The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-11-04
MISS NANCY'S
EAVESDROPPING.

your
Miss Nancy Armstrong asked th'
question of her niece, Margery. He
tone was sharp and her eyes had al
angry snap in them.
1T was John Markham" answered
Margery, quietly enough, as she tool
| off her bonnet, but the tone in whicl
the question had been asked brought
an extra color to her cheek and spar
kle Of resentment to her eyes.
Il thought so," responded Miss Nan
cy, in her most Irritating way. Mar
| gerry Armstrong, 1 should think you'd
| be ashamed of yourself"
what for?" asked Margery. 'I'm
not aware that I've done anything tc
be ashamed Of"
so, 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 II"
81 don't know any such thing" an
swered Margery, facing her aunt brave
ly. John Markham is a 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 no reason why we
should keep up the quarrel, If we see
fit to like each other don't know
who's going to prevent our doing so'
Il am" answered Miss Nancy, grim
ly. "YOuneedn't think-and John Mark
ham needn't think-that cent of my
property'll go into the hands of any one
of that familyr'
80, you can do just as you see fit
to about your property, of course" said
Margery. Il haven't anything to say
about that, but if you think anything
you can do about it will prevent John
and 1 from liking each other, you're
quite mistaken. File 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. .To
judge by the way you talk one would
suppose it is all settled between you"
ut is" answered Margery, with eyes
that never fiinched before the angry
ones of her aunt. Il promised John
tonight, coming home from church.
that I'd marry him as soon Us he has a
home for me-
Miss Nancy fairly gasped for breath.
You're a fool" she said, as soon as
she could command her voice, ito take
UP with that fellow when you might
marry the squire's nephewr'
81 wouldn't marry the sources
nephew if he was the last man on
earth," Sid Margery. 'Look at him
Alongside John Markham, and | know
that down in your heart you can't help
owning that he's an Insignificant apol-
ogy for man. All you can see 10 ad
mire in him is his money, I'm sure, and
If he had thousand times more than
he has I'd have just as much contempt
for him as have now."
you may see the day when you'll
wish you had some of his money!" said
Miss Nancy. wait till you're John
Markham's wife and poor rs poverty
and things'll look different to YOU. ,f
course he thinks and you think that I'll
change my mind when l find out that |
can't prevent your marrying him. But
you were never more mistaken in your
life. Marry that fellow and IN see
that not penny of mine goes to YOU"
'Please yourself about that" answer
ed Margery. 1--WE don't want your
money. We're both strong and willing
to work, and we'll get along. Don't
worry about that"
'That sounds well, but your sing n
different tune by and by" said Miss
Nancy. "Just remember what | tell
you"
"All right. l WILL" replied Margery,
and then she went up to her room, not
TO think about what her aunt had said.
but about the things she had talked of
with her lover as they walked home
from church together.
One day Miss Nancy decided to GO %
the city to do some shopping. She was
always afraid Of being too late for the
train, and generally arrived at the sta
ton at least half an hour before it was
due. She did SO on this occasion, and
as the day was Il very warm one she
sat down Oh the platform in the shade
of some large boxes of freight that had
been unloaded there, thinking it more
comfortable there than in the stuffy
little waiting room.
Pretty soon she heard steps on the
platform, and presently voices from
the other side of the pile of boxes
reached her ears.
How is your matrimonial project