Smyrna times., 1900-08-01


enough?" hazarded Aunt Sophia.
II s'pose So" said Mrs. Elliott.
sharply. "You never had the trials of |
family, Sophia, and they come hard, |
Though my girls are pretty good
girls after all. Miherva's quite model
and Bessie's we'll enough, if she would
sober down little"
Don't be everlastingly finding fault
with Bessie" pleaded Aunt Sophia.
''She is nice, sweet-tempered little
girl, and if you want her to put on
spectacles and take to the doctrine of
lost souls, [ don't. 1 like her better
just as she is. &c
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 with
her bright brown curls all blown about
and the scarlet of her lips deeper and
ruddier than ever.
"Dear mel" thought Bessie, ''heres
a revelation-our Minerva in love!'
didn't know women who wore specta-
cles ever did fall in love. And Mr..
Leroy a male coquette Well, I should
never have thought that of Mr.. Leroy.
L really think, as mamma says, some
one ought to speak to him. I've a
great mind to speak to him myself?"
and fired with the ardor of
her new plan. Bessie slid nimbly
down from her perch in the cherry tree
to the great astonishment of her
friends, the robins, and ran into the
house.
81 won't stop to consult mother or
aunty," thought eager Bessie, ''for L
know they'd think 1 ought not to
speak, just because I'm only sixteen
years old"
So Miss Bessie stole nke a white
mouse along the hall, and tapped softly
at Mr.. Leroy's study door.
E "Come in" called the clear, sonor.
GUS voice of the young clergyman.
Not until our Bessie was fairly il
: the room, did she fully realize the
q awkardness of her position. Ther
with the roses mantling on her cheel
and her head hung down, she stood {
! pretty picture of maiden confusion.
"M-Miss Bessie" said Mr.. Leroy
/ abstractedly, glarcing up from hi
. paper and Frightening visibly when b,
7 saw who it was, 81 am happy to Sc,
q such a little sunbeam in my gloom,
. old study. Sit down"
''No, sir, can't stay" said Bessi
taking courage. 'T only came t,
n speak to you, sir, about-about being
- married"
"About being married." echoed Mr.
= Leroy, in genuine astonishment.
g eyes, sir,," went on Bessie twisting
4 her fingers together; "the people il
e the parish think you could do so muc
;. more good if you were married"
$50 might" assented the minister
,r musingly. 81 have thought of tina
10 myself"
- "Oh, then, you have thought of il
. sir?" cried Bessie, delightedly. 81 al
o. so glad"
"Bessie, 1 have been here a Ion
90 time"
Eyes, sir; 1 know you have"
:. Bessie lifted her eyes with roguis
~ sparkle beneath their curling brow
lashes. "You need not go away, 81
ba that is, if"
=, eff what, Bessie?"
- "Mother said this morning 81
would be proud to be the minister
. mother-in law"
80 Mr.. Leroy looked a little surprise
~ ~ but not at all displeased, as Bess
~ = stood demurely before him with b
g roseate cheeks and dishevelled cur
like a school girl on her bad beha
- ior.
81 ''Did she really say so, Bessie?"
81 heard her say so"
= "To you?"
- "No, not me, sir.
-'0 "Bessie, would you like it?"
- -'OQ, blTs L 5nOllu OO oO uOiiS7 hOON
70' cried Bessie, clapping her hands gle
=, fully.
q" ga minister's wife has many trials
deal with, Bessie.
20, "Oh, yes, sir; but if she loves
II II husband?"
.na M "Do you think my little wife wol
% 90 love her husband?"
~" How strange it was to think OF
nerva as little wifep' Bessie thoul
.l"' love must have cast glamour on
T >, young minister's eyes; but she
swered, nevertheless
INV 81 am sure of it, sir; Minerva is
sensible and learned"
N'' eyes, know, answered Mr.. Ler
"a with something of a puzzled expr
in sion in his face. "Miss Minerva
'u IN very worthy person, indeed, and 81
'' be very happy to be connected, ne
ever, distantly, with her"
II a