The Van Buren press., 1897-12-18
eNeNe\e~ee~e~e&e>e
: A REALIZED AMBITION. 3.
4 BY Theodosia Pickering. Z
S~s~e~o~ee~e~o>e>S

Lord Bateman in the nail closet, Nhefe
his barks, that usually adorned any
exciting conversation, were unheard,
and for more than an hour had been
holding forth finely, with a decided
curve in her red lips.
"There's no use in your saying any
thing more about tive made up my
mind, and all the talking in the world
won't make me take it to pieces again,
she said. I'm tired to death of do
ing nothing but frivol and dawdle, and
tomorrow I'm going to find situation
and go to work"
"Sic transit gloria euehre clubs, after
noon teas and nice young men, said
Bob.
Nancy frowned. "And good thing,
too." she said. "I've played cards this
winter till reason tottered on its
throne; and as for tea, I've had so much
of 1t that l am beginning to feel like
old Dr.--what's his name-Johnson,
isn't it?-in petticoats."
Martha groaned. She was Naney's
sister, and a winter spent in the breezy
and hilarious occupation of chaperon-
ing Nancy and keeping the two-year-old
twins in the paths of law and order
had drawn several lines about the cor
ners of her mouth. "Theres one salts
faction, at any rate" she said. "Having
had charge of you since you wore pima
fores and had long braids, l am pre-
pared for any caprice, even such an abb
surd one as this, and know you will
tire of it in week. May inquire what
you intend to do?"
"This is not a caprice" said Nancy,
land | intend to do-why, as everyone
does at first, of course. What are you
laughing at, Bob? The next time I
select a brother-in-law | shall use
little more discrimination. Why don't
you help me along a trifle? What did
you do when you went to work the very
first time?"
81 swept out the Offices said her
brother-in-law, "and-"
"And what?" said Nancy.
"And cleaned the cuspidors, my DEAR"
said Bob.
"Oh, nonsense!" said Nancy, in deep
disgust. lou hHON very htil NHa1
mean. l took complete course of
bookkeeping when I was at school, and
you said yourself, Bob, a dozen times,
that was very good at it,"
Bob smiled. "My DEAR" he said, that
was over year ago, and I'm willing to
wager that you can't add a column of
figures without the aid of your fingers
and toes; and besides, l scarcely be-
lieve that any girl who audits her en-
gagement book in such way that she
promises to go to three different places
with three different young gentlemen
at the same time, would be an acquisi-
tion to any Office"
Martha rose hurriedly as faint wall
from the nursery struck her ear. Il
don't know what the Van Couyers and
the Delormes will think, | am sure"
she said dismally, as she paused mo-
ment by the door, ''and your first win
ter out, too, Nancy. Idaresay they will
imagine that Bob and I starye you.
II there was any earthly necessity for it
! shouldn't mind so much, but If ever
girl had everything she wanted"
Nancy came to where her sister stood,
and put both her arms about her plump
shoulders.
'Be dear old girl, and don't scold,"
she pleaded, "and let me have my way
just this once, and you may call it
caprice, or starvation, or anything you
please"
''There's another name l might give
it that begins with "F," said Martha,
severely; but she gave the pretty sim
ner motherly kiss, and vanished,
with a worried little smile on her face.
Nancy followed her brother-in-law to
the hall and handed him his hat and
gloves, meeIly.
"You haven't said as much as you
might, Bob, one way or the other" she
said. "Am l to have the supreme bliss
of believing that you approve?'
Bob laughed and drew on his gloves.
Nancy" he said, during the last three
months have noticed with deep con-
cern, the rise and fall of your interest
in that cunning little sewing-school in
River street. in your beloved Ibsen
class and-incidentally--in Jerry Den
nison, the only one of the three, by the
way, that regret"
Here's your hat" said Nancy, abrupt
ly.
"Ahem! yes, of course Good-morn-
Ing, my dear" said Bob
Nancy let Lord Bateman out of the
closet, from whence he emerged with
an expression at once injured and digni-
fled. Then she went back to the library
and took up the daily paper with an air
of resolution; but Bob's last words
seemed to dance before her in its print.
and face came suddenly between her
end the Help Wanted-Female" col
umn-a homely. good-natured face
with vigorous chin, honest eyes, and
little tilt in the corner of the mouth.
Nancy put down the paper and picked
up Lord Bateman.
In this very room, two months be-
fore, she had broken her engagement
with Jerry Dennison. It had been
tiny engagement, TO be sure only three
months old, and, not being seasoned by
time, hardly staunch enough TO bear
the weight of angry words heaped upon
1t by two hot-headed young people.
whose hearts belied the words their
lips uttered Il shall dance with whom
/ please, and as many as please"
Nancy had said, with her blue ewes
ablaze, and her pretty head in the air:
"and | shall never marry a man who
Mnnld mike my Life misernhl,, h,. ~.