Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1901-06-01
ABNUT A MINK.

hind her when her aunt carried her up
ITO London years b<-fore; and lfriendli-
ness was in her heart toward them.
instead of receiving the same, she had
been met with envy and jealousy and
all uncharita b1eness. Partly 1t was
her fault, partly theirs. They only
remembered her as the imp and scape-
goat of the village, who played on the
rocks all day long with bare feet, and
they resented her grown-up fashion
ability. She could not help realizing
that she was better dressed, knew more
of the world and was in many ways a
hundred years ahead of Lindenthorpe.
Then, again, Mr.. Sihas Attenborough,
who always did the right thing, and
Whose actions accordingly, were view
ed with an indulgent eye, had seemed
PIN danger of doing the wrong thing.
f'Moonstruck," Miss Griggs declared
him Ito be. And the Mink was not
ieven hattered.
1t was on Sunday that the shocks of
shocks occurred. To begin with, sew
sera1 minut : after service had begun
Miss Betty Lyme walked in-almost
Strolled in-us cool as cucumber, and
clad in the most outra geousIy fine
dress, and stood i'm the entrance lin
stead of modesitly finding herself a
seat) poking away at the stones with
a, green parasol, until Mr.. Attenbor-
aough, who was church warden-the
youngest church warden Lindenthorpe
had ever had-rose in his Sunday best
Ito show her a place.
People were more disguised than
surprised when Miss Mayne, after fam
ming herself OStentatiouslys. for Some
time, rose and stalked out of the
church by the front door. Such be-
!haVior was to be expected from
Mink. 1t was what followed that left
Lidenthorpe resigned ito anything
short of an earthquake. Miss Mayne
wandered down toward the beach in a
pensive mood and took a seat on "a bit
Of sandstone. She was "a pretty sight
in blue and gold, whatever Miss
Griggs' opinion might be. A church
warden as att liberty to differ from
Sunday school mistress on a question
like this, and Mr.. Silas marlborough,
as he walked from church DOWN to the
sea, and saw the Mink ON her rock,
differed i'm toto from Miss Griggs. He
felt a desire ito rebulls the Mink for
her conduct in church that morning,
hut at was 1T wise to venture to the
rocks? He was i'm his Sunday clothes,
and not very sure of foot among Slip
perry 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.
81 zee you,' said Mr.. Marlborough,
gravely.
SIT was very funny" she went on.
''The very first thing I noticed was a
chalk mark on your coat from leaning
against the pillars, and I do believe
you've got ut on still"
This was hardly the conversation
Mr.. Attenborough had pictured to
himself, and he rubbed the chalk away
before replying.
sit seemed you left the church avore
The sermon?"
''Dreadfully ventilated, isn't it?'' she
said, nioddfng 81 really wonder people
don't get suffocated sometimes" :
''It were a powerful sermon"
''Short ones always are, think. Or
did you come after me before 1T was
fiuished?'
"Come after? Mr.. Attenborough
was taken aback. He had hurried,
certainly; but he hardly expected the
Mink to notice that.
''Coom after avore t. sermon was fin
fshed?" He recovered himself indig
nantly. 81 shouldn't think oft. But
-
"You didn't expect to see me herc?"
Since the Mink sat ON rock nj full
view of the shore, Nj. Attenborough
evaded what seemed a fruitless ques-
ti'on.
cts afreeable by It sea here avore
dinner" he remarked
THE same as ever" she said-"ail
LindenthorpeAs the same as ever-the
sea and the village and the folks. They
might have slept and never walked
since the day 1eft-seven years ago.
Oh!"-she reused herself to sudden
animation-'but I'd like ITO shocE
them.
''Shock 'em?" said Mr.. Attenoborugd
aghast.
''Shock you all-becaues I detest
people who can be shocked. And if I
knew for certain that I detested Lin.
!deu5horpe I'd be content ITO leave it
and never see itagain.'' She sank
back against the rock.
Would you now,' saGd Mr.. Attenbor-
ough aSzons shed.
She nodded. It's quite true" she
said
81 don't think I'm easy to shock he
said guardedly.
''You?" She shook with laughter.
'You- Why, you were shocked in
church this morning. You'd be shock
ed if were to push you into that pool;
you're shocked now at hearing me- ug-
gest such a thing
CT church is different remarked
he. hastily edging from the pool. ''Bus
out of t. church I'm mot easy t. shock
You think so?''
Solemn TRUTH" said E!r. Attenbor.
ough decidedly.
Perhaps you're right she said.
But. She: pointed "a finger toward the
shore, is that Miss Griggs over there ~
He fol bowed the direction of her fin
ger. and saw that most of the congre-
cation were assembled ingroups about
the sht IRE.
g" ris indeed,'' he groaned; an
Miss Griffin and It whole Sunday
Scf.oc i watching us. 1 think that we
sLud be getting back?''
"Dtnnt let me keep you she said.
1T is not keeping me. It's only
He Cooked about him for an excuse.
''Zip me, T. sea-
VIVA; do you mean"
S1TT' sea. said Mr. Acknowledgement,