The herald., 1922-11-02
The Vanquishing
of Nancy
BY Nj. MACWILLIAMS

YOU'D love he if l. were pie
For my strip and exc for my crust.
Therefore, sir. I'm asking you why
You are raising this terrible dust 7"
Thus Nancy improyised, her head the
least bit aside, her eyes dancing wick
eddy nj sight of Lauren, most abject of
all her thrallS. lie stood half way
between door and window seat, his
mouth mutinous, his eyes glCwery. A
letter had preceded him-the kind of
letter Jealousy writes and seals with
threat. Lauren had indeed threat
ened the empress of his heart that
unless she ceased aspiring for univer-
sal masculine dominion, he was going
t. cut and run for it-she could take
him, else have him leave her for good
and always.
He had thought he really meant
it-but all the way to the Fitch place
he had been in blue funk, fearing she
might also think SO. Suppose she
should take him at his word. give back
his ring and plunge even more badly
into sea of summer flirtatiOns? That
would be hard-She was already hit.
ting on all six cylinders that way, ac-
cOrding TO the gossip of Blainhill. A
select suburb, home of families boast
Ing super-finished daughters, naturally
1t diSapproved Of their being put out
of court by an upstart without a single
accomplishment.
True, Nancy danced like a willow
in the wind, but never bothered as
TO steps. She rode in any old COS
tune she happened. to be wearing,
played golf with as little regard to
sartOrial requirements, and at auc-
ton bid her hand" without regard
for anybOdy's rules or signals. Also
and further she called sports
clothes loud, even vulgar, flip hats
messy and beady things savage.
Notwithstanding, she managed to
look always like picture, and to have
all the most eligible beaux at her beck
and call. Aggravating, considering
her status as an accident If the street
money, Nancy and obedient Granny
would never have had chance To snap
up the jennings cottage for a year.
The rector had vOuched for them
work of supererOgation, considering
their bank account Its luStihoOd pos
sibly made them so little Of stiCklers
for the social mint, anise, and cummin.
Granny's world beginning and ending
in Nancy, yet in its kindly round EN-
braced all who were in need of kind
ness. Still-she wouldn't join things
not the village improvement, the spe-
cial PrOvident, the mothers circle. nor
even the library association. 1--WE
shall stay only until Nancy gets to
wanting somewhere else" she ex-
planned. "Of course well do our part
but as outsiders-then there won't be
any trouble leaving"
That had been lived up to. Her
gardener had furnished plants for all
the gardens whose owners lacked
wherewithal to buy them-by help of
the rector she was a very special in
dividual parliamentary babies might
have hOwled down blessing on her
gray head, so soft and plenteous were
the layettes she supplied. The u
brary was different. The Pitches had
brought books aplenty-they bought
few new ones, so had evidently none
to spare. If Nancy wanted to dip into
the latest sensation it was sent her
from some city agency under special
contract. Granny read little beyond
her Bible, prayer book and the morn
ing paper. The paper kept her from
stagnating, she said. What more could
an old woman desire?
She stopped midway the heavy
leader she was conscientiously wading
Though to ask plaintively: "Laury,
do you know anything about stocks3
Or bucket shOps?"
Enough to let them alone" Laury
growled, glad deep down of the stay
in his progress Nancyward.
Nancy sat up very straight, saying
primlyntO Granny: Don't tempt in
nocen&, Grannykins. / know you're a
born gambler at heart. Its your head
that won't let you play the market.