Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1922-07-27
THE UNWORTHY
BY AGNES sRoGAN


tale Of his wanderings. That Stephen
had arrived as an artist there was no
doubt. and adulatiOn followed In his
wake.
Tell u.s." begged the brunette
where you found those quaint goose
glr sort Of pictures, stephen. only
your goose girl is a tender OF sheep.
am quite carried away BY the soft
green Of the hillside where her white
charges g0mbOl and by the sweet
penslyeness of the girls face. Is there
such person as 'Minna OF the Hills,
Stephen, and who is sheY
The artist laughed, then his fine
eyes grew reminiscent.
Eyes" he answered slowly.
'Minna lives, and her hillside Is as
green as 1t Is painted. The place Is
Isolated, unfrequented mountain coun-
try. But though Mlnna was persuaded
TO pose for me, With her pet lambs
she Is not always rustlcally inclined.
Down the slope Hes the humble
cottage where the girl lives with her
grandparents, simple old souls. too
trustful quite to exist outside the
reared the orphaned darling of their
hearts.
"My meeting with Mlnna was acct
dental. In search OF sketches ! rode
the hills coming upon her In one OF
her restful hours. The OLD people later
were persuaded to give me supper.
Persuaded is not the word, hospltali-
ty Is part of their code. But this girl,
She was a wonder tO me-a marvel,
surprise. She had read much valuable
reading, yet she could laugh Mt one
with merry. almost mocking aSS'ir-
ance.
"She could dance in the moonlight
across the fields, an untaught thing.
as graceful as n faun."
"Ah. then" interrupted Stephens
sister, you did go again to see Minna
and at moonlight
The admired man joined In the nc
companylng laughter.
"Why yes" he admitted, many
times"
Mrs. Reynolds, her shrewd dark
eyes troubled. came toward her son.
stephen" she began, "when you
spoke of that sheep-tending girl there
was look on your facet can't de-
scribe IT, But Stephen, surely you had
no interest In that simple creature.
You will not 70 back TO the hills, Ste
phenr
81 am not going back" the son am
swered decidedly, and turned aside. j
II was Jane who sought him ouS
later in the evening.
Steve" she said abruptly, Il am
afraid YOU are in for trouble. Your
wild bird has flown here on your trail.
she's in our library this minute wait
ing TO see you
For n moment the artist stared in
credulously, then, without reply. left
the room Alinna was in the library.
"Is It proper do not know asked
Mlnna, "for me TO slip down from my
chair TO say how do you do'f Or. do
you come TO me?"
II come 10 YOU" answered stephen,
absently. He was crossing the room
TO her side
The indignation which had nssailed
him at the knowledge Of her presence,
vanished in sudden overwhelming
Hood of tenderness.
81 must" she said, with difficulty,
fnI
far grandfather and !, that might do
So | cannot marry you, Mr.. Reynolds
That is what | came 10 say. You told
me that YOU would come back again
In the spring time TO claim me- !
promised that would marry you then
because | did not understand, because
| loved you
~ stlll love you, but | understand
Grandfather and | talked Il all over
He explained 10 me about the grand
life you live, and the women beautiful
wonderful who are your friends
women like that one who brought me
into this room tonight,
MY grandparents feared that you
might grow ashamed Of my untaught
ways, and l, feeling your dlssatisfac-
ton, should grow unhappy So ii is
best that l do not marry you. Mr.. Ste
phen Reynolds | came to tell you SO
and coming find that my grandpar-
ents were right"
Bravely, Mlnna came to the man
standing grave, repentantly grave, be
fore her. But when she put out TO
him her honest little hand in farewell.
stephen, sinking To his knees, pressed
his lips against e.
"Minna, he said in choking tones.
Fit is l-I-who am ashamed before
YOU"
Jane REYNOLDS and her mother
glanced up saxiously MS Stephen came
back again 20 the assembled guests.
stephen heckoned. and the small tig-
ure in the neat, blue suit followed.
The wistful eyes Of "Mlnna Of the
Hills gazed out upon them all, then
confident, her red lips smiled.
Mother" cried Stephen REYNOLDS
proudly friends. this is my little
hancee. Tomorrow We are to be mar.
rled"