The Democratic advocate., 1909-11-12
An
Organized
Epidemic
II Cured. az WoS xnFeNdsd.
Some Chronic Cases.
BY MARTHA McuLLocH- vii {
LiAMs.
Copyright. 1908. by Associated LAt-
erary Press.
Copyright. 1903. by Associated Eat.
erary Press.

subtlest ironies. the girl was SO far--so
very far-from wise. Indeed. she knew
no more than to be sweet and biddable
to grabbed task mistresses. They were
the Grimley sisters who had taken
her. as they said daily. out Of charity
and to whom she served for hands,
feet and eyes. She was rated sharply
II she talked back. which was seldom,
since she had rather talent 6or e.
lence than for speech.
The sisters were not consciously un-
kind. 1t was just that they had fallen
into the way OF fretting at everything.
Life had defrauded them Of the natu-
raj husbands and children.
Therefore they made the most of such
small worries as remained to alaIfen
gentlewomen.
Minerva came to them wtlem slbe was
ten. Tor the next eight years her ap-
petite and her trick Of breaking things,
especially those she was handbag with
utmost care. had served as vital grIev-
ances. But since she was fun grown
she ate much less and hardly ever Lee
fall anything, no matter how fragile
or precious; hence the Miss Crtmleys
had had TO invent a new sin for heg.
They had chosen to find It In her DOG
sible future husband. According 10
their notion. she was always intent
upon matrimony and scheming 20 en-
snare Whatever masculine person
chance threw In her way.
The young circuit rider. for example;
Jim Mace. the constable. who rode by
the big gate every other daY; the two
Leonards, who farmed the lower place:
even the young fellow clerking over
at the crossroads-hadn't he actually
tried to get board at the GrimIey man.
sion? DIR. Bell. the one person who
dared speak up to the sisters, rated
them soundly for such suspicious. No
wonder, be said, poor Minerva. a. shy
and modest as any white rose, was
awkward, almost rude, indeed, to ali
the young fellows she encountered and
therefere Likely TO die an old maid.
miss Jane and Miss Abby nodded
approval there Minerva was TO have
everything when they were gone. II
would be quite enough to keep her like
a lady. Husbands were but worries
most of the time. As for children,
they shook their heads aud sighed.
Clearly, In their judgment woman
was lucky TO escape such things. Look
at Minerva herself. Where would she
be now II the Grimleys had not chosen
that better pqrti
DIR. Bell, who had tongue as rough
and heart as warm as his greatcoat,
growled nt them. After awhile, being
a strategist, be did something else
something which at first blush made
him hugh a great shouting laugh
When his wife asked the meaning OF
It he said enigmatically:
"Oh, I'm going to euro some chronic
cases by provoking an epidemic"
And that was all she could get out
OF him, no matter how hard she tried
She could not try very hard. since,
like the rest Of the neighborhood, she
was giving all her mind TO the coming
session Of the synod.
1t was to be great occasion. Min
isters, their wives, sons and daughters
were coming by the score. Their mum.
Der would not be too great, however.
for the countryside's hospitality.
With no provocation whatever from
the church DIR. Bell fixed 1t so the
Grimleys would have rather more than
a double share Of the clerical infiux--
namely, Deacon Brown and his wife.
Dr. Henshaw, q pulpit Samson. Just
beginning to look about him over the
edges of weeds not yet rusty: Profess
or Balderson, famed for persuading
money into college channels, and young
Lee, not yet come TO full ordination.
How the doctor managed all this is not
known. He was almost INSCRIPTIONS
when 1t came to carrying out n plan.
At least two other households were
full of bitter jealousy over the parcel
ing out of guests, but the guests did
not suspect it-least Of all those fated
TO sit at meat with the Grimleys.
Miss Jane was famous cook, Miss
Abby was past mistress at preserving,
Minerva made cake that was simply
heavenly. and black Susan was u mira
Gle Of efficient strength In the kitchen.
SO the visitors reJoiced that their lines
had fallen as they had Indeed. all
through synod week they could not say
enough In praise and gratitude to their
hostesses. AS consequence Miss
Jane and Miss Abby forgot either to
scold or TO suspect. Carried away by
the tide Of hospltable impulse. they
showed for what they were-excelIent
gentlewomen of the first rank.
As for Minerva, she fairly blossomed.
Even the most callous onlool1er saw in
her new creature. She was so ra-
dlant. indeed. that before three days
were out Professor Balderson, sea
soned bachelor, made up his mind to
marry her If he could. He changed
his mind after good Sister Brown had
let fall words Of wisdom.
ITS providentiai," she said. noSAing
.oward Minerva and young III IFe I
ever anybody was cut aan E.xsjF a.
tors wife it's that sweet 80. sptdm
mighty glad to believe both of them
have found it out"
Slight observation brought the pro-
lessor himself to the same belief FNr
half an hour he was right down crest,
falSns then he flung up his bead and
actually whistled. Possibly the sight
of Miss Jane had nothing to do with
it. But certainly that afternoon and
all through the days following he kept
pretty close to her Miss Jane was in
state Of mind. II was plain as pike
stan that that man Henshaw was
making up to Sister Abby-Abby. who
had never before tolerated anybody's
ennrffn0