Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-07-06

| eci' CSIne lil-uaiu-heaue spectacIeC
and kindly-eyed--to make a pastora
call. And Harry Ayton broke abrupt,
into the good mans rather prosy plat
| tudes to ask the question nearest TO his
heart.
Mr.. Merriman, do you think it pos.
sible that your daughter Minnie could
ever care for me?'
Mr. Merriman pushed his spectacles
high upon his forehead.
"My daughter Minnie p he repeated
'Why, she's only baby Seventeen
last fall, my dear Harry.
"My mother was married at sven
teen, sir" said Ayton, smiling.
"Bless mep said the good pastor.
"And, now come to think of it, my
wife was not quite eighteen when she
and determined to try life together,
on salary of five hundred per annum.
Dear, dear how time does slip along,
to be sure My daughter Minnie, eh ~
Because" said Mr.. Ayton, bravely,
~ love her And of all the women
that ever l saw she is the only one
whom | could care to make my wife"
Mr.. Merriman rubbed his nose.
my dear young friend" said he,
eff | was my daughter Minnie should
say yes. But am not. And l don't
pretend to understand the inns and
outs of woman's heart. So perhaps
you'd better ask her about itr'
81 will, said Mr.. Ayton. But l may
take it for granted that l have your
sanction ?"
by all MEANS" said the old gentle
man-."by all meansW
"And you will prepare her mind for
visit from me when am a little
stronger p
"Oh, certainly" said Mr.. Merriman
And absent-minded as usual he went
home and forgot all about it,
At three o'clock pretty Miss Minnie
put on her blue velvet capote and neat
little sack and went to No. 10 Saville
street to help prepare the refreshment
table for the hospital fair.
Glow did you like my bread ?" she
asked of the lady superintendent, who
stood at big table with dozen white
aproned girls gliding around her in
various directions. "The first ever
made"
"What bread?" said Mrs Raymond,
lifting her eyebrows. We nave re-
ceived no bread from you, Minnie"
Goodness gracious mel" cried the
ministers daughter, clasping her hands,
what has become of it then? For |
sent Jerusha with it at 10 O'Clock, and
she came right back and declared that
she had delivered it ali right"
'There has been some mistake, evil
IDENTIFY" said Mrs. Raymond. "And |
am sorry, for we are in great need of
real, nice homemade bread"
Minnie hurried back home and stern
ly confronted Jerusha, vino was surrep-
titiously buying penny ballad of boy
at the area door.
"Jerusha," said she, "you told me
that you delivered my bread all right"
$50 did, Miss Minnie" whimpered
,erusla. "At No. 80 Saville street.
And as you told me, Miss Minnie"
Minnie's cheek glowed scarlet, then
turned pale. She sat hopelessly down
on the edge of the kitchen table.
Jerusha - she cried, despairinely,
"you've carried my bread and conlpli-
ments to Mr.. Ayton instead of to the
hospital fair On, Jerusha, how could
you make such dreadful blunder ?"
And she ran upstairs to her father,
i'll sort of desperation.
Papa" she cried, "such dreadful
thing has happened Oh, don't you
think you could help us out of it in
some way?'
And she related the complication
with tears in her eyes.
''Hum hum ha !" said Mr.. Merri-
man, apparently hosting his memory
out of The times of Herodotus with
come unseen variety oi mental appara-
tus. Eyes, see. But you don't grudge
poor Mr.. Ayton the bread, Minnie, my
dear, do you?
ooh, no, no." cried Minnie.
"You don't dislike him ?"
"No, papa said the innocent girl,
81 think he is ever so nice !"
"Wel, then" said this. witty old
diplomatist, suppose we both 60
around together, and it can all be ex.
planned satisfactorily, and we know,
my dear, that we are commanded in
the Good Book to visit the sick"
So Miss Merriman and her father
went to No. 90 Saville street, where
Harry Ayton lay on sofa, looking
very pale and interesting, and Just ex-
actly as lover ought to do. His face
frightened up at the sight of Minnie.
"Did you tell her, sir?' he demanded
of the minis.er.
"N-no," confessed that worthy old
gentleman. 81 thought perhaps you
could tell her better yourself. So /
just contrived this little opportunity
or rather it contrived itself. And III
go downstairs now and talk with Mis-
Jenkins about that passage ~ the
Bible that always bothers her so.
"What does it mean" said Minnie,
in bewilderment, as her father shutl,ed
out of the room.
Itmeans, said Mr.. Ayton, promptly
"that l love you. Dear, sweet little
Minnie, l have been longing for you in
my heart all these months, bit until
your sweet message to-day"
"But / sent no message" said Min
ME, blushing celestial rosy rcd, "and
no bread either. 1t was all 2. mistake