The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-11-07
Minnie's Lovers,

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Minnie hartford was hazel-eyed,
rose-cbeeked little witch, with perfect
ly arched eyebrows, and mouth as
fresh as the freshest rosebud in all the
garden bowers, and her white dress,
shining family through the summer
twilight, seemed to float round her like
a cloud, as she sat there watching the
stars that glimmered iudistinctly
through the purple deeps of the sky,
and thinking how very unreasonable
Aunt Sylvia was.
"No," said the elder lady, jerking
her knitting-neeole into its sheath with
an emphasis, 81 do not fancy Herbert
Arundel"
"But now that he is here, aunt, we
must treat him with courtesy
"I've no objection in life to treat him
with courtesy, child; but I've sort of
an idea that he would like you to treat
him with something warmer and more
enthusiastic"
How thankful Minnie hartford was
at that moment to the friendly dusk
which yelled the crimson bushes that
suffused brow and cheek at Aunt Syl
Was cleverly aimed shot.
Had it, then, come to that Was
she, indeed, learning to love Herbert
Arundel? And thrill of strange, in
expressible happiness eddied through
her heart as her inmost consciousness
mutely answered: Eyes"
Alas poor Clarence Lee The pa
tient years of devotion, during which
he had waited patiently for the rose
bud of Minnie Dartford's beauty to ex-
pand into the perfect blossom of wo.
manhood-how lightly they weighed
in the balance against this Southern
strangers easy address and dashing
fascination of manner. The way of the
world-unalterable, yet how strange !
Aunt Sylvia demonstrated no fur
ther; she saw quite plainly that it
would be of no use. Minnie like many
another spoiled child and petted beau
ty, was determined to have her own
way.
Meanwhile Minnie, with her thoughts
and fancies drifting sweetly away upon
the fathomless sea of young girls
reverie, sat at the window, still think
ing of one personage-Herbert Arun-
del
"Aunt Sylvia is foolishly prejudic-
ed,' she thought. ''He is as true and
noble as he is handsome, and none but
the carping and envious could pick a
flaw in his character or demeanor.
How graceful he looked on the 'croquet
ground yesterday--and how well he
rides !"
Minnie's mind was absorbed in these
fancies when knock came to the door,
and the old housekeeper put her head
into the room.
"Miss Minnie, the sheets is ready for
the linen closet !"
"'The sheets !" Minnie shrugged her
shoulders a little impatieutly. why
couldn't old Peggy have waited7 Very
well, Peggy, I'll see to that present
lyw
'But they ought to beput away now
miss persisted the obdurate old ser
want. "I've strewed sprigs of lavan
der and dried rose leaves between all
the folds, and if you'll please to put
them on the shelves now"
Minnie rose with scarcely suppress
ed sigh. She knew Peggy too well to
hope for any peace uutil her behests
were fulfilled.
The heap of snowy linen lay on the
hall table, white aud fragrant through
the tolls of Peggy's skilled digits, and
taking pile on her arm Minnie Dart
ford went to the linen closet, a small
room opening out on that allotted to
the present occupation of Clarence Lee
and Mr.. Herbert Arundel.
She glanced timidly in before she
entered, to make sure that neither of
her brothers guests were in the apart.
ment, and then hurried through to
place the linen in its nook.
She had scarcel ly reached up to de.
posit the piles on the high shelf above
her head when voices and footsteps fell
on her ear, and with palpitatipg heart
Minnie felt that she was like Gagged
bird, among the shelves laden with
sheets and pillow-cases. Mr.. Arundel
had entered his room-the spicy odoroi
his cigar already proclaimed the fact tc
her olfactories, even were there no other
witnesses-and with him stranger had
been ushered in.
Minnie stood quite still, hoping that
their incursion was but for a moment
and their withdrawal would presently
leave her free to beat retreat. The
door OF the closet was partially drawn
to, and she was at least sure of not be
ing discovered The color rose to he,
cheek at the idea of thus involuntarily
playing the part of evesdropper bu
what else could she do?
"Slt down, Lewis" cried Mr.. Arun
del, drawing forward an easy-chair
N''make yourself at home. Your ciga
isn't out, / hope?"
"No, it's all right said the strang,
voice. 81 say, old fellow, speaking o
making of ones self at home, it strike
me that you are practicing the thing
yourself rather extensively here''
Arundel laughed.
II am at nome, he said, complacent
ly. ''Why, bless your heart alive, Lew
is, the good people here think I'm tn
greatest man alive
They'll find their mistake after
while
Not until I've made a sure thing @
il" answered Arundel.
"What do you meant"
81 mean that I'm going to marry tn
girl
"What, the little heiress ?" echoe
the man whom Arundel had calle
Lewis.
"Well, yes, if you choose to call h,
so. No great heiress after all but
dare say | can find use for her S25,O0O
And, to crown all, she's desperately
love with me-
The other laughed hoarsely-a snee
ing sound which made the blood be
Indignantly in Minnie hartford
veins.
"You always did play the due
among the girls" he said. $50 she's
love with you, eh :"
"Yes It's uuito amuSino IN watc