Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-10-30

Minerva's name was one OF fate'S
subtlest ironies. the girl was so far-eo
very far-from wise. Indeed, she knew
no more than to be sweet and blddable
to Grabbed task mistresses. They were
the GrimIey 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
If she talked back. which was seldom.
since she had rather a talent for ST.
lence than for speech.
The sisters were not consciously IN
kind. 1t was just that they had fallen
into the way of fretting at everything.
Life had defrauded them of the natu-
raj outlets-husbands and children.
Therefore they made the most of such
small worries as remained to maiden
gentlewomen.
Minerva came to them when she was
ten. For the next eight years her up
petite and her trick of breaking things,
especially those she was handling with
utmost care, had served as vital griev-
ances. But since she was full grown
she ate much less and hardly ever let
fall anything, no matter how fragile
or precious; hence the Miss Grfmleys
had had to invent new sin for her.
They had chosen to find it in her pos
sible future husband. According to
their notion. she was always intent
upon matrimony and scheming TO 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 clerkiug over
at the crossrOads-hadn't he actually
tried to get board at the Grimley man.
sion? DR.. Bell, the one person who
dared speak up TO the sisters, rated
them soundly for such suspicious. No
wonder, he said. poor Minerva, as shy
and modest as any white rose, was
awkward, almost rude, indeed, to all
the young fellows she encountered and
therefore likely to die an old maid.
Miss Jane and Miss Abby nodded
approval there. Minerva was to have
everything when they were gone. 1t
would be quite enough to keep her like
lady. Husbands were but worries
most of the time. AS for children.
they shook their heads and sighed
Clearly, in their Judgment, n woman
was lucky to escape such things. Look
at Minerva herself! Where would she
be now IL the Grimleys had not chosen
that better part?
DR.. Bell, who had tongue as rough
and heart as warm as his greatcoat.
growled at them. After awhile, being
a strategist, he did something else
something which at first blush made
him laugh a great shouting laugh.
When his wife asked the meaning of
it he said automatically:
"Oh, Pm going to cure 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 a great occasion. Min
listers. their wives, sons and daughters
were coming by the score. Their num-
Der would not be too great, however,
for the countryside's hospitality.
With no provocation whatever from
the church Or. Bell fixed it so the
Grimleys would have rather more than
O double share of the clerical influx
namely, Deacon Brown and his wife,
DR.. Henshaw, a. 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 it came to carrying out 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-leust 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 mira
Gle of efficient strength IN the kitchen
So the visitors rejolced that their lines
had fallen as they had. Indeed. al