The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-08
MISS NANCY'S MIRACLE.
By w, F. Bryan.

Copyrighted, 1907. by M. M. Cunningham
 Miss Nancy rocked slowly back and forth on the sunny piazza. and reread the formal lawyers letter announc- ing that the will of the late John Wylie contained a clause bequeath- ing to his favorite niece, Hannah Elizabeth Skeen, the sum of fifteen
 She remembered her mothers brother -ahuge man. whose bushy beard smelled unpleasantly of tobacco smoke when he kissed her on the occasion of his infrequent visits. He had gone west thirty years before and at his sisters death his letters had ceased
 Miss Nancy reguarded the letter help lessly. Fifteen millions would have en- barrassed her no more. The profits of the farm met all her modest needs and she resumed her rocking as she pondered the situation. .
 The sunlight Altering through the young vines lighted the face softly, while the green lattice softened the wrinkles that scanned her face. and the bad lines of the nose that had been Miss Nancy's cross through life. An elder sister had let her fall when she was a baby, and the rough care of the country practitioner had not saved her beauty. The bridge of the nose was sunken and the tip round and tilted. Even as a girl Nancy Skeen had been attended by few sweethearts In later years she had waited in vain for the fairy Prince Charming
 She was still dazed by her good for tune when Mrs. Butterfield climbed heavily from her rickety buggy and numbered up the steps.
 T declare to gracious. Nancy" she greeted brsikly. Its plumb shame full for you to be sitting here with nothing done. I had my washing on the line before breakfast"
 Miss Nancy started guiltily at the mention of wash. Her own clothes were boiling briskly on tine stove this very minute.
 "I'm kind of upset" she defended weakly. You see. I got a letter"
 Who's dead now?" demanded the matron. Miss Nancy's slower mode of speech was always an irritation to her.
 eMy uncle, John wylie." explained Miss Nancy, He left me fifteen hun dred dollars"
 Mrs Butterfield sank into the nearest chair
 My lands sake" she explained. ''Whatever are you going to do with all that money?"
 That's what I was trying to think out" said Miss Nancy apologetlcally.
 "A plain body like you don't want all that money" said her caller frankly. You ain't got any call to dress up. The church needs a new organ the worst sort of way"
 T gave ten dollars toward the organ" Miss Nancy protested, remem- bering the sacrifices it had cost her.
 Mrs, Butterfield led the talk to other channels for the present Nancy could not spend the money until she had it. There was plenty of time in which to remind her of other worthy objects.
 But that night Mrs. Butterficld's s chance was lost Miss Nancy reading the last number of the "Woman's Friend" made her great resolve. and before she went to bed she had labori- ously composed a letter to one of the advertiser asking for particulars "as described in q plain sealed envel- ope." and she heavily underscored the last three words.
 The answer arrived two days ahead of the check from the western lawyer. and Miss Nancy could scarcely wait in patience for the money to come
 The day after its arrival Mrs. Butter field. stopping to argue for the new est charity, found the hired man fry ing bacon in Miss Nancy's once-im-