Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-10-30
wv wv ~ w SOSSSN
, An F;
! Organized
! Epidemic
J II Cured, oS Was Intended.
Some Chronic Cases.
) BY MARTHA Will.
} LiAMS.
, Copyright. 1909. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
ooooooooooooooooooc

subtlesi ironics. 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 wern
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
n she talked back. which was seldom.
since she had rather talent for ST.
lencc than for speech.
The sisters were not consciously un-
kind. II was just that they had fallen
into the way OF fretting ut 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 ap-
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 Grimleys
had had 10 invent Il new sin for her.
They had chosen to find II 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 clerking over
at the crossroads-hadn't he actually
tried to get board ut the Grimley man.
sion? DIR. Bell. the one person who
dared speak up TO the sisters. rated
them soundiy 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 aud 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, woman
was lucky to escape such things. Look
at Minerva herself. Where would she
be now If the Grimleys had not chosen
that better part?
DIR. Bell. who had tongue as rough
and heart as warm as his greatcoat,
growled at them. After awhile. being
strategist. he did something else
something which at first blush made
him laugh great shouting laugh.
When his wife asked the meaning of
1t he said systematically:
"Oh. I'm 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 great occasion. Min
listers. their wives. sons and daughters
We're coming by the score. Their num-
Der would not be too great. however.
for the countryside's hospitality.
With no proyocation whatever from
the church DIR. Bell fixed 1t so the
Grimleys would have rather more than
double share Of the clerical influx
namely. Deacon Brown and his wife,
DIR. Henshaw. 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 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 fatef
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 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 hospitable impulse. they
showed for what they were-excellent
gentlewomen OF the first rank.
AS for Minerva. she fairly blossomed.
Even the most callous onlooker saw In
her a new creature. She was SO ra-
diant. indeed. that before three days
were out Professor Balderson. n sea
soned bachelor. made up his mind to
marry her II he could. He. changed
his mind after good Sister Brown had
let fall words Of wisdom.
ITS providential." she said. nodding
| toward Minerva and young Lee. If