The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-05-19
THE NQQ|NG: Of NANCY,

I'LL uUUMu, VI NhIlOI.
THE Simpkins family lived in the old
est, oldest house in the village. Its
steep, sloping roof, deep porch on the
side and wide-mouthed chimney gave it
an air of quaintness which distinguished
it from all it's neighbors.
1t seemed to have been especially de-
signed for its queer occupants, whose pc
culiarities of dress and manner afforded
endless gossip for the villagers.
There was "Old Becky" Simpkins, her
spinster sister, Nancy Roberts; her only
daughter, Nancy. or, for short, Nam
and "Tom,' half-witted man-of-all-
work; The ,Simpkins were of Connect
ans The two sisters. Becky" and
Nancy, were extremely devout and read
the Bible a great deal.
Young Mans" fondness for dress and
masculine admiration and TOMS coca.
sional outbursts of profanity when "Old
Grumpy kicked over the milk pail in
fly time, or when the boys Of the village
two great burdens of their narrow lives.
Nan" ut 80 was hopelessly frivolous.
In appearance sne resembled the Wea-
zened old maids of comic valentine pic
lures. She was thin to CHASTITY .attenua-
ton; deathly pale always, with wide,
vacant eyes of a pale blue. color; thin
,Rpe S, open nj; mouth H., and with wad Of
little head. The village joker said her
weight was ''13 pounds with her over
shoes on She Invariably wore thin,
black cloth slippers, known In past years
as congress GATHERS" Over these were
usually drawn shapeless pair Of rubber
overshoes. Her wardrobe was the most
maneuvering and sly dealings with good
natured Meighbors she had managed to
collect odds and ends of millinery ahd
dress trimmings, cheap gewgaws, beads,
buckles and pins, till her full dress out
fit outrivaled that of an Indian chiefs
fayorite squaw. The entrance of the
each Sabbath morning was the OCCASION
for a quick craning, IF necks and an
audible litter. Up the center aisle old
Aunt Becky" bravely led the way, in
her straight, plain gown of black alpaca
and modest bonnet. In enc bohy hand
she held the end Of big white linen
handkerchief, the full size of which was
displayed like a flag of truce, or as the
funmaker said, like signal Of distress"
Walking stiff and straight behind her,
with a centemptuous look ON her win
Killed. old visage, walked "Aunt Nancy"
also carrying her white square of linen
'kerchief i'll hand. and chewing a bit of
peppermint lozenge nervously. Aunt. Nam
cy's designation of the chatting young
everyone felt that she was saying these
words under her breath as she ran the
Sext came e. Man," flirting along, simper.
ing and primping her hair and hat as she
walked. She was wont to say: Il never
looked fit to be seen in any ,celors, eS-
cept red and white and black" 20 these
shades were sure to enter into her cos
tunes,
On the Sunday that 'Nan'' met her
fate, in the person of tow-headed farm
er with one crossed eye and enormous
dropping cars, who lived in Paint Val
ley, twenty miles away, she made the
grandest ''splurge" of her life. She
wore a gown borrowed from portly:
goodness of heart led her to humor the
caprices of the odd little creature. The
dress was of broad red-and-black striped
stuff, cut in princess style with a long
train, much ruffled, and with voluminous
sleeves. Mans" insignificant figure was
quite lost In the roomy robe. But her
headgear was the piece de resistance of
this wonderful toilet. The crown of a
mans old silk hat was cut out and con-
SASSu A1AIO " tuA YAM "AANA 1OA VI
ity would have caused Virot a pang of
envy. 1t was deliberately draped with
''turkey-red'' calico, and loaded with
bugs, beetles and flies in brass. glass and
tin. A wisp of an old ostrich plume
waved high over the collection Of oddities
around the brim.
Tom skunk in last of all, dumping
seat, where he could chew little "fine-
cut" and expectorate through the open
door, before falling into his sermon
nap" When the feminine contingent of
the Simpkins family was seated in q
pew we'll to the front, young Mans"
restless orbs began to wander over the
audience in the rear. She caught a
glimpse of the stranger with the tow
hair, and Immediately prepared to move
did not approve of. this shifting about,
and just as "Nan" whisked her long
train out and arose to start, a firm
brown claw caught it fast and she was
told to keep her seat. Wriggling loose,
she disobeyed, and, going over as hear
to the mems side" as she could, ''Nan''
sat down in smiling triumph, fiuttering
her palm-leaf fan briskiy and adjusting
a refractory hairpin every few moments.
Her train had been spread out over the
narrow aisle, and as belated worshipers
arrived, it had to be drawn in quickly,
and then was as quickly spread in place
again. This maneuvering kept the silly
creature from observing the scheming
of some young dare devils close be-
hind her. One of them with head bowed
on the wooden pew.rail was hastily
open chestnuts without ceasing. just
as the congregation. arose to sing psalm
long arm went out with lightning-like
rapidity, and handful of apple parings
and chestnut shells was deposited on top
of "Nan's" turban. An explosion was
imminent, and had it not been for the
lusty singing of the choir, the service
would have been openly disgraced at that
moment. The tow-headed strangers
marvellous chapeau, and in a moment he
guessed what the consequences would be
when the stuff on top should be dislodged
by her movements. He walked. from his
seat to hers, calmly wiped off the rub
bish into his handkerchief and deposited
the whole in his pocket before ''Nan"
was aware of his action. His face was
~, and while prayer was being offered
he took 'Nan's' fan from her restless
hand and used it vigorously. ... ,..<
When the service ended the stranger
introduced himself rather, awkwardly
and then. before the outraged vision Of
Aunt Becky" and Aunt Nancy, the cou-
pie walked together out Of the church.
Late that night Man" hung over the
front gate. watching white horse and
red-wheeled buggy disappear down the
dusty road. Her heart and generous
hank of her raven tresses were with the
occupant of the rig. The next morning
there was held council Of war about
the Simpkins family board. Poor NAN
was "sat. }lpon'' with a vengeance BY
her worthy elders, who quoted Proverbs
and Ecclesiastes between every mouthfui
Of heavy buckwhat cakes and weak tea.