River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-11-16
MINNIE MAYS FORTUNE.


July, the clock pointing to the hour of
four, the scent of newly mown hay fill
ing the air, ami the crimson pillows of
the clover meadows rising and falling
softly at the touch of the summer wind,
and one brown winged robin warbling
his roundelay in the upper bOughs that
brushed the dining-room windows at
Merton farm-this was the scene and
the season.
Miss Tabitha Merton during the
months of July and August received a
few friends, who were allowed to share
the expenses of the household. And
somehow Miss Merton continued to sub
sist very comfortably for the rest of the
year on the July and August cOntribu-
lions of her friends.
Upon this glowing summer afternoon
when the cherries winkod at you from
behind their leafy wells, and the cur
rants hung like ruby fringes on the
bushes that lined the garden fence,
Miss Merton was making custards in
her Kitchen.
min ME-" said Miss Merton.
eyes, aunt, said Minnie May, with a
nervous jump.
btl Otal TIC ottAN N-Do
Merton, ''and don't stare about you
So
Eyes, aunt, said Minnie, presenting
herself with the nutmeg CRATER in her
hand, and fine pink co.or on her
cheek.
''How old are yOu!" demanded Aunt
Tabitha, transfiXing her niece, so to
speak, with the twin moons of her spec
tacles.
Seventeen, Aunt Tabitha.'
''Then," retorted Aunt Tabby, ''you
are a great deal too old to go trailing
about the woods with Mr.. Harcourt.
Il didn t trail about, Aunt Tabitha.
only walked as far as the RowtOr Rocks
to see the view which is as fine as any
thing on the Rhine
"FiddlesticksI" said Aunt Tabitha.
"LOOk here, Minnie, you mind your
own business and let him mind his"
Eyes, aunt, !" said frightened Minnie.
snow mind what | say" persisted
Miss Merton, grating savagely away at
the brown nutmeg.
"Yes. aunt" fluttered Minnie.
And she went back to the table
cloth she was mending. and cried
quietly, over it, she didn't quite know
why.
And all this time Mr.. Ernest Har-
court, the gentleman in question, was
stroeling hOmeward through the woods,
with Miss Adela Brownson, leaning on
his arm, while Yrs. BrOwnsOn, portly
matron in black grenadine and a
Spanish scarf was making believe to
read novel on the veranda, and in
reality watching restlessly for Adela
to make her tardy appearance.
Its too ridiculous for anything,
said Mrs. Brownson to herself, impa-
tiently brushing fly off her book.
81 believe Addy would flirt with a
plowbov if she could find no one else.
And the first thing she knows she IL he
committing herself in some way or
other. And DR.. Fenton's nephew
coming here in August, too. It's out.
rageous, that what it is"
When Miss Adela at last emerged
from the shadow of the woods, her
broad gypsy hat trimmed with ferns
and wild roses, her lips all wreathed
in smiles, and Ernest Harcourt walk
ing By her side, her lady mother re-
ceived her with no particular grac-
~ thought you were never coming "
snapped Mrs. BrownsOn.
1--WE haven't been gone long I'm
sure, said Adela, innocently,
mot two hours said Mr.. HarcOurt.
81 should think" went on Mrs.
Brownson, politely ignoring the young
man S Interpolation. "that you would
know better than to go out on such a
brOiling day as this, and tan yourself
as brown as berry" -
Adela laughed. She knew that high
color was becoming to her.
81 shall cool off directly" said she,
sinking gracefully upon bamboo set
tee.
'.And in the meantime" said Ernest,
who was one of those clear, dark bru-
nettes, whom no rise of temperature
ever seems to affect, | will go and get
that volume of poems that we were
talking about
Mrs. Brownson scarcely paused to
hear the retreating ring of the young
mans footsteps before she opened all
her verbal batteries upon her daugh-
ter.
"Addy," she cried. wrathfully, 81
am astonished at you -
"You are always being astonished at
me- pouted the young lady.
ITO spend your time flirting with a
mere travelling photographer J"
"It's so dull here" retorted Miss
Brownson, land one must do some
thing" " rsfsm
's0h, yes, scornfully spoke the ma
tron. "But you'll find out presently,
miss, that you're playing with edged
tools. You'll fall in love with him y
81, mammal" echoed Adela, con-
temptuously. ''What do you take me
for %
ss0r he with your
That's great deal more probable"
interposed Miss Brownson, with a con-
scious toss of her head that set all the
ferns and roses to quiyering.
land them" added indignant Mrs.
Brownson, sswhat is to be the end of
it 2"
THE end of 1t. mamma :"
"Yes, the end OF it!' and Mrs.
Brownson elevated her voice with some