The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-30
Miss Nancy's Eavesdropping
..who was that young man with you?"

at was John Markham, answered Mar
gerry, quietly enough, as she took of 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.
II thought so,' responded Miss Nancy,
in her most irritating way. "Margery
Armstrong, I should think you'd De
ashamed of yourself
What for?'' asked Margery. I'm not
aware that I've done anything to be
ashamed OF.
20. you needn't try to plead innocence,
retorted Miss Nancy. You ought TO be
ashamed of going with that Markham fei-
low, and you know il"
'I don't know any such thing" answer
ed Margery, facing her aunt braveiy.
| John Markham is a respectable youns
man. You don't like him because there
| used to be trouble between the Marhhams
and the Armstrong;. That happened be-
fore either of Us were born, and there's no
| reason why we should keep up the quar-
rel. If we see fit to like each other 1
don't know who's going TO prevent our
| doing So
81 am" answered Miss Nancy, grinly.
YOU needn't think---and John Markham
needn't think---that cent of my prop
that family
20. you can do just as you see fit to
about your property. Of course" said Mar
gerry. 81 haven't anything to say about
that, but if you think anything you can
| do about il Will prevent John and l from
| liking each other, you're quite mistaken.
He don't want your property, but"---with
the prettiest little blush ina ginable and
soften.ng of the voice at the import OF
| the words---"he does want me-"
'.Margery Armstrong, I'd ike TO know
how far this matter has gone" cried Miss
Nancy, in w-athful surprise. ITO judge
by the way you talk one would suppose 1t
| is all settled between you"
/ ut is" answered Margery, with eyes
| that never flinched before the angry ones
| of her aunt II promised John tonight,
/ coming home from church, that I'd marry
| him as soon as he has home for me-.
Miss Nancy fairly gasped for breath.
You're fool" she said, as soon as she
| could command her voice, ''to take UP with
! that fellow when you might marry the
| squirrels nephew"
II wouldn't marry the squire's nephew
| if he was the last man on EARTH said
| Margery. Look at him alongside John
! Markham, and / know that down IN your
| heart you can't help owning that he's an
| insignificant apology for man. All you
| can see to admire in him is his money,
I'm sure, and if he had thousand times
more thas he has I'd have just as much
| contempt for him as 1 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 as poverty and things'll look
| different to you. OF course, he thinks and
| you think that I'll change my mind when
| l find out that can't prevent your marry
| ing him. But you were sever more mis-
| taken in your life. Marry that fellow and
| I'll see that not penny of mine goes to
| you"
please yourself about that" answered
Margery. I'VE don't want your money.
We're both strong and willing to work.
| and Wen get along. Don't worry about
| that"
That sounds well, but you'll sing diff
ferent tune by and by" said Miss Nancy.
Just remember what I tell you"
"AI right, I 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 70
| the city to do some shopping. She was al
[ ways afraid of being too late for the train,
and generally arrived at the station at
least half an hour before It was due. She
| did so on this occasion, and as the day
was very warm one, she sat down on 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 plat
| form, and presently voices from the other
| side of the pile of boxes reached her ears.
| How is your matrimonial project get
ting along?" was asked by one of the UNI
| seen parties. And a voice which Miss
| Margery recognized as belonging TO the
| squire's nephew answered:
| 1T seems TO hang fire, just at present.
| The fact is, the girls got another string
| to her bow, and the chances would be
| against me if il wasn't for the fact that
her aunt favors my suit. because she
| thinks l am going 10 get Uncle Amos
| money, and shed like TO unite the two
| properties. SO I'm rather sweeter on the
| aunt just at present than / am on the girl.
| If get the girl at all ii must be through
| the old lady's influence, you see. The
| girls a little daisy, you can be sure of
| that! It's a question of having her in
the family wouldn't be paying dear price
| for all her property, but you see there S
| a chance of being able TO shake her off
! after a little. / happen TO know that a
new railroads going through this place,
| and the company viii have TO buy piece
| of land she owns, and this land she intends
10 give to the girl as a wedding present.
| Now just as soon as the road Is put
| through---and it's sure to come---this land
-
| the old lady's property. II the girl gets
a deed of ii, and I get the girl, can sell
Il TO the railroad company and make a
| good big sum of money out OF it and well
be independent of the aunt, and when that
| happens, if il ever does. I'll tell her 10 look
| out for her affairs and III look out for
| mine I'm looking out now that she don
| find out about the new railroad scheme. j
want to make sure OF the girl and the land
before I break the news 10 her.
Miss Nancy listened with ears and eyes
wide open.
Yes. when it happens. il It ever does"
| she chuckled. II don't believe you'll ever
| get the chance you're looking for, my
| smart young man, I don't suppose ! am
| a daisy---I never thought I was,--but l
| rather guess ! am g match for you, since
| I know what TO co. 7 don't believe you'i
| have to shake me of. 1 think III do a
| uttle---or mos;---of the shaking"
Just then the train came along. and Misc
| Nancy got aboard of It without being seen
| by the young men.
| That evening. when she came home. as
| luck would have 4. she met the Squ.re's
! nephew az the station.
IF you're going home you might walk
along with NE and help carry some OF my
! bundles" she said. IN her very pleasing
I ssT.-. .4rsI "a