Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-11-20
0On HAT do you think, Aunt Vio-
W let? The new minister is COM

Miriam Blake and her cousin, Effle
Towers, burst into the quiet old-fash
ioned sittingroom like twin gales of
wind so fresh and sudden and inspirit
ing were they.
1t was q very cheerful apartment
with the crimson carpet flooded with
October sunshine, the canary singing
from his cage among the geraniums In
the window-seat, and bright wood
fire cracking from the most burnish-
cd of brass andiorns on the hearth
for Aunt Violet loved an open fire,
and adhered to 1t through all the mod
ern innovations.
She was woman past thirty. yet
very pretty withal-a woman whose
type Of face and form would always
remain youthful. Brown hair, with
ripping lights Of gold upon its sur
face; bluegray eyes, large and shaded
with long lashes; a complexion where
the fresh white and red betokened
perfect health and a smiling, cherry
red, melting mouth, whose smiles be-
trayed singularly regular set of
teeth-Miss Violet Brown was perhaps
quite as attractive in her mature wo-
manhood as she had been in her fresh
er girldays.
"TO-nightY' said Aunt Violet. "And
is the parsonage all in readiness"
"All prepared, 1 believe. And what
do you think, Aunt Violet" went on
Miriam, with girlish eagerness, "of
old Mrs. Marsh going there with her
two daughters to prepare tea, and
make it sort O. hum-lke,' as she says,
for him the first night?"
And Violet smiled over her crochet.
why" struck in Effie Towers, 1.-The
Marsh girls are as old as the hills"
Not quite as old as the hills" said
Aunt Violet, quietly. Sarah Marsh
is about my age, and Mehitable can
not be more than year or two older"
"Oh, Aunt Violet" said Effie, coax
ingly, stealing both arms around Miss
Browns slender waist, nobody ever
thinks of your being oldr'
Its an indisputable fact neverthe-
less" said Aunt Violet, serenely.
Aunt Violet" said Miriam sudden
ly, as she sat looking her aunt full in
the face, how l wish Mr.. Smith
would fall In love with your
Aunt Violet shrugged her shoulders.
MY dear child, isn't Brown a suffl-
ciently common cognomen but you
want to change it into the still more
hackneyed name of Smith?'
Il wasn't thinking Of the name,
Aunt Violet-I was only rejecting to
myself what a splendid minister's wife
you would make"
Il shall never make anybody's wife,
Miriam"
what nonsense!" CALCULATED the
gay girl. Why aunty, you are the
prettiest Of our whole set, yet with
your sweet-pea complexion and those
big innocent eyes Of yours"
But here Effie Towers interrupted.
speaking gravely with serious glance.
Il know what makes Aunt Violet
speak so, Miriam-she has had a dis
appointment years and years ago."
<huhly' blu you really
"'Years and years ago. as Effie
says, had lover" returned Aunt
Violet, calmly. "And what interrupted
the current of true love?"
Il was foolish and wished to test
my power. Clarence, that was his
name, was hasty and impulsive, and
my folly inccnsed him. SO we parted"
And is he married now?"
Il do not know. l have never seen
nor heard from him since. He was
only spending the summer vacation, a
college student, In our quiet village"
What was his last name"
"N'importe, Miriam, do not let us
disinter any more of the horrid past.
1 have told you my folly. See that
you take warning by It,"
And none OF Miriam Blake's soft
coaxings could win from Aunt Violet
any further condolences.
you are not an old maid. darling
aunty," said Miriam. but Sarah
Marsh is, and | mean to enter the lists
with her myself to win the new min
isters favor, The parsonage would
make pretty nest for such a bird as
/ am, all embowered in roses and
clematis, and full Of delicious little
by windows and maple shaded piazzes.
/ hope he's young and good-looking."
He's just thirty-five," said Ellie,
"for Deacon Alden told me So"
Did he say whether he was good
looking or not?'
"No. he didn't, as If Deacon Alden
cared for his looks"