Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-06-20

| She passed 1T about her waist and tied
! it in bow with loops that fell to the
bottom of her skirt. A ray of sunlight
! flashed through the attic window.
Why, it had not rained much after all.
She would run down to the orchard,
and see If Mr.. Dobbs were out. She
must show that scarf. Mr.. Dobbs liked
pretty things, too. So she crept quiet
~ downstairs, and avoiding the sitting
room, went out of side door. If
Miss Minerva saw her with the scarf
on, she would tell her not to be foolish.
| Miss Minerva was still knitting
placidly, and Peter purred at her feet,
when. CHANGING to glance out of the
window, she beheld sight which made
! her suddenly sit up stiff and erect in
her chair. Mr.. Dobbs crossing her
yard! He came on with a long, rapid
| stride that in a few moments brought
him to her sitting room door, which he
opened after warning knock. Miss
Minerva turned her stern gray eyes
upon him in cold inquiry. He held a
/ gay-cOlOred silk scarf in his hand.
Minerva, why didn't you send it
| back as | asked you, and then-I'd a
known-and not waited and waited as
l did for months?" he asked reprOach-
fully, as he looked alternately at the
scarf and Miss Minerva.
The latter made no answer, and Mr..
Dobbs went on: "Our not agreein' on
sprinklin' or 'mersion made no differ
ence. When q man asks a woman to
| marry him, he naturally looks for an
answer"
Miss Minerva now found voice.
Jonathan Dobbs will you tell me what
all this means?" she asked frigidly.
He held out the scarf. "Why didn't
you send it back, if you didn't want
me?"
Miss Minerva stared at him in ever
growing astonishment. II don't know
what you are talking about. Send it
back? I never saw the thing before"
"Is that really so, Mine~a?" he ask
ed eagerly.
cts not my habit to lie," replied
Miss Minerva, icily.
give often had misgivings that there
was some mistake. I never had the
courage to ask you about it, for you
know how you treated me when we
met. Turned away your head and"
Miss Minerva rose impatiently.
what are you talking about? What
have I to do with that silk thing"-
"Well, Minerva, I'll go over the
ho1 oho.
our argument about baptism. I talked
the way I did just to tease you, but
you took it all for earnest. Now, I
had had it in mind for long time to
ask you a certain question, and a day
Or two after our misunderstanding I
was down to the city on business and
saw lot Of silk things like this in a
shop window, and the ladies was a
wearin' them around their necks--so
I just thought I'd buy one and send
it to you, and at the same time ask you
that question. I writ a little note
and sent with it. 1t was tellin' you if
you was willin' to be Mrs. Dobbs to
wear it to meetin' the next Sunday,
and if not to send it back. But you
didn't wear it to meetin', and you
didn't send it back"
AS Miss Minerva listened, her stern
face relaxed and softened light
shone in her eyes. Before Mr.. Dobbs
had finished, she turned her gaze to
the window, and there was a little
flush in her cheeks.
II never had a note from you, and
/ never saw that scarf BEFORE" she
said quickly.
II sent them by the hired man."
"That was the summer Cousin Mat
tie Simmons was with me. Likely
was out, and he left them with her.
You know what scatter-brain she is"
The color had deepened in Miss Mi
nerva's cheeks, and there was none of
her accustomed severity of manner. ~
She looked down at the scarf in Mr..
Dobbs' hand. 'But where did you get
1t nOw?" she asked suddenly.
"Elizabeth Ann found it in your at
tic, and
"Elizabeth Ann!" repeated Miss
Minerva.
"Never mind about her, Minerva
Will you take it? You know the con-
ditions."
Miss Minerva took the scarf and
looked at it closely.
''It is a good quality of silk" she
said quietly. "But you know, JON
athan, I'm too old to wear such gay
colors."
Mr.. Dobbs laughed contentedly.
"Please yourself, Minerva, so long as
you take it."
Ma.ey. N.~>LI>