The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-11-15
MINNIE MAYS FORTUNE.
81 ETHEL.

4 dreamy, radiant afternoon in mid
July, the clock pointing to the hour of
four, the scent OF newly mown hay fill
ing the air, and 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 winked 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.
''Minnie,'' said Miss Merton.
Eyes, aunt, said Minnie May, with a
nervous jump.
sect out the nutmeg,'' said Miss
Merton, land don't stare about you
SO.''
Eyes, aunt said Minnie, presenting
herself with the nutmeg crater in her
hand, and fine pink color on her
cheek.
':How old are you?" demanded Aunt
Tabitha, transfxing 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. -
II 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.''
"Fiddlesticks!'' said Aunt Tabitha.
''Look here, Minnie, you mind your
own business and let him mind his
Eyes, aunt" said frightened Minnie.
"Now mind what I say,'' persisted
Miss Merton, grating savagely away at
the brown nutmeg.
eyes. aunt" tluttered 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 Mrs. Brownson, a portly
matron in black grenadine ard a
Spanish scarf was making believe tc
read novel on the veranda, and in
reality watching restlessly for Adela
to make her tardy appearance.
cts too ridiculous for anything
said Mrs. BrOWnsOn to herself, impa
tiently brushing fly off her book
Il believe Addy would tlirt with q
plowboy if she could find no one else
And the first thing she knows shell be
committing herself in some way O,
other. And DR.. Fenton's nephew
coming here in August, too. It's out
rageous, that s what it isl
When Miss Adela at last emerged
from the shadow of the woods, he1
broad gypsy hat trimmed with ferns
and wild roses, her lips all wreathed
IN smiles, and Ernest Harc0urt walk.
ing by her side, her lady mother re-
ceived her with no particular grac.
iousness of welcome.
II thought you were never coming =
snapped Mrs. Brownson.
''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
mans Interpolation. s'that you would
know better than to go out on such a
brolllng day as this, and tan yourself
as brown as a berry,
Adela laughed. She knew that high
color was becoming to her.
81 shall cool off Directly said she