Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 157, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1918 — A Roman Scarf [ARTICLE]

A Roman Scarf

By EMILY S. WINDSOR

(Copyright, I>l|, Western Newspaper Union.) Miss Minerva’s 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 Minerva’s agitation. “I wonder what it is this time,” she muttered, as she poured hot water into a pan, preparatory to washing the dinner dishes. “Yes’m,’’ she answered in response to Miss Minerva’s excited call of "Elizabeth Ann!” “That horrid dog from the next place is ihasing 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 wagged its tall, and frisked around Elizabeth Ann. “Oh, Flip, why do yon worry poor, bid Peter so? Go home, sir,” she said severely. The terrier trotted after her to a remote corner of the yard, where he submissively crept through a gap in jthe fence which separated Miss Minerva’s 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. “Flip tresspassin’ again?” he asked. “He was chasin’ Peter,” said Elizabeth Ann. “It was the chickens this morning, Mr. Dobbs.” “Keeps you pretty busy, doesn’t it?” Elizabeth Ann laughed. “I don’t mind it, 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. “I reckon it’s more the dog’s owner that she doesn’t like," he said. “I 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, reflectively, 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 a discussion arose as to the proper mode of baptism. He had contended that sprinkling was sufficient, 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. Elizabeth 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!” ejaculated 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 tranquilly knitting, and Peter curled up on a cushion near her. Elizabeth Ann stood awhile looking Out of the window. She was undecided whether to go down to the fence and talk with Mr. Dobbs, or to go up to the attic. But she saw that it was beginning to rain, and reflected that Mr. Dobbs would not continue hoeing, for be 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 attraction. He told iier such Interesting stories, and listened to all of her confidences so attentively, and he never told her not to be foolish, as Miss Minerva had done when she had* ventured to communicate her thoughts to her. - t “Don’t get into mischief," Miss Minerva 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 bunches of artificial flowers and various other articles of cast-off finery. 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 waa soft and fine, and of beautiful colors Ing, the ends deeply fringed. Elizabeth Ann gave an exclamation of delight She had a passion for rich colors, and this was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Severe plainness of dress was part of Miss Minerva’s creed. Elizabeth Ann smoothed out the soft folds again and again. It would make

; such a lovely sash, she thought How : had her aunt ever thrown it aridel : She passed it about her waist and tied it in a 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 quietly downstairs, and avoiding the sitting room, .went out of a side door. If Miss Minerva saw'her with the scarf ! on, she would tell her not to be foolish. Miss Minerva was still knitting 1 placidly, and Peter purred at her feet, when, chancing to glance out of the window, she beheld a sight which made i her suddenly sit up stiff and erect in ' her chair. Mr. Dobbs crossing her 1 yard! He came on with a long, rapid 1 stride that in a few moments brought ■ him to her sitting room door, which he 1 opened after a 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 I asked you, and then Pd a , known—and not waited and waited as I did for months?” he asked reproachfully, as he looked alternately at the scarf and Miss Minerva. The latter made no answer, and Mr. Dobbs went on: “Our not agreeln’ on sprinklin’ or ’mersion made no difference. When a man asks a Woman to - marry him, he naturally looks for an ■ answer.” i Miss Minerva now found voice, i “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 “I don’t know what you are talking about. Send it back? I never saw the thing before.” “Is that really so, Minerva?” he asked eagerly. “It’s not my habit to lie,” replied : Miss Minerva, icily. “I've 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 whole thing. I ’spose you remember our argument about baptisin’. 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 a 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 a 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. It 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 a 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. “I never had a note from you, and I never saw that scarf before,” she said quickly. “I sent them by the hired man.” “That was the summer Cousin Mattie Simmons was with me. Likely I was out, and he left them with her. You know what ft scatter-brain she is.” The color had deepened in Miss Minerva’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 It now?” she asked suddenly. "Elizabeth Ann found it in your attic, and — “Elizabeth Ann 1” repeated Miss Minerva. "Never mind about her, Minerva — Will you take it? You know the conditions.” Miss Minerva took the scarf and looked at it closely. “It is a good quality of silk,” she said quietly. "But you know, Jonathan, I’m too old to wear such gay colors.” Mr. Dobbs laughed contentedly. "Please yourself, Minerva, so long aa you take it”