The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-25
MINNIE'S PATIENCE.

bright story from my pen, and to that end
had conjured my brain by every device In
my power In vain had scrutinized the
pages of Puck and Life and other suggest
i've periodicals Of that ilk, but no idea
came. The red pods Of the Towering bean
tapped gently against the open window,
and the yellow leaves Of the cherry lazily
foated earthward, whose action my slug.
gish mind persistently initiated.
The little fire upon the hearth cracked
and blazed briskly, trying It's best not to
feel lost in the throat of the great, old
fashioned chimney, for the early autumn
mornings in the Tennessee hills were cool
enough tomake small fire welcome, espe-
cially so as country people in that climate
are loath to keep closed doors. So the door
to the porch stood open, and opposite that
was the kitchen door, also open, allowing
the odors of an appetizing breakfast unre.
strained admittance.
leaned against the high mantel study
ing the fire with that peculiar, downcast
feeling that comes to one seeking inspira-
ton and finding circumstances utterly ad-
verse.
Finally the andirons riveted my atten.
tion--the andirons that Minnie had secured
the day before till they shone as bright as
the glowing logs they upheld, and the
andirons together with the sound Of the
quick, light steps of the girl in the kitchen
busily preparing the morning meal, led my
mind over the recent events at the farm
house.
Few girls would have managed high
tempered, demineering, selfish old father
SO well as Minnie did, and, to my mind,
she deserved her success.
Minnie was in love with an honest coun-
try lad, and 1t happened that her father did
not approve of him, or pretended no did
not He could raise no objection to the
young mans character nor to his steady,
plodding life, but he was slow, "all fired
Slow" growled Minnic's father. Besides,
his family amt much, an his farm amt
wuth the scrapin of pillow. Minnie could
do better--a heap better Anyhow, there
amt no call fer her to jump at such a
chance, considerin she amt 20, an since her
ma died 1 can't git along without her, :"
was the emphatic comment of that usually
taciturn man, offered to me in return for
word had spoken with the intention Of
casting stone from Minnie's path.
WE'LL of course, it WAS none of my bust
ness, though l couldn't help being inter
ested in the girl. Minnie had borne pa
tiently with her father, for several times
before Hiram's advent, her company had
been shown by unmistakable signs that it
was useless to settle to anything like regu-
lar business; but Hiram's staying qualities
seemed unusual Besides, Minnie liked
him.
One night after her father had signifl.
cantly wound the clock and made other
preparations for retiring, and, seeing no
disposition In the young man to do like.
wise, he slowly turned out the light. With
out word Minnie Immediately relit 1t
and repaired with her young man to the
wide hall. Her father followed with his
pipe, smoked for awhile, then yawned
ominously, and finally fell into state that
admitted the issuance Of an unearthly
snore, which only served to give the young
people an excuse for drawing nearer each
other and conversing in whispers.
That angered the old man, who started
up, kicked the dog until he howled, and
In his clumsy attempt to eject the animal
managed to turn over tho lamp, setting
fire to the bare floor A bucket of water
did its duty to the accompaniment of all
sorts of invectives and growlings about
young folks what didn't have no better
sense n ter set round an burn coal oil
enough ter git man in debt an try ter
burn the house down ter boot"
Hiram was reused at last, his eyes
cleaned he stepped forward with an angry
ejaculation, but Minnie quickly intercept
ed with commanding gesture and the
entreaty: Don't say word to daddy. Go
out on ter the gallery an III come In or
minute, Now daddy" she began, admira-
bly, controlling herself, "ye kin hey the
fire, an the light, the hall, an the hull
house-the gallery Is good enough fer mo
an Hiram, but eff We drive him away from
that will go too.
The old farmer gazed stupidity at his
daughter. She evidently meant what she
said, and he was not prepared to carry hos.
tilities further that night, so ho uttered no
word as she shut the door behind her
carefully avoiding slamming it, but it
closed nevertheless with certain emphasis.
Hiram kept up his visits regularly for
more than year, and though the fathers
reception was always markedly cool he
never again attempted to insult him.
One night the sutton ventured to say,
"I'm a.comin fer Minnie some day"
"Well, ye needn't, young man, an ye
won't Of We know when ye're well off,
was the gruff retort.
At one time Minnie tried to reason with
her father, but was unsuccessful I knew
by her red eyes and tagging steps. She
seemed in deep thought for few days;
then she frightened and went about her
duties with unusual lightness and song.
could see that her father watched her
every mood, and that he really dotted on
his motherless daughter, for an expression
of immense relief appeared on his face as
soon as she was light hearted.
One morning he came into the kitchen
in towering rage accusing Minnie Of in.
tending to elope with Hiram.
She met him calmly, even smiling a lit
tie triumphantly l thought, as she an
swercd reassuringly, aye needn't fear, IA
Their; l amt goin ter do nothip Nv the
kind" "a
"She'd better not" he fumed. If she
would be fool enough to do such thing,
he'd turn her out of his house, he'd dsin-
herit her, he'd never look at her again.