The Van Buren press., 1897-12-18

pened, and broken the news to hei
| family as calmly as though she were
discussing an affair at the Antipodes;
and though Bob lad looked puzzled
and Martha had wept, and the twins, al
ways ready to do their part, and scent
| ing a possible loss of bon-bons IN th'
calamity they family understood
walled bitterly, Nancy had laughed air
ily, and had gone that evening to
dance in her prettiest gown, and firtet
and danced so desperately that Martha
had brought her home in disgrace.
Then came the feverish round o.
Ibsen. philanthropy and gayety; and
now had come this new desire fol
something to do" though Nancy hae
done everything but the right thing
and wouldn't have done that to save
her proud young soul, for Jerry hao
made no sign and though Nancy hae
danced with whom she pleased, and az
many times as she pleased, and the vic
tins of her bow and spear had beer
many, still time had dragged heavily
somehow, and so through the thorny
paths of unrest she had reached hei
new resolution, and now held it with
grasp that had in it something ot
desperation.
Lord Bateman, growing impatient
shook the paper in his tiny teeth, and
Nancy went back to her Help" col
umn.
"As for fretting for Jerry Dennison,'
she said, 'that's perfect nonsensel
shall never get over congratulating my
self ON my escape from the horrid
tyrannical husband he would have
made. Fretting, indeed" Nancy lifted
up her voice and laughed; but Lord
Bateman, on her lap, wriggled uneas
ily; for something warm and wet
dropped down on his ear, and he dis
approved of it.
At two o'clock Nancy, booted ane
gloved, extricated Martha from the
clutches of the twins, and bade her g
brisk and business-like farewell.
"Behold my situation!" she said, with
flourish of divers clippings. There
-
'Wanted-intelligent young woman.
(They evidently had me in mind, Mar
thai Must have good education anc
business ability. Apply 81 Broae
street. That sounds bookkeeperish
doesn't it? And here's another: Want
ed-young woman under 30, for office
work. and"
you needn't read me any more,
won't listen to them" said Martha
Its not proper, Nancy, for you to &C
poking about those strange offices, ant
talking to men you never set eyes or
before, and | don't know what Bob is
thinking of to simply laugh, as he does
instead of forbidding it. You are max
ing me miserable with this whim, and
| beg of you to give it up"
Nancy considered a moment, with
her dark eyebrows close together.
Il don't see why you are SO anxious
about it," she said. "If you are going
to fret so when the twins get ole
enough to earn their daily bread in
stead of devouring it from morning tt
night, you'll turn them into perfee
pair of 'hoboes.' However, I'll compro
mise. This is Friday. If 1 haven't {
situation by Saturday evening, viii
give up the whole thing, and dance ant
prance and be useless all the rest o.
my life. VIII that satisfy you?"
ut will have to, | suppose" said Mar
tina; and Nancy kissed her and de
parted.
She came in as the family were sit
ting down to dinner, and accepted with
eomposure Bob's gift of huge buttor
with Il want situation" printed
across it.
Thank YOU" she said. "Pll pin il
on my jacket when l go out tomorrow
and surrender gracefully to the high
est bidder"
Then you haven't succeeded to
day?" said Martha. I'm delighted tC
hear it. What did all those beautiful
Ads turn out to be?"
Nancy looked at her demurely, witt
little smile tucked in the corner ot
her mouth. Book agents, all four ol
them" she said. 81 foresee that shall
be driven into the trade at last Pre-
pare yourself, Bob! If | ever do turr
my intellect in that direction, / shal
come to your Office every morning anc
sell you The Life of Lincoln or The
War of 1872 or some other of those ex
citing works l saw this afternoon, fol
practice"
Thank goodness, there is only on,
more day of it," said Martha. "Yol
didn't meet anyone you knew, hope.
Not one" said Nancy. Every ac
quaintance | possess must have sou
above Twenty-third street. Their,
wasn't a familiar thing downtown
But like it, | really do. You needn'
laugh, Bob, I'm going to start early to
morrow"
The next day it rained drearily
Nancy spent the morning in a showe
of newspapers, and in the Afternoon
donned her macintosh and goloshes
and went forth bravely, with de
termination in her heart This da,
she would find something to do or per
ish in the attempt! Her life shouldu'
be made miserable by Bob's ridicul,
and Martha's 81 told you so's.' l
there was an office in the entire cit,
that wanted bookkeeper and wanted
her Immediately, she would attach her
self to it like a barnacle.
But alas! Nancy was wanted fo
everything that day but what sh,
wanted. Suave, mustached gentlemen
admiration in their eyes and busnes,
on their lips, offered her volumes tn,
| percentage upon whose nrnsnectiv,