The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-02-03
tO01(O&0OOo~6o>(oN00
! A REALIZED AMBITION.
p BY Thsodosia pieksrin9.
nj ANCY had gathered the family
IN about her under the portrait Of


Lord Bateman in the hall closet, where
his barks, that usually adorned any
exciting conversation, were unheard.
and for more than an hour had been
holding forth finely, with q 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 IL 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."
Martha groaned. She was Nancy'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. There's one salts
faction. at any rate" she said. Having
had charge of you since you wore pima
fores and had long braids, I am pre-
pared for any caprice, even such an ab-
surd one as this, and I know you will
tire Of 1t in week. May inquire what
you intend to do?'
This is not caprice" said Nancy.
land intend to do-why, as everyone
does at first, Of course. What are you
laughing at, Bob? The next time /
select brother-in-law I shall use o
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?"
~ swept out the Offices" said her
brother-in-law, sand"
sand what?" said Nancy.
"And cleaned the cuspidors. my dear"
said Bob.
"Oh, nonserse!" said Nancy, in deep
disgust. "You know very we'll what
mean. took n complete course of
bookkeeping when was at school. and
you said yourself. Bob, dozen times,
that I was very good ut IT,"
Martha rose hurriedly as n faint wall
from the nursery struck her ear. II
don't know what the Van Couvers and
the Delormes will think. I an sure"
she said dismally, as she paused a mo-
ment by the door, 'and your first win
ter out. too, Nancy! Idaresay they will
imagine that Bob and I starve you.
II there was any earthly necessity for 1t
I shouldn't mind so much, but II ever
q girl had everything she wanted"
Nancy came to where her sister stood,
nd n,,t har 1>a, - 1,n ~,
shoulders.
"Be dear old girl, and don't scold,"
she pleaded, land let me have my way
just this once. and you may call it
caprice. or starvation. or anything you
please"
"There's another name might give
it that begins with "F," said Martha,
severely; but she gave the pretty sin
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, meekly.
"You haven't said as much as you
might, Bob, one way or the other" she
said. "Am 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 l have noticed with deep con-
Germ, 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-
fed. 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
and the Help Wanted-Female" col
umn-a homely, good-natured face,
with n 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 Dcnnison. 1t 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
It by two hot-headed young people,
whose hearts bc!ied the words their
lips uttered. 81 shall dance with whom
| please. and rs many as | please"
Nancy had said. with her blue eyes
ablaze and her pretty head in the air;
'and | shall never marry man who
would make my life miserable by his
!calousics and suspicions!" And Jerry
had he'd his head very high, and said
As you please, OF course" and had
LETT her, with n very white face, and
q look in his eyes his crstwhle sweet
heart had never seen there before; and
Nancy had locked the door and gone up