Smyrna times., 1900-08-01
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.,usculine female, hard on the ''thir. |
t;es. with stiff little curls and gold |
r;mmed spectacles, and stand up col |
lar and cravat, like mans, and she !
was very busy among pile of books |
and papers, preparing hard questions
attended for the annihilation of her
Sunday School class on the morrow,
While little sixteen year-old Bessie,
With her pink and white skin, brown
cnrls and innocent blue eys, picked up
her white kitten and beat retreat, in
axpressibly mortified at having ''dis-
tracted" her staid sister.
81 suppose l shall learn better some
time" thought Bessie, "but, oh dear!
am such silly little goose!"
She went on tiptoe past the door
where Mr.. Leroy, the young minister,
was engaged in the revision of his ser
mon, for Mr.. Leroy lodged at widow
Elliott's, and Bessie felt her youth and
folly more painfully than ever in his
dignifed presence.
She stood moment in the doorway,
where the cheerful July sunbeams
made a golden checker-work ON the
floor, quivering through the morning
glory vines, and sweet odor crept
subtly in of newly mown clover fields,
and roses just blossoming along the
garden wall.
II know what I'll do" thought Bes-
sic, as her pet, the kitten, darted away
through the bushes, 'I'll have some of
those ripe cherries.
Bessie bounded down the garden
walk, and deftly climbing the old stone
wall, swung herself into the branches
of the huge cherry tree, like white
plumed little bird
"Mother would he Mortified, and
Minerva would have a fit," quietly
thought Bessie; "but it is so nice and
shady up here, and the robbins
are stealing all the cherries.
almost wish was a robin, it is such g
pleasant life up among the green leaves
with the blue sky peeping through
! Dear me, l hope that isn't mamma"
Bessie crept an inch or two higher NJ
as footsteps came down the garder
path.
Alas! her premoniiions were but toe
correct. Mrs. Elliott's cap strings
we're futtering below and she had
come out with bowl to pick currant
accompanied by Aunt Sophia, her sis
ter.
/ "Now, I'm caught, soliloquized ou
\ little heroine. 81 hope they won't b
long. 1 wonder what they are talking
about. Mr.. Leroy, as live
4 And Bessie held her breath and sc
| cretly laughed to see how utterly un
/ conscious the two old danes were c
/ her near vicinage.
Il 'Yes," said Mrs. Elliott, solemnly
''he's a good young man, very goo
l young man."
II There amt no minister all th
country round gives such satisfaction
4 said Aunt Sophia. ''Them cabbage
1 is comm on fine, Julial"
Il "Oh bother the cabbages!" said Mr.
Elliott, tartly; ''it's about Mr.. Lerc
I'm talking, Sophia. But he ought
marry and settle down. A single mil
ister can't do all the good he could
he was married.
Il THAT'S true" assented Aunt S
/ phia, Minerva would make a capt.
minister's wife!"
Il "She's the very wife he needs,
some one would just put the idea in
his head"
perhaps he doesn't mean to g
married."
Then he is doing very wrong, e
couraging Minerva the way he does
walking to Sunday School with h'
and talking about the poor-money, a
4 picking out the psalms and hymns wi
his head close to hers. OF all cr'
lures, went on Mrs. Elliott, emerge
cally, do dislike male coquette!"
Dear me, Julia, said Aunt Soph
with mild remonstrance, 81 don't 81
pose he ever thinks of such thing! J!
4 "Then he ought to think of it, so
one ought to speak to him."
\ Meek Aunt Sophia picked curraI
i In perplexed silence.
Il don't treaty. think he ought to trl
with my poor Minerva's feelings-a
She is sensitive, too" resumed
widow.
Il never did pretend to understa
Young folks when love and courtsl
were in the business" said Al
Sophia. "But it would be fine thi
Tor Minerva"
I'D be proud to be the minist'
mother-in-law," said Mrs. Elliott,
ultant at the remote possibility, "A
Minerva is smart girl. You ought
near her talk about Scripture and I
Oogyl Why Mr.. Leroy himself
astonished!"
Il shOuld think vary likely"