The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-07-26
A ROMAN SCARF

Miss Minerva's knitting fell to the
floor, ns rising hastily she adjusted
her speciacles aud peered out of the
window
The door leading into the kitchen
was open and Elizabeth Ann hal seen
Miss Minerva's agitation. 81 wonder
what IL is this time," she muttered, as
she poured hot water into pan, pre-.
paratory to washing the dinner dishes.
"Yes'm," she answered in response
to Miss Minervas excited call of
elizabeth Annr'
"That horrid dog from tho next
place is chasing Peter. Run aud put
the little beast out"
As Elizabeth Ann crossed the yard
large black cat. closely followed by
n Scotch terrier, whisked past her
and in at the kitchen door. The dog
wngged its tail and frisked around
Elizabeth Ann.
ooh, Flip, why do you worry poor
old Peter SOP Go home, SIR" she
said severely. The terrier trottcd
after her to n remote corner Of the
yard, where he submissively crept
through gap in tho fence which
separated Miss NIinerva's property
from the adjoining place.
A man Mt work ON tho other side
threw down his hoe and came up. lie
was tall and spare aud was clad in
blue jean trousers and checked shirt.
Flip, trcsspsssin' ayainP" he
asked.
''He was chasin Pete =" said Eliza
beth Ann. ut was t..J chickens this
morning, Mr.. Dobbs."
''heeps you pretty busy, doesn't
itg"
Elizabeth Ann laughed az don't
mind il, it's fun" she said.
"She always al set great store by
Peter, but Flip cap't a,.,e him. Still
he wouldn't hurt the critter."
"Miss Minerva doesn't like dogs"
said Elizabeth Ann, laughing again.
Mr.. Dobbs chucklel. 81 reckon it's
more tho dogs owner that she doesn't
like" he said.
81 must go back" said Elizabeth
Ann, i'll regretful tone. "Good-by,
for now, Mr.. Dobbs."
'Alighty interestin' child for only
bein' II, too" said Mr.. Dobbs, reHec-
&ely, stroked his grizzled beard, as
he looked after Elizabeth. "Wonder
what Minerva Collins ii say if she
knew me and her is such friends"
As he resumed his hoeing his
thoughts went back to the years when
the relations between him aud Miss
Minerva had not been in their present
strained condition; to that unlucky
evening when discussion arose as to
the proper mode OF baptism. He had
contended that sprinkling was sufli-
cient, aud Miss Minerva had held out
for immersion. That was long before
Elizabeth Ann had come to live with
her aunt Mr.. Dobbs had cften told
her about thu quarrels.
"And she's never taken any notice
OF me since. | tried once to make it
up. And it was strange about that,
too" he had added thoughtfully.
Elizabeth Ann had wondered how he
had tried to make it up, but had not
liked to ask.
"pid You soc him on his own side
before you came back?" asked Miss
Minerva when Elizabeth Ann went
back to her interrupted dishwashing.
"Yes'm," answered Elizabeth Ann.
NASTY little beast"eiaculated Miss
Minerva.
When the last dish had boen placed
in the closet and tho kitchen put in
spotless order Elizabeth Ann went
into the sitting room.
IF everything's done You may have
the afternoon to YOURSELF" said Miss
Minerva, who was now TRANQUILITY
knitting, and Peter curled up on
cushion near her.
Elizabeth Ann stood awhile looking
out OF the window. She was unde-
cided whether to go down to the fence
and talk with Mr.. Dobbs or to 20 up
to the attic. But she saw that 1t was
beginning to rain, and reflected that
Mr.. Dobbs would not continue hoeing,
for he had been having rheumatic
twinges lately. So with some regret,
she decided in favor of the attic, for,
great as were the charms which the
sitter place had for her, Mr.. Dobbs'
society possessed a stronger attraction.
He told her such interesting stories
and listened to all OF her condolences
so attentively, aud he never told her
not to be foolish, as Miss Minerva had
done when she had ventured to COM
municate her thoughts to her.
Don't get into mischief" Miss
Minerva called out as Elizabeth Ann
left the room.
There was an old-fashioned trunk
q odds and ends which Miss Minerva