Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-04-02
MINERVA
By A. Constance Smediey.

them up from the ground. Miss Den
| nison stopped dead. A boarding stood
on one side of the road, behind the iron
| ratings. Tattered bills and posters
! huttered from it miserably.
DO come along, dearw said the man.
Miss Dennison pressed her hands in
! to her muff and began an exhaustive
study of the contents of the boarding.
The man took few steps forward. He
was of chivalrOus disposition, but had
been engaged six months to Miss Den
nison.
ut will be dark in few minutes.''
| Miss DennisOn continued to peruSe
the bills, pensive interest in every line
Of her arrested pose.
| The man stood few steps off, with
a look on his face akin to that on the
face of a nurse who waits for q more
than usually spoiled child.
| "Do you know I'm beginning to think
I've gone the wrong way about man.
aging your
| An involuntary dimple flashed and
disappeared in Miss Dennison's care
l
however, saw only a still distracted
back.
Suppose were to take you at your
| word and leave you to walk home
alone?'
"You are quite unman]y enough 10
do SOP y
"Unman1y:'
| EYc 1vr tn 1f
at my heels, like a little dog?"
"What, in Heavens name do you
want Of me? IT rebel you have hys-
terics and call me a bruter'
"'Vivyella"" read Miss Dennison
aloud. What ridiculous waists girls
have ON fashion plates! Have you
noticed?'
The man suppressed an exclamation.
"But that's rather sweet blouse
she's wearing. / wonder if could re.
member it. I must make mental
notes.
Miss Denniscon rested her elbows on
the railing and buried her chin in her
!: muff, refectively.
''If you think you are going to make
me miss that train by dawdling in this
insensate fashion, you are mistaken y
"Sweet sleeve!' murmured Miss Den
! nison. II like the cuff so!'
II shall simply leave you here, yor
: know
, But can't see how it's put on. OF
| it's cut all in one with the sleeve"' sale
| Miss Dennison, with a sudden burs
of illumination. mo, I must learr
/ that"
Il Miss Dennison redoubled the ~fxity
e of her gaze.
: Il know perfectly well you heal
t everything I'm saying. Are you com
] ing or aren't you?'
e II believe it's arranged with a gus
S setv' announced Miss Dennison.
s The man opened his mouth, then sud
q denly turned on his heel and swun'
: down the road. He had cut the Cor
e dian knot. Miss Dennison must max
!, her deliberate way home alone. H
a had gone back to the station and hi
d city-bound train.
Miss Dennison found herself 1ef
It staring at the boarding in an attitud
It of mind that can only be described a
:. one of stunned amazement. Then tn
d dimples reappeared, and Miss Denn
e son smiled into her muff with an al
:, Of happy power.
VI "The further he goes, the 1urthe
E he'll have to come back, SO won't loo
around" said the astute and exper
t. enced Miss Dennison; land the slowe
d he is coming back, the surer he'll b
It Of missing his train. If he thinks he
IL going to catch it tonight, when war
him to stay here, he is very much NIL
e. taken, the ridiculous old thing!'
Miss Dennison began to reperuse tn
re boarding; it sheltered her pleasant
from the wind.
t, A hundred pounds rewarde'
An assuming little notice caught ht
y eyes. "Vivyella'' as q subject is cal
nt able of exhaustion. Miss Dennison we
10 coined change in literature with ala
a. Gritty.
AS she read Miss Dennison's fat
p. portrayed curious panorama Of e,
er preston: her cheeks paled gradual
I'd The little notice bore a crown, and W:
- couched in terse and simple 1anguag
te it was an earnest invitation to on
th eyed gentleman to return to his SO
rowing friends and guardians at tt
at convict prison across the marshes.
ad concluded with thoughtful warni1
n; to lonely and unprotected travellers
er to the gentleman's unprepossessing a
ay pearance and playful disposition.
1T Miss Dennison reread the bill wi
, interest no longer histrionic. The sc
= mist was rising on the marshes. T.
autumn dusk was closing in. T.
lie charms of meditation in the lonely Ian
scape seemed suddenly to have IL
lss their SAVIOUR. Miss Dennison look
en- up and down the road; her despis
betrothed had vanished into the mi
to The lights of the station glimmer