Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-10-07
THE NEW MINISTER.


Miriam Blake and her cousin, Eff1e
Towers burst into the quiet, old-fash-
Toned sitting room like twin gales of
wind, so fresh and sudden and inspirit-
ing were they.
1t was a 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
IRE cracking from FURNISHED brass
andirons on the hearth-for Aunt Vio-
let loved an open fire, and adhered to
t through all the modern innovations.
She was a woman past 80, yet very
pretty withal-a woman whose type of
face and form would always remain
youthful Brown hair, with ripping
lights of gold upon it's surface; blue
gray eyes, large and shaded with long
Iashes; complexion where the fresh,
white and red betokened perfect
health, and smiling, cherry-red melt
ing mouth, whose smiles betrayed
/ singularly regular set of teeth-Miss
Violet was perhaps quite as attractive
In her mature womanhood as she had
been in her fresher girl days.
Tonight" said Aunt Violet. "And
Is the parsonage all in readiness?"
'All prepared, believe. And, what
do you think, Aunt Violet" went on
Miriam, with girlish eagerness, "of old
Mrs. March going there with her two
daughters, to prepare tea, and make
1t sort of humlike,' as she says, for
aim the first night?'
And Violet smiled over her crochet
why" struck in Fife Towers, 1.-The
harsh girls are as CID as the hills"
Not quite as old as the hills" said
Aunt Violet, quietly. Sarah Marsh is
about my age, and Mehitable cannot
be more than year or two older"
ooh, Aunt Violet" said Fife, coax
ingly, stealing both arms around Miss
Browns slender waist, nobody ever
thinks of you being old"
Its an indisputable fact, neverthe-
less" said Aunt Violet, serenely.
Aunt Violet" said Miriam, sudden
ly, as she sat looking for full in the
face, chow l wish Mr.. Smith would
fall in love with you!"
Aunt Violet shrugged her shoulders.
my dear child, isn't Brown suf1-
GENTLY cognomen but you want to
change 1t into the still more hack
neyed name of Smith,"
81 wasn't thinking of the name, Aunt
Violet 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 pref
tiest 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.
81 know what makes Aunt Violet
speak so, Miriam-she had a disap-
pointment years and years ago!"
! "Aunty! Did you really?"
'"Years and years ago. as Fife says,
l had a lover" returned Aunt Violet,
calmly.
"And what interrupted the current
of true love?"
81 was foolish and wished to test my
power Clarence-that was his name
was hasty and impulsive, and my fol-
ly incensed him. So we parted
"And is he married now?"
81 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?"
That's of no consequence, Miriam;
do not let us disinter any more of the
horrid past. 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 minister's
favor. The parsonage would make
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 he's
young and good-looking!"
He is just 49," said Effie, ''for Dea-
con Alden told me So"
did he say whether he was good
looking or not?"
mo, he didn't-as if Deacon Alden
cared for his looks"
Thirty-five-thati is rather old-bach-
elorish, but man isn't totally past
reform at 49, observed Miriam, pen
sively. IF Aunt Violet won't have
him, I'll try my chance"
Il 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 ruff1es
done up. One can't be too careful of
ones advantage of costume at such
critical time. and | know Mehitable
Marsh has white dress, with blue
rosebuds all over it..
Miriam, what rattlepate you are,
said Fife.
. Don't | tell you need a minister
Tor 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.
I've found out my future husbands
name"
What is it?''
"A decided noTelty-John Smith,
Aunt Violet smiled. and Miriam van
ished once more, like a twinkling bit
Of fhisflad0Wn