a hard featured elder
ly man, with whitish blue eyes, strag
ely fringe of white beard beneath his
square chin, and bald Uranium. Nancy
was fresh colored and bright eyed, with
silky tendris of auburn hair dropping
over her freckled forehead and certain
dmple perpetually playing at hide and
seek on her left cheek. The two com
pletely realized Shakespeare ideal OF
Grabbed Age and Youth"
I'm a-eoin' to town." said Mr.. Mop
pet. "You won't need to bile no poi
victuals for dinner, Waste makes want
A cup O. tea and billed egg and what:
left o yesterdays pork and greens-that l
be all you'll need"
Eyes, father" acquiesced Nancy.
She was thinking of something else all
of the while.
"And, talkin' bout eggs" added Mr.
Moppet, "you may take four dozen up tc
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 au-
burn rings of hair.
Can't send EN- up by little Bill Beck
er, father?' said she webster Wixon
with his red nose and his compliments"
Mr.. Moppet frowned.
~ .,,,il h., bn fool
can see through ye like ye was pane o
glass. Webster Wixon is well to do
man, with money out at interest, and
You'd oughter be tickled to death that he's
took notion to YOU
But, father
"Not another word" grumbled Mr..
Moppet. II know jest exactly what's
comm. It's that foolish nonsens about
Absalom Parker, that hoped you'd got
over long ago. Absalom hain't no pro-
perty, and amt like to have none, and no
daughter O. mine amt gon' to marry
your Grandfather Atkins hired man, not
if know it,"
lie paused with this multiplicity of
double negatives. Nancy set her small,
pearl white teeth together; her eyes flash
ed with hazel 1re. 1t was clear case of
true love versus money
Take them eggs straight up to Peach
farm" reiterated Mr.. Moppet, shaking
his foreflnger at Nancy" IAN don't argu-
fly the pint no further. I'm your father,
and | know what's best for your
But you're going right past the WIKI
ons' door"
mo, amt, neither. I'm goin' the
Horn Hill road. I've been app'inted by
the supply committee to buy an air tight
wood stove for the church," he added,
with some complacency. 1.-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 new
one-leastways, second hand one. If
it's jest as good and triiie cheaper. I'm
to use my own judgment about that"
And he went out to the barn to thar
ness up" leaving Nancy ready to cry.
But" she said to herself, as she flung
the dish water out at the back door, Il
wouldn't marry,Webster Wixon if there
wasn't another man in the world. And if
can't have Absalom, I'll live and die an
old maid Oh, dear oh, dear! why need
there be so much trouble in the world?'
And more than one diamond bright
tear drop fell among the eggs that she
packed into the fiat splnt basket for Mrs.
WixOn's niece's party.
Webster Wixon, a fat middle aged
bachelor, 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.
LAS bloomin' as ever, | see
Heres your eggs" spoke Nancy
CURLY.
Set down spell, won't ye?" simpered
Mr.. Wixon
"Im in hurry said Nancy.
"But, Nancy
my name is Miss Moppet, sir2'
"rve got something very particular to
say to you, Nancy" urged the middle
aged sutton.
eth have to keep said Nancy. "Tve
got to get right home"
Cant walk with you piece"
"I'd rather go Alone" she persisted.
"Nancy-Niss Moppet-I must speak !"
blurted our the old bachelor. 81 love
you better'n 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, and
Nancy wheeled around and faced her
eager swain.
"Is it me or father you're a-courtiug?"
said she.
why you, of Counsel
Then take my answer-no"
And without waiting for the return of
her basket she hurried away, her cheeks
blazing, her breath coming quick and
fast.
"Father'll be awful mad she thought,
"but I'd sooner die than marry that
mani"
Webster Wixon stood minute gazing
after her In crestfallen silence, then he
v ent back to apple harvesting with an
ominous compression Of his lips.
1.-THE madden she gets the prettier she
looks" thought he. well, well, time
will show. Brother Moppet says she
shall be my wife, and that ought to count
for considerable"
Mr.. Moppet drove leisurely on to Horn
Hill, drove an excellent bargain for q
highly ornamental wood stove, having
successfully interviewed every hardware
dealer in town, and set forth to return
with 1t In his wagon just at dusk.
"It's q warm day for the time O. year,
said he, land it's easier travelling for the
horse arter dark. 1t amt q bad days
work. come to think ont. beat Brother
Piper down pretty well on the price, and
it's worth . doll.r'n q half TO cart the
thing home over these bunny roads
They lowed twenty dollars for 1t. and
got it for fifteen. Takin' my time anc
trouble and wheel wear and hOrsefesh In
to consideration, L guess l won't say
nothin' about the odd Ave dollars. Bust
ness Is business. It's . proper, pretty
pattern, too-thistle leaves and acorns
Id like one the same fashion In my bes
room, aud"-with . long whistle-"whl
shouldn't have It? There's that seconC
handed stove Gran'ther Atkins took for .
debt from Scion Gruble. It's jest stand
In rustin' away 10 his back wood shed
Ill fetch Il homo TO morrow and black l
up, and lot Elder Meachan suppose I 20
. bargain from somebody; and I'll hav'
The nice new stove for myself. and no
| body'1l b mono the wiser, now that Gran
'thsr Atkins u connnsd to his bed will
cEsepio' paralysis aad Ahsalon Parker
p b ~ wood lots, chopin down tres