Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-08-19
THE LINEN CLOSET.

THE LINEN CLOSET.
For my part" said Aunt Sylvia, II
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 l7-year- nieccs, 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 pulses!
Minnie Dartford was a hazel-eyed,
rose-c checked little witch, with perfect
ly arched eyebrows, and Il 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 Il cloud, as she sat there, watch
ing the stars that glimmered indis'
tinctly through the purple deeps OF
the sky, and thinking how very un-
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 !"
"IIc is our guest, Aunt Sylvia
"You are mistaken there, Minnie.
lie came here uninvited, with youI
brothers friend, Mr.. Lee"
"But now that he is here, Aunt, WI
must treat him with courtesy
"rve no objection in life to treating
him with courtesy. child; but I've ;
sort of an idea that he would like yol
to treat him with something warmer
ttNtl lllUlt
How thankful Minnie hartford was
at that moment to the friendly duSl
which yelled the crimson bushes tha
sul1used brow and cheek at Aunt Syl
Was cleverly.aimed random shot
Had it then come to that? Wa
she, indeed. learning to love Herbert
Arundel? And thrill of strange
inexpressible happiness eddied through
her heart, as her inmost consciousness
answered.:
"Ycs."
Alas. poor Clarence Lee, The pa
tient years of devotion, during whicl
he had waited for the rosebud o
Minnie Dartlords beauty to eXpan,
into the perfect blossom of woman
hood-the loyal love, the unfalterin!
constancy--how lightly they weighed
in the balance against this stranger!
easy address and dashing fascination
of manner. The way of the world
unalterable, yet how strange!
Aunt Sylvia listened for an answ er
but none came. Minnie hardly knew
what reply it would be best to frame
81 think, Minnie" said the old lady
after a moment or two of silence, "tha
it would be better for you to accep
AntOnia Wyllis' invitation to spen,
the month Of September at her home
1t will at least separate you from th
companionship of this young man
and"
"But don't want to be separated
from him, Aunt Sylvia"
Minnie spoke with spirit and ener
gy, and the color deepencd visibly OF
her cheek
"Mnniel"
Aunt Sylvia"
"lIas it gone 50 far as this3"
II don't know what you mean b.
it, responded the girl, biting he
lips; "but do know, Aunt Sylvia
that | shall not run away from Mr
Arundel as if feared some strang
contagion in his presence. This is IN,
home, and here shall remain to en-
tertain my brothers guests us best
may"
retrospective of consequences?'
"Yes; entirely irrespective of con
sequences"
Aunt Sylvia demonstrated no fur
ther; she saw quite plainly that /
would be of no use. Minnie, lik
many another spoiled child and petite
beauty, was determined to have he
own way.
Aunt Sylvia was no logician; nethe
did she pretend to the magical power
of vision belonging to the "seventI
daughter of a seventh daughter" I'M
she knew quite enough of human ma
ture in its various manifestations (
be sure that Herbert Arundel was un
worthy to wear jcwel like Mimi
Dartford's love upon his heart.
AN empty. feather. Drained foo
with no more heart than a stone i'm
age!" was Aunt SylYia's inward yer
dict. Nor was it altogether incorrect
Meanwhile Mime, with he
though 9 and fancles drifting sweet