How Nancy Jackson Married Kate Wilson and Other Tales of Rebellious Girls and Daring Young Women

How Nancy Jackson Married Kate Wilson

How Nancy Jackson Married Kate Wilson Almost nothing is known about the composition of this story. Twain probably worked on ‘‘Nancy Jackson’’ circa 1902, but never attempted to publish the controversial tale (which is also known as ‘‘Feud Story and the Girl Who Was Ostensibly a Man’’). It was first published by the Missouri Review in March 1987. The story may reflect Twain’s troubled mind regarding his daughter Susy’s lesbian relationshipwith Louise Brownell, a college classmate. The conflict in this story springs from Nancy Jackson’s revenge for her brother’s murder, an act that renders her a wanted criminal running from the law, the fate of any male who had committed a similar crime. This story departs, however, from Twain’s usual presentation of cross-dressers: Nancy’s male clothing and behavior are forced upon her as a condition for her safety and survival. Like Conrad in ‘‘A Mediæval Romance,’’ Nancy makes a flawless transition, becoming a young man named Robert Finlay.The same-sex solution that Twain concocts for Nancy Jackson and Kate Wilson would also have given him the satisfactoryending he searched for in the problematic conclusion of ‘‘Mediæval Romance.’’ In addition to the themes of survival and imposture, Twain develops male revenge in the character of Thomas Furlong, who both helps Nancy in her quest for a new life and exacts a private revenge. See Wapping Alice for a surprising twist inTwain’s development of same-sex relationships. 105 Tseng 2001.6.11 17:19 6351 Twain / HOW NANCY JACKSON MARRIED / sheet 121 of 271 Tseng 2001.6.11 17:19 6351 Twain / HOW NANCY JACKSON MARRIED / sheet 122 of 271 p Thomas Furlong was a grizzled and sour bachelor of fifty who lived solitary and alone in a log house which stood remote and lonelyinthemiddleofagreatcornfieldatthebaseoftherising spurs of the mountains. At two o’clock on a certain morning he came in out of a drizzling rain, lit his tallow dip, pulled down the cheap oiled shade of the single window, punched up his fire, took off his steaming coat, hung it before the fire to dry, sat down, spread his damp hands in front of the blaze, and said to himself— ‘‘It’s a puzzle. I wonder what ever did become of her. Seven hours. Maybe she ain’t as much of a fool as people think.’’ He sat silently considering the puzzle for some moments, then added, with energy, ‘‘Damn her! damn her whole tribe!’’ The wooden latch clicked, the door opened and closed softly, and a fresh and comely young girl, clothed in the sunbonnet and the linsey woolseyof the region, stood before him. The man exhibited amazement. He bent a hostile eye upon her and said— ‘‘You here! I just this minute said you warn’t a fool. I take it back.’’ He rose and made [a] step toward the door. The girl motioned him back. ‘‘Leave it alone,’’ she said, ‘‘I’m not going to run away.’’ She sat down and put her feet to the fire.The man hesitated a moment, then resumed his seat with the air of one who has encountered another puzzle. ‘‘You never had much sense, Nancy Jackson,’’ he growled; ‘‘I reckon you’ve lost what you had.’’ ‘‘You think so, do you? What makes you think so?’’ 107 Tseng 2001.6.11 17:19 6351 Twain / HOW NANCY JACKSON MARRIED / sheet 123 of 271 How Nancy Jackson Married Kate Wilson ‘‘What makes me?’’ He flung it out with vexed impatience. ‘‘Would anybody but a goose come to a sworn enemy’s house when he is being hunted for his life?’’ The girl did not seem overcome by the argument. ‘‘Did they go to our house?’’ ‘‘Of course.’’ ‘‘And didn’t find me. Are they hiding around it, waiting to catch me when I come?’’ ‘‘Of course—any fool could guess that.’’ ‘‘I am one of the fools; I guessed it. Have they hunted all the farmsteads for me for miles around—you and the others?’’ ‘‘For seven hours. Yes. We’ve searched every one of them.’’ ‘‘Every one?’’ ‘‘Yes, every one.’’ The girl gave a satisfied toss of the head and said— ‘‘No you haven’t. You didn’t search this one.’’ The man seemed puzzled again, and said— ‘‘I don’t get your idea. Would anybody in his right mind ever think of coming here...