The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-13
BY WILLIAM BLOSS.
WOMAN'S CONSTANCY.

We were spending the summer at an old Pennsylvania farm house. just out side village. shut off from the rest of the world by towering pine crested mountains. In front of the wide porch rippled a little run" as the natives called 1t. spanned by broad foot-iog, with rickety hand-rail on one side. Minerva calpled the place Beersheba' and I had persuaded myself that this stream was the Brook Besor. The lone, conical-shaped mountain, tower ing up at the south, stra.gth in front of us. we called Mt. Sinai; and the farmer had informed us that the long range at the west was the "Pisgah mountains"
 If this Riblican atmosphere dosen cure you, Minerva" l remarked, as l carefully established my invalid Tn the long, low steamer chair, "lt II do some thing else, I'm thinking. Do you know l discovered this morning that the DIE gray cat which has taken Sucn lancy to you Is named Ebenezer, ana the horse which pulled us from the station is Hosea!"
 q feel better already" she assured me.
 I sauntered down along the brook, pufring leisurely at cigar. when ! had reached the bend where the prook turned into the little strip or rocky pasture land, l leaped across the water at a narrow place and came hack up the other side, pausing now and then to gather some wild blackoerries and spear them on a long blade of grass. I gave it to Minerva when l re1olneo her on the porch where she reclined, ming in cheerful loneliness.
 Did you ever, strike place so ut- terly sleepy in your life?' l asked.
 Minerva looked at me thoughtfully as she leisurely munched blackberry and drew another from the stem, hold ing it poised daintily between her slender forefinger and thumb. At last she replied. Do you know, perhaps it's strange, Socrates, but it seems to me that l never exactly struck place Tn my life"
 If Minerva has a fault. thing which I am usually inclined to doubt, 1t IS that at times she has a tendency to take some of my remarks rather too literally I am always. careful not tc appear to notice this shortcoming, so seated myself on the porch floor, and leaning my head against her knee made no reply.
 She dropped a big blackberry into my mouth as she continued:
 'It seems sleepy, but it's the kind of sleepiness that it does one good tc slip away from the unedlns turmoi of the world and get taste of. Lis ten!"
 From somewhere within the house came the faint sounds of soprano voice slowly singing
 Let not wave of trouble roll
 Across my peaceful breast" Above us the branches of the great elm tree bruiesd gently against the pi- azza roof. The scent of the honey suckle was in the air. The water rip pied on unceasingly. In some mex plicable way it all went to my heaG like wine.
 Minerva ran her fingers through my hair soothingly. I close my eyes anc settled myself more comfortable against her knee. I got to thinking hazily how much more appropriat the name Minerva was to her than hel real name "Esie." The ripple of the Brook Besor sounded in my ears as the tinkling of fountain. I dreamed that Minerva and 1 were wandering hand in hand through Palestine. Al last 1 became aware that something more than the sound of the Brook Be. sor was in my ears. I lay quite still not exerting myself to open my eyes Finally 1 realized that the sound was that of a feminine voice and came from somewhere the other side of Min. erva.
 Yes. am the voice was saying I'm engaged. Jake give me this ring And we're goin' to be married in abou two weeks. An I was just thinkn that seein's you're from the city. a how mebbe you'd advise me a littl about my derss. See here"-and could hear the rustic of paper-"I go these samples. sorter had a leanir l toward this here lflack. or else tha | there pea-green. bua I thought mebb you'd know better what was just tn thing" | Minerva's voice broke in. her clea! sweet tones in pleasing contrast to tn nasal twang of the other. Don't y9 think that a white dress would b nicer? I always prefer brides dresse in white"