The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-11-23
The Vanquishing
of Nancy
BY M. MACWILLIAMS


/ Therefore, sir, I'm asking you why
You are raising this terrible dust7"
Thus Nancy lmproyised, her head the
least bit aside, her eyes dancing wick
edly st sight Of Lauren, most abject Of
all her thralls. lie stood half way
between door and window seat, his
mouth mutinOus, his eyes glowery. 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 unlyer-
sal masculine dominion, he was going
to cut and run for it-she could take
him, else have him leave her for good
and always.
lie 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 a 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.
select suburb, home Of families boast
ing super-fnlshed daughters, naturally
IL disapproyed 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.
tion IBID 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 a picture, and to have
all the most eligible beaux at her beck
and call. Aggrayating, considering
her status as an accident. II the street
had not got most Of the jennings
money, Nancy and obedient Granny
would never have had a chance TO snap
up the Jennings cottage for 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 cummln.
Granny's world beginning and ending
in Nancy, yet in its kindly round en-
braced all who were in need OF kind
ness. Sull-she wouldn't join things
not the village Improvement, the spe-
clal Provident, the mothers circle, nor
even the library association. "We
shall stay only until Nancy gets TO
wanting somewhere else" she ex-
planned. "of course Wen 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
wherewlthal TO buy them-by help of
the rector she was a very special in
dividual providence-new babies might
have howled down blessing on her
gray head, so soft and plenteous were
the layettes she supplied. The H.
brary was different. The Fitches had
brought books aplenty-they bought
few new ones, so had evidently none
10 spare. IL Nancy wanted to dip into
the latest sensation IL 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 women desire?
She stopped midway the heavy
leader she was conscientiously wading
through to ask plalntlvely: "Laury,
do you know anything about stocks?
Or bucket shopsY"
Enough 10 let them alone" Laury
growled, glad deep down OF the stay
in his progress Nancyward.
Nancy sat up very straight, saying
primly TO Granny: Don't tempt In.
nocence, Grannykins, know you're a
born gambler at heart. It's your head
that won't let you play the market.
Everybody hasn't got such a head.
Take care to set proper example,"
Now, amt that Satan reproying
SIM Laury. she has bought herself
another bracelet. with her winnings at
the Eton bridge last week." Granny
complained.
Lauren looked relieved-Nancy made
a face at Granny. I'm glad to know
he said, been wondering where It came
from since yesterday"
"And thinking 1t came by the Ben.
Bob Bobo route" Nancy broke In. 'Be
ashamed Of yourself for sillykln-
as though I'd wear any trumpery thing
you idiots here would choose"
Even a ring7 Like thls?" Laury
questioned, moving close enough TO
drop fine plain small box In Nancy's
lap. She opened II gingerly. took out
what IL held, but did not slip It upon
her dimpled fnger--instead held II up
so the light winking through its
thready gold, struck rainbows from
the two diamonds OF clearest water.
set delicately at the ends OF the gold