Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 28, 2025
"Well, let's have the p'ints the girl makes!" growled the old shipmaster. "I will listen to 'em." Elder Minnett bowed formally and began Ida May's story, checking off the several assertions she had made when she was at the Ball house far more clearly than the girl herself had done. As Sheila listened, her heart sank even lower. It was so very reasonable! How could the Balls fail to be impressed?
"You know you promised Elder Minnett you would be if we let you come here." "I don't want to stay here. I've seen enough of this place and you all! And I would be ashamed to stay any longer than I can help with folks that take in such a girl as she is." Again Ida May's little claw indicated Sheila, who stared, speechless, helpless, at least for the time being.
I don't see how you can bear to have the crazy critter here. And Prudence " "If Ida May says she is willing," sighed the old woman, glad to be able to set a course not opposed to her minister's advice. "Thank you, young woman," Elder Minnett said, speaking grimly enough to Sheila. "Those who have nothing to fear can afford to be generous. You have done right."
"What? I swan! To see the elder!" ejaculated Cap'n Ira. "What she needs is a doctor, not a minister. What do you think of that, Prudence?" "I hope Elder Minnett will be able to put her in better mind," sighed his wife. "That girl must have a very wicked heart, indeed, if she isn't really crazy."
This is Ida May Bostwick, Elder Minnett," he added, as Sheila entered. "Yes, yes. I have had the pleasure," said the elder, bowing gravely without offering to shake hands. He turned abruptly to Prudence. "You are quite convinced in your own mind, Sister Ball, that the young woman at the Pauling's is not your niece?" "Why, Elder Minnett," returned Prudence, "how can she be?
Beg your pardon, Elder. No offense. But you don't mean to say that she seems sane and sensible to you?" "Sane yes! As for being sensible, that is another thing," confessed Elder Minnett. "Huh! What do you mean by that?" asked Cap'n Ira curiously. "She has told her story in full to me, and told it twice alike," said the grim-visaged minister, looking at Sheila as he answered the query.
But Cap'n Ira and Prudence listened with more of a puzzled expression in their countenances than anything else. It seemed altogether wild and improbable to them. Why! There sat Ida May before them. There could not be two Ida May Bostwicks! "Say!" exclaimed Cap'n Ira suddenly, after Elder Minnett had concluded, "that girl says she worked at Hoskin & Marl's?" "Yes."
I do wish Elder Minnett could have minded his own business and let well enough alone. Let the girl talk, and other folks, too. Trying to stop gossip is like trying to put your finger on a drop of quicksilver. There won't be no good come o' that girl being here. That's as sure as sure." The elder's car came wheezing up the hill again about the middle of the forenoon.
"That confounded girl never should have been allowed to come back to the house up there," he cried almost wildly. "Why did Elder Minnett want to interfere? It was not his business! No one need have known the truth." "Don't you see, Tunis, that just because it was the truth it was sure to become known? At least, the main points in the whole matter were sure to come out.
Sheila had thought, on the few occasions when she had met him away from his pulpit, that there was an undercurrent of humanity in him quite equal to that in Cap'n Ira Ball, but his personal appearance and rather gruff manner made it difficult for one to be sure of the measure of his tenderness. How Elder Minnett appeared in the sick room or in the house of sorrow, she did not know.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking