Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-06-19
A
Roman Scarf
~D
By EMILY q. WINDSOR
BY EMILY 9. WINDSOR

Miss Minerals knitting fell to the
floor, as, rising hastily, she adjusted
her spectacles, and peered out Of the
window.
The door leading into the kitchen
was open, and Elizabeth Ann had seen
Miss Minerals agitation. II wonder
what it Is this time," she muttered, as
she poured hot water into q pan, pre-
paratory to- washing the dinner dishes.
"Yes'm," she answered in response
to Miss Minerals excited call of
'Elizabeth Ami"
''That horrid dog from the next
place is chasing Peter. Run and put
the little beast out!'
AS Elizabeth Ann crossed the yard,
a large black cat, closely followed by
a Scotch terrier, whisked past her and
In at the kitchen door. The dog wag-
ged its tail, and frisked around Eliz-
abeth Ann.
"Oh, Flip, why do you worry poor,
old Peter so? Go home, SIR" she said
severely. The terrier trotted after her
to remote corner Of the yard, where
he submissively crept through a gap
in the fence which separated Miss
Minerals property from the adjoining
place.
A man at work on the other side
threw down his hoe, and came up. He
was tall and spare and was clad in
blue jean trousers and checkered shirt.
'F'lip tresspassin' again." he asked.
HE was chasin' Peter" said Eliza
beth Ann. 1T was the chickens this
morning, Mr.. Dobbs."
"Keeps you pretty busy, doesn't it,"
Elizabeth Ann laughed II don't
mind 1t, it's fun," she said.
"She always did set great store by
Peter, but Flip can't abide him. Still
he wouldn't hurt the critter."
miss Minerva doesn't like dogs"
said Elizabeth Ann laughing again.
Mr.. Dobbs chuckled. II reckon it's
more the dogs owner that she doesn't
like" he said.
II must go back" said Elizabeth
Ann in a regretful tone. "Good-bye,
for now, Mr.. Dobbs."
mighty interestin' child for only
bein' eleven, too," said Mr.. DObbs, re-
fectively, stroking his grizzled beard,
as he looked after Elizabeth. "Wonder
what Minerva Collins d say If she
knew me and her is such friends"
AS he resumed his hoeing his
thoughts went back to the years when
the relations between him and Miss
Minerva had not been in their present
strained condition; to that unlucky
evening when discussion arose as to
the proper mode Of baptism. He had
contended that sprinkling was sufi-
cient, and Miss Minerva had held out
for immersion. That was long before
Elizabeth Ann had come to live with
her aunt. Mr.. Dobbs had often told
her about the quarrels.
"And she's never taken any notice
of me since. I tried once to make it
up. And it was strange about that,
too" he had added thoughtfully. Eliz-
abeth Ann had wondered how he had
tried to make it up, but had not liked
to ask.
did you see him on his own side
before you came back?' asked Miss
Minerva when Elizabeth Ann went
back to her interrupted dish washing.
"Yes'm," answered Elizabeth Ann.
NASTY little beast!" calculated Miss
Minerva. When the last dish had been
placed in the closet, and the kitchen
put in spotless order, Elizabeth Ann
went into the sitting room.
IF everything's done. you may have
the afternoon to yourself" said Miss
Minerva, who was now TRANQUILITY knit
ting, and Peter curled up on a cushion
near her.
Elizabeth Ann stood awhile looking
out Of the window. She was undecid-
ed whether to go down to the fence
and talk with Mr.. Dobbs, or to 20 up
to the attic. But she saw that it was
beginning to rain, and reflected that
Mr.. Dobbs would not continue hoeing,
for he had been having rheumatic
twinges lately. So with some regret,
she decided In favor of the attic, for,
great as were the charms which the
latter place had for her, Mr.. Dobbs'
society possessed a stronger. attrac-
ton. He told her such interesting sto-
rtes, and listened to all of her con-
f1dences so attentively, and he never
told her not to be foolish, as Miss
Minerva had done when she had ven
tured to communicate her thoughts to
her.
Don't get into mischief" Miss Min.
erva called out as Elizabeth Ann left
the room.
There was an old-fashioned trunk
of odds and ends which Miss Minerva
had told her she could have to play
with provided "she kept them tidily."
Elizabeth Ann had not yet explored
to the bottom of the trunk. She would
do so today. There were pieces of
ribbons and lace, ends of embroidery,
some lunches of artificial flowers and
various other articles Of cast-off fin.
cry. Under all, on the bottom Of the
trunk something was folded in white
tissue paper. Elizabeth Ann opened
it, and a long Roman striped silk scarf
fell out in glistening folds. It was
soft and fine, and of beautiful color.
ing, the ends deeply fringed. Eliz-
abeth Ann gave an exclamation of de.
light. She had a passion for rich col.
ors, and this was the most beautiful
thing she had ever seen. Severe plain.
ness Of dress was part Of Miss Min.
erva's creed.
Elizabeth Ann smoothed out the soft
folds again and again. It would make