Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-09-09
THE vAN0UISHINC OF
NANCY.
A Short Story.
.By M. McCULLOCH.wnLTAMs.

copyright. 1922. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicats-1
You'd love mo II / were n pie
For my syrup and exc for my !
crust,
Therefore sir. I'm asking you why, |
You are raising this terrible dustg' |
Thus Nancy improvised. her head
tho least bit aside. her eyes dancing !
wickedly at sight of Lauren, most OBJ !
ject of all her thralle. He stood half |
way betwixt door and window seat, his
mouth mutinous, his eyes giowery. A
letter had preceded hin--the kind OF
letter Jealousy writes and seals with
q threat. Lauren had indeed threat
ened the empress of his heart that
unless she ceased aspiration for uni
versal masculine dominion, he was
going to cut and run for it---she could
take him. else have him leave her for
good and always.
He had thought he really meant Il
but all tho way 10 the Fitch place he
had been in blue funk, fearing she
might also think go. Suppose she
should take him at his word, give back
his ring and plunge ever moro badly
into a sea Of summer hirtationsy That
would be hard--she was already hitting
on all six cylinders that way, accord
ing to the gossip Of Blainhin. A select
suburb. home OF families boasting
super-finished daughters, naturally IL
disapproved Of theirbeing put out of
court by an upstart without a single
accomplishment.
True, Nancy danced Ike a willow
in the wind, but never bothered as to
steps. She rode In any old costume
she happened to be wearing, played
golf with az little regard to sartorial
requirements. and at auction 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 man
aged to look always like picture. and
to have all the most eligible beaus at
her beck and call. Aggravating, con-
sidering her status as an accident. n
the street had not got most OF the Jen-
nings money. Nancy and obedient
granny would never have had a
chance to snap up the Jennings cot
tage for year.
The rector had vouched for them
; a work OF supererogation consider
ing their bank account. Its Iustihooc
possibly made them so little of stick.
: lers for the social mint, anise, and
cummin. Granny's world beginnins
and ending in Nancy, yet In its kindl,
: round embraced all who were in nee,
OF kindness. Still-she wouldn't joil
thinss-not the village improvement
the special Provident, the mothers
circle. nor even the library associa
ton. I'VE shall stay only until Name,
gets 70 wanting somewhere else" sh
explained. "Of course Wen do on
psrt-but as outnders-then xher
won't be any trouble leaving
That had been lived Up to- He
/ gardner had furnished plants for al
/ the gardens whose owners lacke.
wherewtthal to buy them-by help O
the rector she was q very special in
dtvidual providence-new babies Nigh
have howled down blessing on he
gray head. so soft and pIenteous wer
the layettes she supplied. The librar
k was different Tho Pitches ha
n brought books aplenty-they bough
It few new ones, so had evidently non
e to spare. II Nancy wanted to dip int
e the latest sensation It was sent he
Il from some city agency under specis
y contract Granny read little beyon
her Bible. prayer book. and the morn
ing paper. The paper kept her fror
| he. ant
y could an old woman desire?
: She stopped midway the heav
leader she was conscientionsly wac
Ing through to ask pIaintiveIy
: Laury. do you know anything abor
! stocks? Or bucket shops?"
g Enough TO let them alone" Iaur
II growled, glad deep down of the sta
= IN his progress Nancyward.
d Nancy sat up very straight. saytp
Z. primly to Granny: Don't tempt IL
d nocence, Grannykins, know your
lie born gambler at heart, it's your hes
1t that won't let you play the narke
t Everybody hasn't got such a hea
Id Take care to set proper example"
10 Now ain't that Satan reprovir
sin? Laury. she has bought herse
apother bracelet with her winnin
at the Elton bridge last week." gram
complained.
" Lauren looked relieved-Nancy ma
- face at Granny. I'm glad
know" he said. been wonderi,
-. where it came from since yesterda,
~ where 1t came from since yesterd
-. -
ed And thinking 1t came by the Be
Bob Bobo route" Nancy broke
m Be ashamed OF yourself for sillyk
MS AS though I'd wear any trumpe
ot thing you idiots here would choose ~
on Even a ring? Like this?" Lau
questioned. moving close enough
n drop fine plain small box in Name,
or lap. She opened ii gingerly, took G
,r- what it held. but did not slip 1t up
ie- her dlmpled anger-instead held It
" so the light winking through
ae' thready gold, struck rainbows FIR,
81 the two diamonds OF clearest wat
ne set delicately at the ends of the g,
thread. After a long look she S.
le softly, Apologies. Laury. The ring
inspired. Where, oh, where did y
find ftp"
En-, Didn't find it--had ii made to or,
re- my own design" Laury stammer
he then suddenly: But IL is inspired
led YOU
re- Well said! Well done, young siI
Nancy countered in her most sparks
To- elderly manner. What a pity \
cts have forsworn me. wonder what ,
ing will do with it?"
Throw il in the river--unless L {
IN; put it where 1t belongs" Laury or
&c, catching her hand. and trying TO
~ ol,,oh