Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-03-20
Hiss NanCy's EavesdrOpping.
By Eben E. Rexford.

who was that young man with
your"
Miss Nancy Armstrong asked the
question of her niece, Margery. Her
tone was sharp and her eyes had an
angry snap in thom.
ut was John Markham" answered
Margery. quietly enough, as she took
off 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.
q 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 10
be ashamed Of
20 you needn't try to plead igno-
rance" 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 Markham is a respect
able young man. You don't like him
because there used TO be trouble be-
tween the Markhams and the Arm
strongs. That happened before either
of us were born, and there's no reason
why we should keep UP the quarrel.
If we see fit to like each other 1 don't
know who's going to prevent our doing
So"
Il am" answered Miss Nancy, grim
iy. you needn't think-and John
Markham needn't thinh-that a cent
of my propertyll go into the hands of
any one of that family"
30, you can do just as you see fit to
about your property, of course" said
Margery. 81 haven't anything to say
to that, but if you think any thing you
can do about it will prevent John and
I from liking each other, you're quite
mistaken. He don't want your prop
erty, but" with the prettiest little
blush imaginable and softening of
the voice at the import of the words
che does wasn't 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
1T 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
a 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 squire's nephew!"
Il 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 a man. All you can see
to admire 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 I 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 find
out that I can't prevent your marry
ing him. But you were never more
mistaken in your life. Marry that fell
low and I'll see that not a penny of
mine goes to you"
please yourself about that" an
swered Margery. 1--WE don't want
your money. We're both strong and
willing to work, and we'H get along.
Don't worry about that"
THAT sounds well, but you'll sing
a different tune by and BY" said Miss
Nancy. Just remember what I tell
you"
"All right, 1 WILL" replied Margery,
then she went up to her room, not to
think about what her aunt had said,
but about the things she had talked of