The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-11-09
ABOUT A MINK.
How She Shocked the People of
Lindenthnrpe.

o Lindenthnrpe. o
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Miss Betty Mayne had been back in
LindenthOrpe for a week. and for a
week Lindenthorpe had been shocked.
Miss Mayne felt hurt When she re-
turned she had been homesick for the
sea and the seaboard folks, left behind
whom her aunt carried her up to town
wears before and friendlincss was in
her heart toward them. Instead of
receiving the same, She had been met
with envy and jealousy and all I'M
charitablcncss. Partly is was her
FAULT. partly theirs. They only re-
membcrcd her as the imp and scape-
goat of the village, who played on the
rocks all day long with bare feet, and
they resented her grown up fashion
ability. She could not help realizing
shat she was better dressed. knew
more of the world and was in many
ways hundred years ahead of Lin
denthorpe. Then, again. Mr. Silas At
tenborough, WHO always did the right
thing, and whose actions, accordingly,
We're viewed with an indulgcnt nvn.
had seemed in danger of doing the
wrong thing. "Moonstruck," Miss
Griggs declared him to be. And the
mink was not even fattered.
1t was on Sunday that the shock of
shocks occurred. To begin with. sev-
eral minutes after service had begun
Miss Betty Nayne walked in-almost
strolled mas cool as Il cucumber, and
clad in the most outrageouSly fine
dress, and stood in the entrance Gn-
stead of modestly finding herself
sea0, poking away at the stones with
green parasol until Mr.. Attcnborough,
who was churchwardcn-the youngest
churchwarden Lindcnthorpe had ever
had-rose in his Sunday best to show
her to IA place.
People were more Disguised than sur.
prised when Miss Maync, after tanning
herself oStentatiously for some time,
rose and Stalked out of the church by
the front door. Such behavior was to
be expected from a mink. 1t was what
followed that left I.indenthorpe re-,
signed to anything short of an earth
quake. Miss Mayne wandered down
toward the beach in a pensive mood
and took seat on n hit of sandstone.
She was a pretty sight in blue and
gold, whatever Miss Griggs' opinion
might be. y churchwarden is at lib
erty to differ from a Sunday school
mistress on a question like this, and
Mr.. Silas AttenbOrough as he walked
from church down to the sea and saw
the mink on the rock differed in toto
from Miss GriggS. He felt desire TO
rebuke the mink for her conduct in
church that morning, but was it wise
to venture TO the rocks? He was in his
Sunday clothes and not very sure Of
foot among slippery weeds. Neverthe-
less, his sense of duty being strong,
Mr.. Marlborough crossed the Rubicon
and at length reached the sandstone
rock. The mink nodded TO him. II
saw you in church this morning." she
said
81 zee you," said Mr.. Attenborongh
gravely.
at was very funny" she went on.
THE very first thing | noticed was q
chalk mark on your coat from leaning
aGainstDthe pillars, and | do believe
you've got it on still"
This was hardly the conversation Mr..
Attenborough had pictured to himself
and he rubbed the chalk away before
replying.
1T seemed you left church avore T.
sermonW
''Dreadfully ventilated, isn't it?" she
said. nodding. II really wonder people
don't get sutfocated sometimes"
1T were a powerful sermon"
Short ones always are, | think. Or
did you come after me before it was
finished"
Come after Mr.. Attenborougb
was taken aback. He had hurried GER
tainly but he hardly expected the miny
to notice that.
Coon after avore t sermon was fin
lshed" He recovered himself indig-
Mantly. 81 shouldn't think oft. BUT
"You didn't expect to see me hereP"
Since the mink sat on rock in full
view Of the shore. Mr.. Atterborough
evaded what seemed a fruitlnss oues-
ton.
ITS agreeable by t. sea here avore
dinner" he remarked.
''The same as ever" she said-"all
Lindenthorpa's the same as ever--the
sea. and the village, and the folks.
They might have silent and nevnr wax
ed since the day | left, seven years
ago Oh"-she reused herself to sud
den animatiop-"but I'd like to shock
themp'
"Shock 'emw said Mr.. Attenborough.
aghast
''Shock you all, because | detest ueo-
pie who can be shocked, and If l knew
for certain that l detested Linden
thorpe I'd be content to leave it and
never see it egain." She sank back
against the rock.
would yew now" said Mr.. Atten-
borough, astonished.
She nodded. Its quite true" she
said
81 don't think I'm easy to shock" he
said guardedly.
Your She shook with laughter.
'You? Why, you were shocked in
church this morning. You'd be shocked
if were to push you into that pool.
You're shocked now at hearing me sug-