Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-11-26
MISS NANCY'S .
EAVESDROPPING.
M/H0 was that young man with
wv you?"
BY EBEN r. RExFORD.

NM ho was That young man with
wv you?"
MISS Nancy Armstrong asked the
question of her r'ece, Margery. Her
tone waa sharp and her eyes had an
angry snap in them.
1T was John Markham" answered
Margery, quietly enough, as she took
oil her bonnet, but the tone in which
The question had been asked brought
an extra color to her cheek and a
sparkle of resentment to her eyes.
Il thought so,' responded Miss
Nancy, In her most irritating way.
"Margery Armstrong, l should think
you'd be ashamed of yourself"
What for?" asked Margery. I'm
not aware that I've done anything to
be ashamed Of"
oh, you needn't try to plead inno-
cence," retorted Miss Nancy. "You
ought to be ashamed of going with that
Markham fellow, and you know it."
Il don't know any such thing" an
swered Margery, facing her aunt
bravely. John Markhamisa respectable
young man. You don't like him be-
cause there used to be trouble between
the Markhams and the Armstrong;.
That happened before either of us was
born, and there's 10 reason why we
should keep up the quarrel. 1--we see
lit to like each other don't know who's
going to prevent our doing So"
u am" answered Miss Nancy, grim
ly. "You needn't think-and John
Markham needn't think-that cent of
my property IL go into the hands of
any one of that family"
"Oh, you can do just as you see fit to
about your property, of course" said
Margery. 81 haven't anything to say
about. that, but if you think anything
you can do about it will prevent John
and L from liking each other, you're
quite mistaken. He don't want your
property, but"-with the prettiest lit
tie blush imaginable and softening OF
the voice at the import of the words,
''he does want me-"
"Margery Armstrong, I'd like to
know how far this matter has gone,
cried Miss Nancy, in wrathful surprise
ITO judge by the way you talk one
would suppose it is all settled between
you"
ut is" answered Margery, with eyes
that never finched before the angry
ones of her aunt. 81 promised John to
night, coming home from church, thai
I'd marry him as soon us he has hoint
for me-"
Miss Nancy fairly gasped for breath
You're FOOL" she said, as soon a.
she could command her voice, ito tax,
up with that fellow when you nigh
marry the squire's nephew!"
Il wouldn't marry the squire
nephew if he was the last man OF
earth," said Margery. Look at hin
alongside John Markham and | know
that down in your heart you can't hell
owning that he's an insignificant apollo
gy for man. All you can see to admir-,
in him is his money, I'm sure, and if h,
had thousand times more than he ha
I'd have just as much contempt for hin
as have now"
"You may see the day when you'll
wish you had some of his money" salt
Miss Nancy. "Wait till you're JOIN
Markham's wife and poor as povert,
and things III look different to you. o
course he thinks and you think that II
change my mind when | find out tina
l can't prevent your marrying him
But you were never more mistaken il
your life. Marry that fellow and II
see that not penny of mine goes t
you"
''Please yourself about that,
answered Margery. "We don't wan
your money. We're both strong an
willing to work and we'll get along
Don't worry about that"
"That sounds well, but you'll sing
different tune by and by" said Mis-
Nancy. "Just remember what l tel
you."
"All right, / will" replied Marger,
and then she went up to her room, nc
to think about what her aunt had sale
but about the things she had talked @
with her lover, as they walked HON
from church together
Miss Nancy sat in the kitchen an
nursed her wrath.
"Just to think that she defes me!
she said to herself. IF she'd murr
Squire Brands nephew she'd be tn
wealthiest woman in town, for She
get all l have and her husband III &c
all the squire has. It's a shame
downright shame!-that she can't b
made to behave sensibly. But thel
she's an Armstrong and they were a
ways terribly set in their way. Sh
takes it from our side of the famil,
But that doesn't make it any easier I
bear with her foolishncss. I'd got IN
heart set on her marrying the squire
nephew and / hate to give it up. Br
/ suppose I'll have to, for l know sf
won't listen to reason. But mayb
when she tells that young MARKHAM
what said about the property he
think twice before he decides to MARI
girl without anything" But Nil
Nancy didn't get much comfort frol
that, for down deep in her heart 81
didn't believe that John Markham WI
that kind of man. She had often sal
to herself that "if he wasn't n MARKHAM
he'd be pretty nice sort of fellow"
1t seemed to have been tacitly agree
ON between Margery and her aunt tn:
nothing further was to be said betwee
.hsr, aGYout the matter on which the