The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-11-16
MINNIE MAYS FORTUNE.
BY ETHEL,

July, the clock pointing to the hour of
four, the scent Of newly mown hay fill
ing tho air, and the crimson billows 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.
tions 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.
"Get 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, transixing her niece, so to
speak, with the twin moons of her spec.
tacles.
''Seventeen, Aunt Tabitha.''
"Then," retOrted Aunt Tabby, "you
are 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"
"Yes, aunt, =" said frightened Minnie,
''Now mind what say" persisted
Miss Merton, grating savagely away al
the brown nutmeg.
"Yes. 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 or
his arm, while Yrs. Brownson, a portly
matron in black grenadine and 3
Spanish scarf was making believe tc
read novel OH the veranda, and in
reality watching restlessly for Adels
to make her tardy appearance.
''1t's too ridiculous for anything, .
said Mrs. Brownson to herself, impa
tiently brushing fly off her book
II believe Addy would flirt with q
plowboy if she could find no one else
And the first thing she knows she IL In
committing herself in some way o,
other. And DR.. Fenton's nephew
coming here in August, too. Its out
rageous, that what it is.''
When Miss Adela at last emerged
from the shadow of the woods, hel
broad gypsy hat trimmed with fern.
and wild roses, her lips all wreathet
in smiles, and Ernest uarcourt 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.
1--WE haven't been gone long In
sure, said Adela, innocent]y.
.'Not two hours" said MIR. Harcourt
| II should think" went on Mrs
| Browuson, politely ignoring the younf
man 8 Interpolation. ''that you woult
know better than to go out on such ,
broiling day as this, and tan yourself
as brown 40 a berry,
Adela laughed. She knew that higl
color was becoming to her.
II 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, I will 20 and ge
that volume Of poems that We wer'
talking about" !"
Mrs. .Brownson scarcely paused t.
hear tia rAtraafino rinp Of th0 VOllns