The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-07
About a Mink.

denthcrpe had been shocked. Miss Mayue
felt hurt. When she returned she hao
been homesick for the sea and the sea-
board foihs. left behind when her aunt car
ried her up to London years before; ana
friendliness was In her heart toward then
instead OF receiving tie same. she had
been met with envy and jealousy and all
uncharitableness. Partly it was her fault,
parity theirs. They only remembered her
as the imp and scapegoat OF the village.
VINO pared CT the rocks all day long with
pare teet. and they resented her grown-up
iashlonabiliiy. She could not help realIz-
ing that she was better dressed. knew mora
OF the world and was in many ways 100
years ahead of Lindenthorpe Then. again
Mr.. Silas Attenborough, who always ala
the right thing, and whose actions. ac-
eordingly, were viewed with an induIgent
eye. had seemed in danger of doing the
wrong thing. "Moonstruck'' Miss Grigss
declared him to be. And the Mink was
not even hattered.
1t was on Sunday that the shock n,
shocks occurred. To begin with. several
minutes after service had begun Miss Betty
| siayne walked in-almost strolled in-as
cool as ascucumber, ard clad in the most
outrageously fine dress, and stood In tbe
entrance Qnstead Of modestly finding her.
self seat poking away at the stones with
a green parasol. until Mr.. Attenborourh
who was church warden-the younges,
church warden Lindenthorpe had ever had
rose in bis Sunday best to show her 10 a
place.
People were more Disguised than sur
| prised when Miss Mayne. after tanning
hersen unostentatiously for some time.
rose and stalked out OF church by the
front door. Such behavior was to he ex
pected from Mink 1t was what followed
| that tefr Lindenthorpe resigned to any
thing short OF an earthquake. Miss Mayne
wandered down toward the beach in a
| pensive mood and took a seat on bit
| OF sandstone. She was pretty sight in
blue and gold, whatever Miss Grigg's opin-
ION might be. A church warden is at
] liberty to differ from a Sunday school mis-
tress on a question like this, and Mr.
Siias Attenborough, as he walked from
church down to the sea, and saw the Mink
on her rock, differed in toto from Miss
Griggs. He felt a desire to rebuke the
Mink for her conduct in church that morn
ing. but was 1t wise to venture to the
rocks? He was in his Sunday clothes, and
not very sure Of foot among slippery
weeds. Nevertheless, his sense of duty
being strong, Mr. Attenborough crossed
the rubicon and at length reached the
sandstone rock. The Mink nodded to him.
Il saw you in church this morning." she
said
Il zee you" said Mr.. Attenborough,
gravely
1T was very funny" she went On. 1.-The
very first thing / noticed was a chalk
mark on your coat from leaning against
the pillars and l do believe you've got
il on still"
This was hardly the conversation Mr.
Attenborough had pictured to himself.
1T seemed you left church avore tbs
sermon?''
''Dreadfully ventilated, isn't it?" she
soil
don't get suffocated sometimes
at were a powerful sermon"
Short ones always are, l think. Or did
you come after me before il was finished?''
Coon after-?'' Mr.. Attenborough
was taken aback. He had hurried, Ger
tainly: but he hardly expected the Mink to
notice that.
ished?" He recovered himself Indignantly.
Il shouldn't think oft. But
You didn't expect to see me here?'
Since the Mink sat on a rock in full
view of the shore. Mr. Attenborough evaded
what seemed fruitless question
It's agreeable by t sea here avore din
ner," he remarked.
THE same as ever" she said-"ali Lin
denthorpes the same as ever-the sea and
the village. and the folks. They might
have slept and never walked since the day
Ieft-seven years ago. Ohi'--she reused
herself to sudden aninlatics-;'but I'd like
to shock them,"
shock emp" said Mr.. Attenborough.
aghast.
Shock you alI-because I detest people
who can be shocked. And if l knew for
certain that / detested Lindenthorpe I'd
be content to leave 1t and never see II
again" She sank back against the rock.
Would you now?" said Mr.. Attenho-
rough, astnnished.
She nodded. It's quite true" she said
4 doan,t think I'm easy t shock" he
said guardedly.
''You?" 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 suggest such thing
ct church is different" remarked he.
hastily edging from the pool But out Of
t church I'm not easy t shock.
You think SOP"
Solemn trewth.'' said Mr.. Attenborocgh
decidedly.
Perhaps you're right" she said But"
she pointed a finger toward the shore. sis
that Miss Griggs over there?''
He followed the direction Of her finger,
and saw that most of the congregation
were assembled in groups about the
shore.
" tbs. indeed" he groaned; IAN Miss
Griffin and t. whole Sunday school watching
us. think that we shud be getting back"
Don't let me keep you,' she said.
1t is not keeping me. 'Tis only
He looked about him for an excuse. Zip
mel T. sea-
What do you mean?"
''T' seal" said Mr.. Attenborough TITS
,oom up
She sprang to her feet in great indigna-
tion
This comes of YOUR talking wbv
couldn't you keep your eyes open-what Is
to be done?'
Gould yew wade?" suggested Mr.. At
enborough, apologetically. He knew moth
ing OF the rocks. and what depths cut him
Of from the shore. Only he remembered
hat in old days the imp of the village
Knew every inch
Wade? In my best things?" Her
eornful tone made him feel more at fault
han ever.
"P'raps they'll send US a boat" ne said.
After we're drowned?"
'P'rars 1 could-take yew over to tn
hore?"
See how deep it is first" she said. i'm
,eriously.
He let himself down gfngerly. and the
water closed over the knees of his best
rcusers.
Think yew would loike to be carried?"
'e asked. dolefully, stretching out his
rms for her to hurry. But she kept him
here while she struggled to hide her
aughter. and then said threateningly:
IF you drop me, l shall never forgive
And If l doan't drop yew?" said he.
'Lindenthorpe never will
"Coom," he said. And at that she let
lin take her into his arms. The folk OF
iudeuthnrDp on the beach were IA king