The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-11-11
THE NEW MINISTER.
By Helen Forrest Graves.

her myself to win the new minister's
favor. The parsonage would make a
pretty nest for such bird as am, all
uncovered in roses and clematis, and
full of delicious little bay windows and
maple-shaded piazzas. hope mes
young and good-looking!"
"He is just 3d." said Efie, ''for Dea-
con 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"
Thirty fve-that is rather old-bach-
elorish, but man isn't totally past
reform at 3d." observed Miriam, pen
sively IF Aunt Violet won't have
him, I'll try my chance"
81 shall never marry" gravely reit-
Grated Aunt Violet, with more seri-
BUSINESS than Miriam's light testing
way seemed to call for.
"If that's the case" said Miriam,
"I'll go and rip up the breadths OF my
lilac lawn dress, and have the ruffies
done up One can't be too careful OF
OASA~
critical time, and / know Mehitable
Marsh has white dress, with blue
rosebuds all over it."
Miriam, what rattlepate you are,
said Fife.
Don't l tell you l need minister
for husband, just to sober me DOWN."
And with this Parthian arrow of
retort, Miss Miriam quilted the room,
with Fife following her.
Presently she came back again, dane
ing merrily into the room.
'Tve found out my future husbands
name"
what is it?"
"a decided novelty-John Smith,
Aunt Violet smiled. and Miriam van
| ished once more, like twinkling bit
| of thistledown.
| Violet Brown sat gazing into the
| coral depths of the bright embers that
had fallen through the logs on the
hearth Somehow, spite Of her asser-
ton self-reliance and independence,
she felt very lonely this October after
noon.
"I'll go for walk" thought Violet.
perhaps a little exercise will dissi-
pate this gathering dependency"
She tied round hat under her curls,
put on a coquettish scarlet bolero, tas-
seled with white silk, which, accord
ing to her loving nieces, made her
look like a delicious little Red Riding
Hood" and went into the fresh aut-
umn air, where the woods, all radiant
with gold and crimson glories, were
showering their leafy trophies on the
walks below, as she entered their silent
aisles.
Autumn" she thought, sadly, chow
soon it has come upon us And it is
but a little while since spring was
here with her dew and roses. My
spring has vanished, too, and, unlike
the sacred season of birds and blos
some, it will never return to me again
Heigho / wonder what / was borr
into this world for. don't seem to b'
of very much use to anybody"
Violet was thinking thus, littl
pensively, as she sat on a moss-enam
eled fallen tree, tapping the drifts o
yellow leaves with the point of he
t parasol, and letting the fresh, fragran
wind blow the gold-brown curls bacl
7 from her forehead. She was no
thinking how picturesque was her at
: titude, nor how beautiful her fac
looked In its oval clearness, with
pink flush on each cheek, but bot
4 these facts struck the perceptions of
$ tall stranger, carrying valise IL
!. his left hand, who had just crossed tn
. stile leading from the main road, an
entered the illuminated glow OF tn
f; autumnal woods.
e He raised his hat with courteou
motion as Miss Brown started at hi
advancing footsteps.
t II beg your pardon; fear l hav
It Internationally startled YOU"
mot at all" Violet looked up earn
g estly at his face as she answered.
h Perhaps you can direct me to To
h shortest cut across these WOODS