Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-08-28
THE LINEN CLOSET.

i ILL LII v IL ~ N1AOk( IL
For my part" said Aunt Sylvia, q
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 nieees, 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 n 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 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 p
"He is our guest, Aunt Sylvia"
You are mistaken there, Minnie.
He came here unlimited, with your
brothers friend, Mr.. Lee"
But now that he is here, Aunt. we
mus. treat him with courtesy,
II We no objection in iar.s - -
hlhs WIN s<'s.s'r tesSs. Oh lids f,sssls I.
sort of an idea that he would liz -
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 cleyerly aimed random shot.
Had it then come to that? Was
she, indeed, learning to love Herbert
Arundel? And a thrill of strange.
inexpressible happiness eddied through
her heart, as her inmost consciousness
answered:
Yes"
Alas! 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 unfalteriag
constancy how lightly they weighed
in the balance against this strangers
easy address and dashing fascination
Of manner. The way of the world
unalterable, yet how strange!
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
Antonia Wyllis' invitation to spend
the month of September at her home
1t will at least separate you from the
eompanionship of this young man,
and"
But | don't want to be sepal ated
from him, Aunt Sylvia"
Minnie spoke with spirit and cner-
gy, and the color deepened visibly on
her cheek.
"Minniel"
Aunt Sylviar'
HAS it gone so far as this p
Il don't know what you mean by
it, responded the girl, biting her
lips; 'but l do know, Aunt sylvia,
that l shall not run away from Mr.
Arundel as if l feared some strange
contagion in his presence. This is my
home, and here l shalt remain to en-
tertain my brothers guests as best l
mayp
Irrespective of consequences" 7"
"Yes; entirely irrespective of CON
sequences"
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
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 seventh daughter" but
she knew quite enough of human ma
ture in its various manifestations TO
be sure that Herbert Arundel was un-
worthy to wear a jewel like Minnie
Dartford's love upon his heart.
AN empty, feather Drained fool
with no more heart than stone i'm
age." was Aunt SyIvia's inward YER
dict. Nor was it altogether incorrect.
Meanwhile Minnie, with her
though and fancies drifting sweetly