The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-02-20
ABOUT A MINK.

Miss Betty Mayne had been back in
Lindenthorpe for week, and for a week
Lindenthorpe had been shocked. Miss
Mayne felt hurt. When she returned she
had been homesick for the sea and the
seaboard folks. left behind when her aunt
carried her up to London years before;
and friendliness was in her heart toward
them. Instead of receiving the same
she had been met with envy and jealousy
and all uncharitableness. Partly it was
her fault, partly theirs. They only re-
membered her as the imp and scapegoat
of the village, who played ON the rocks
all day long with bare feet, and they re-
sented her grown-up Fashionable She
could not help realizing that she was bet
ter dressed, knew more of the world and
was in many ways a hundred years
ahead of Lindenthorpe Then, again, ST.
las Attenborough, who always did the
right thing, and whose actions, accord
ingly, were viewed with an indulgent eye,
had seemed in danger of doing the wrong
thing. 'Moon-struck," Miss Griggs de-
clared him to be. And the mink was
not even fattered.
1t was on Sunday that the shock of
shocks occurred. To begin with, several
minutes after service had begun Miss
Betty Mayne walked in-almost strolled
mas cool as q cucumber, and clad in
the most outrageously fine DRESS and
stood in the entrance (instead of modest
ly finding herself seat, poking away at
the stones with q green parasol. until
Mr.. Attenborough who was church
warden-the youngest church warden
Lindenthorpe had ever had-rose in his
Sunday best to show her to a place.
People were more disguised than sur
prised when Miss Mayne after tanning
herself ostentatiously for some time, ross.
and stalked out of church by the front
door Such behavior was to be expected
from Mink: 1t was what followed that
eft Lindenthorpe resigned to anything
short of an earthquake. Miss Mayne
wandered down toward the beach in
pensive mood and took seat on a bit of
sandstone. She was pretty sight in the
blue and gold, whatever Miss Griggs'
opinion might be. A church warden is at
liberty to differ from a Sunday school
mistress on a question like his. and
Slas Attenborough as he walked from
Mink on her rock, differed in toto from.
Miss Griggs. He felt a desire to rebul,e
the Mink for her conduct in church thar
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. 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 morn.
ing" she said.
Il zee you." said Mr. Attenborough.
gravely.
''It was very funny" she went on
''The very first thing L noticed was a
chalkmark on your coat from leaning
against the pillars. and 1 do believe
you've got it on still -
This was hardly the conversation Mr..
Attenborough had pictured to himself.
plying.
sit seemed you left church ayore the
sermon?"
'Dreadfully ventilated, isn't it?, she
said, nodding. Il really wonder people
don't get suffocated sometimes"
1T were a powerful Sermon
Short ones always are, [ think. Or
did you come after me before it was
fnished?'
Coon after"--? Mr.. Attenborongh
was taken aback. He had hurried. GER
tainly; but he hardly expected the Mink
to notice that.
Coon after avore t. sermon was fin
ishedY' He recovered himslf indignant
~. 81 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