The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-11-28
Unexpected COurfship.

masculine female, hard on the "thir-
ties," tn stiff little curls, and gold
trimmed spectacles, and standup collar
and cravat, like a mans, and she was
very busy among pile of books, pre-
pairing hard questions to annihilate her
Sunday school class on the morrow,
while little sixteen. year old Daisy, with
her pink and white skin and brown
curls, and innocent blue eyes, beat a
retreat, mortified at having "distracted"
her staid sister.
81 suppose I shall learn better some
time" thought Daisy, "but, oh dear, l
am such silly little goose.
She went on tiptoe past the door
where Mr.. Vining, the young minister,
was engaged in the revision of his ser
mon, for Mr.. Vining lodged at widow
Martins, and Daisy felt her youth and
folly more painfully than ever in his
dignifed presence.
She stood moment in the doorway
where the cheerful July sunbeams made
golden checker work on the floor,
quivering through the vines, and sweet
odor crept subtly in, of newly mown
cloverfields, and roses just blossoming
along the garden wall.
81 know what I'll do" thought Daisy
as her pet, the kitten, darted away
through the bushes. "I'll have some
of those ripe cherries.
Daisy bounded down the garden walk,
deity climbing the old stone wall,
swung herself into the branches of the
huge cherry tree, like white -plumed
little bird.
"Mother would be Mortified, and
Cybele would have ft," quietly
she thought, 'but it's so nice and shady
up here, and the robins are stealing all
the cherries. I almost wish l was a
robin, it is such pleasant life up among
the green leaves with the blue sky peep
ing through. Dear me, l hope that
isn't mammal"
Daisy crept branch or two higher
up, as footsteps came down the garden
path.
Alas her premonitions were but too
correct. Mrs. Martins cap-strings were
futtering below, and Mrs. Martins self
had come out with bowl to pick cur
rants, accompanied by Aunt Susannah,
her sister.
''Now I'm caught" soliloquized our
heroine. 81 hope they won't be long.
I wonder what they are talking about.
Mr.. Vining, as live!"
Daisy held her breath, and secretly
laughed to see how unconscious the old
danes were of her near vicinity.
eyes," said Mrs. Martin solemnly,
Giles good young mana very good
young man"
There amt no minister all the coun-
try round gives such satisfaction said
Aunt Susannah. Them cabbages is
comm on finely, Lucretia!'
'Oh, bother the cabbage!' said Mrs.
Martin, tartly; 'it's about Mr.. Vining
I'm talking Susannah! But he ought
to marry and settle down. A single
minister can't do all the good he could
if he was married !
That's true,' assented Aunt Susan.
nah, "and Cybele would make capital
minister's wife,
She's the very wife he needs; and il
some one would just put the idea into
his head
Perhaps he doesn't mean to marry.
Then he's doing very wrong, en-.
couraging Cybele the way he does,
walking to Sunday school with her,
and talking about the poor money, and
picking out the psalms and hymns with
his head close to hers. Of all creatures,
I do dislike male coquette.'
Dear me, Lucretia i said Aunt Sus
annah, with wild remonstrance. "Idon't
suppose he ever thinks of the thing
Then he ought to think of it. Some
one ought to speak to him.
| Meek Aunt Susannah picked currants
in perplexed silence.
Il don't really think be ought to triAe
with my poor Cybele's feelings-and
she is sensitive too, resumed the widow
4 never did pretend to understand
young folks when love and courtshiI
were in the business said Aunt Susan
nah. 'But it would be fine thing fol
Cybele.'
I'd be proud to be minister
motber-in-law, said Mrs. Martin, exult
ant at the remote possibility. 'An6
Cybele is very smart girl. You ough
to hear her talk about free-will and fore
ordination! Why, Mr.. Vining himself
was astonished.'
Il should think it very likely sale
Susannah, dryly.
Cybele had never been her favoritt
niece; she had lectured Aunt Susannal
too often for sleeping in church, sing
ing out of tune, and other venial sins
Il don't really know what to do abou
it, sighed good Mrs. Martin. Il wisl
somebody would speak to Mr.. Vining
and tell him plainly what his duty is.
Haven't we picked currants enough?
hazarded Aunt Susannah.
Il s'pose So, said Mrs. Martin sharp
,, ly, you never had the trials of a family
Susannah; and they come hard thougl
my girls are pretty good girls, after all
Cybele's quite model; and Daisy
J well enough, if she would sober down
little.
And the two elderly ladies went in
with their bowl of sparkling red cur
) rants, leaving their unseen auditor still
; sitting among the cherry boughs, wit
her bright brown curls all blown about
i and the scarlet velvet of her lips deepe
i and ruddier than ever.
Dear me- thought Daisy, there's
revelation !! Our Cybele in love
didn't know women who wore spectacle
ever did fall in love; and Mr.. Vining
male coquette-well I never should hav
thought that of Mr.. Vining. I reall
| think, as mamma says, some one ough