The Newtown bee., 1892-09-30
A Gossip's Deed.

S@P ~OSSA-
Miss Perkins cleared her throat and
looked knowing.
II didn't s'pose you'd care so much,
Nervie," she said, after moment of ST.
lence, during which the young girl had
turned her face away.
Miss Perkins was one of the born ag-
gravators of humanity. Minerva Wood
ford felt horribly tempted to tell her so.
But Minerva had wonderful self control
fol- such smiling azure eyes and thick,
massed, ungovernable auburn hair. It
was no light imposition, this that she had
borne throughout that glorious mid-Sum-
mer afternoon; the company of Miss Per-
kins ito tea," the threads of gossip Miss
Perkins unraveled (inch for inch with
the yard of the great gray balls from
which she was always knitting ugly
stockings for Heaven knew whom and
knit up slowly with her own peculiar
skill of narration into substance quite
as ugly and durable as the product of her
hands.
1t was one of Miss Perkins self enjoin-
ed duties to communicate disagreeable
tidings. She felt a delightful sense of
peace and cOntentment now that she had
concluded her task of enlightening her
young and motherless hostess. 9 'Ner-
vie was good girl and hadn't ought to
be deceived" she said to herself, more
specially by such worthless critter as
that Jason Hawkes.
~ didn't s'pose you'd care so much"
she repeated with an air of sympathy.
Minerva was reaching through the VIM
dow to break off some of the pink roses
that hung there red ripe and luscious.
She did not obey her impulse to turn and
speak sharply She did not say her
thought. "'Nervie!' How she hated to
be called "'Nervie!" No one with any
sense called her anything but Minnie.
No ore but Miss Elvira Perkins. She
wished Miss Perkins would never come
to see her.
She thought all this, but what she said
was milder, as she faced about carelessly
and stood arranging the roses.
II am sure | hardly understand you,
Miss Perkins. Why should you suppose
cared what was said about Jason
Hawkes.? Surely he has right to marry
whom he pleases.'
She might have been little paler thar
usual, but her voice was quite steady.
Miss Perkins smiled discreetly.
There amt much chance for the
young girls, she observed, "when there's
a designin' widow come to town. Mis-
Darrells just got Jason Hawkes. wounC
completely round her finger. 'Tisn'1
that he's so much account, though if he c
married you, you would've had a gooC
influence. He's altogether too fond o
; race horses and such like evil doings
But for her to come and set herself uI
so mightily-why, she amt once return
ed your call now, III be bound"
Mnerva's lovely face flushed painfully
at the reminder. She stepped from sit
ting room to kitchen and put some water
in vase for the roses. Her heart throb.
bed with a fierce ache, but never should
her caller know it.
cts almost time for father to come, y
she said, quietly. "I'm going to set the
table now, Miss Perkins. Will you sit
by the door? I'll bring your chair"
son, law! | can manage for myself -
said the elderly maiden, rising in some
haste to push the wooden rocker before
her over the sill and down the length of
the shining kitchen. 1t was a wing of
the house facing the road and the door
was open.
\ sudden hoof beat and rumble of
wheels on the soft and yellow dusty road.
A carriage spun by after a certain well
known pair of jet black horses
Miss Perkins set up a shrill cry of tri-
umph.
II never! There they go; he's driving
her out to the fair grounds. What do
you think of that 'Nervie?''
But Minerva made no reply.
Miss Perkins turned only to see the
girl slip quietly from the room.
Miss Perkins sat there alone for a con-
siderable space. The tea kettle had be-
gun to sing cheerily. The snowy table,
cloth and the shining glassware had an
inviting aspect. There was plenty of
Miss Perkins favorite sauce and sweet
pickle; there was just the kind of tea
biscuit and cocoanu6 cake that she dotted
on. She closed her eyes and clasped her
hands with a sigh of thankfulness for
duty performed and blessings about to
be enjoyed.
Then Minerya's father arrived.
HHow-dy' Miss Perkins, he said.
where's Minnie?''
Minerva re-appeared, just a little pale
and shadowy around the eyes.
Here | am, father she said, gently;
sstea is ready. | had something to do.
I'd most forgotten"
Miss Perkins went away just after tea.
She did not stop to shelp 'Nervie do the
dishes,'' as usual. 1t was getting dark
and she had a long walk she suddenly re-
inembered.
Minerva went about her work quite
unassisted. Her father was due at
some village meeting and so presently
she was left alone in the house.
A terrible sense of depression fell up
on her. She wondered if Jason Hawkes.
were coming. She was quite prepared.
She had everything ready to return to
him-his letters and the little pearl ring
he had given her. Everything was
wrapped securely; the package was too
heavy for her poeket-quite too heavy.
She wondered if he would come. And
how should she feel when she had given
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