The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-08-20
THE LINEN CLOSET.

THE LINEN CLOSET.
For my part" said Aunt Sylvia, Il
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 pulses!
Minnie hartford was a hazel-eyed,
rose checked 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 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-nee 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
must treat him with courtesy
"Pve no objection in life to treating
him with courtesy. child; but I've 8
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 veiled the crimson bushes that
suffused 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 a thrill of strange
inexpressible happiness eddied through
her heart, as her inmost consciousness
answered:
"Yes."
Alas! poor Clarence Lee! The pa
tient years of devotion, during whicl
he had waited for the rosebud o
Minnie Dartford's beauty to expanC
into the perfect blossom of woman
hood-the loyal love, the unfalterins
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 answ Ell
but none came. Minnie hardly knew
what reply it would be best to frame.
8" 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 tn
companionship of this young man
and"
"But l don't want to be separate
from him, Aunt Sylvia"
Minnie spoke with spirit and eneI
gy, and the color deepened visibly o.
her cheek.
"Minniel"
"Aunt Sylviap'
"Has it gone so far as this p
Il don't know what you mean b
it," responded the girl, biting he
lips; "but l do know, Aunt Sylvi;
that shall not run away from M
Arundel as if feared some strang
contagion in his presence. This is IN
home, and here shall remain to er
tertain my brothers guests as best
may"
Irrespective of consequences
Eyes; entirely irrespective of col
sequences"
Aunt Sylvia demonstrated no flu
ther; she saw quite plainly that
would be of no use. Minnie, lih
many another spoiled child and petite
beauty, was determined to have h,
own way.
Aunt Sylvia was no logician; neith'
did she pretend to the magical powe
of vision belonging to the "sevent
daughter of seventh daughter" Dl
she knew quite enough of human n
ture in its various manifestations
be sure that Herbert Arundel was u
worthy to wear jewel like MINI
Dartford's love upon his heart.
AN empty. feather-brained fot
with no more heart than stone in
age," was Aunt Sylvia's inward We
j dict. Nor was it altogether incorrec
Meanwhile Minnie, with h