Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1885-08-28
THE LINEN CLOSET.

VI NY paw AeAAA 4A0AA1 ~ ANAael
don't admire the young man."
Minnie Dartford's pretty head
dropped slightly, and she thought
within herself how little of the sym
pathetic element existed between old
maid aunts and 17-year-old nieces, and
wondered If there ever had been a
time when Aunt Sylvia, too, was
young, with the fresh electric current
Of love stirring in her pulsesl
Minnie hartford was a hazel-eyed,
rose-cheeked little witch, with perfect
ly arched eyebrows, and a 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, watch
ing the stars that glimmered indis-
tinctly through the purple deeps Of
the sky, and thinking how very I'M
reasonable Aunt Sylvia was.
"No," said the elder LADY, jerking
her knitting-needle into its sheath
with an emphasis, 81 do not fancy
Herbert Arundel p
"He is our guest, Aunt Sylvia"
"You are mistaken there, Minnie.
He came here unlimited, with your
brothers friend, Mr.. Lee"
oBut now that he is here, aunt, we
must treat him with courtesy"
ave no objection in life to treating
him with courtesy. child; but I've a
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 random shot.
Had It then come to thatP Was
she, indeed, learning to love Herbert
Arundel And a thrill of strange,
lnexpressible happiness eddied through
her heart, as her inmost consciousness
answered:
eyes"
Alasl poor Clarence Leel The pa
tient years of devotion, during which
he had waited for the rosebud Of
Minnie Dartford's beauty to expand
Into the perfect blossom of woman
hood-the loyal love, the unfaltering
constancy-how lightly they weighed
In the balance against this strangers
easy address and dsshing fascination
Of manner. The way of the world
unalterable, yet how strangel
Aunt Sylvia listened for an answer,
but none came. Minnie hardly knew
what reply it would be best to frame
81 think, Minnie" said the old lady,
after moment or two Of silence, "that
it would be better for you to accept
Antonio Wyllis' invitation to spend
the month of September at her home.
1t will at least separate you from the
companionship Of this young man,
and"
"But I don't want to be separated
from him, Aunt Sylvia"
Minnie spoke with spirit and ener-
gy, and the color deepened visibly on
her cheek.
"Minnie"
"Aunt SylviaP'
"Has it gone so far as this ?"
Il don't know what you mean by
It, responded the girl. biting her
Fps; "but do know, Aunt Sylvia,
that shall not run away from Mr..
Arundel as If feared some strange
coItagion In his presence. This is my
home, and here I shall remain to en-
tertain my brothers guests as best
irrespective Of consequences2"
Eyes; entirely irrespective of con-
sequences.
1~pt Sylvia demonstrated no fur
Their; sue saw quite plainly that It
would be of no use. Minnie, like
many another spoiled child and petted
beauty, was determined to have her
own way.
Aunt Sylvia was no logician; neither
did she pretend to the magical powers
of vision belonging to the seventh
daughter of sew tn daughter" but
she knew quite 81 Ugh of human ma
ture In its variou manifestations to
be sure that Herbert Arundel was I'M
worthy to wear a jewel like Minnie
Dartford's love upon his heart.
"An empty, feather-brained fool,
with no mora heart than stone inn
agelR was Aunt sylyia's inward YER
dict. Nor was it altogether incorrect.
Meanwhile Minnie, with her
thoughts and faneles drtttns swostly