Elisabeth Sanxay Holding

“ Petersen.
“I should think,” said Minnie, stiffly, “that there’d be plenty of people who would enjoy a nice, old-fashioned country winter.”
“An old person,” she added. “He might enjoy Grandpa’s library.”
This was absolutely too much for Mr. Petersen. He could no longer restrain himself; he burst into a tremendous laugh. He had a vision of a wretched old man, shivering in their frigid parlour, absorbed in that desolating accumulation of old hymn books, old volumes of sermons, bound volumes of long dead and forgotten magazines, and sickly old novels. ”

“ Petersen wished to convey politely to her the idea that no sane person would dream of coming to board in a desolate old farm without even the classic advantages of fresh milk and “scenery.” And Minnie wondered that he couldn’t see the extraordinary and fascinating results which might follow the introduction of a strange man into their household. He might be an old man, who would naturally die and leave her all his money, or a young one who would marry her. ”

“ Everything going so smoothly, so beautifully, until once more Frankie spoiled it all.
She came home one evening in a fever of excitement. The librarian in the Carnegie Branch—a nice, jolly girl who extolled Mr. Petersen and liked Frankie—had told her of a position in New York.
“She was offered it, but it wouldn’t suit her, so she recommended me. She says she’s sure I could fill it. Wasn’t it nice of her?”
Minnie said nothing.
“It’s an authoress; she wants a secretary. She doesn’t care so much about experience or training, but she wants someone presentable—of good family.” ”

“ She even thought, with irrational delight, of the possibility of an artist, or a poet.... Why wouldn’t the man understand that she didn’t care whether or not she made money from the venture? The essential thing was, that something should happen. ”

“ Apply X——”
“But——” he faltered, “I don’t ... do you mean ... you would teach farming, Miss Minnie?”
“Yes,” she said, calmly. “I could always ask Thomas Washington about things I didn’t know, when they came up. His truck farm is quite a model, you know.”
Mr. Petersen was suffering horribly; he felt that he could not keep a straight face much longer.
“But—you see ...” he said. “People don’t do that much—in these days. There are—you know—any number of agricultural colleges——”
“Yes,” said Minnie, scornfully. “That’s all very well. But practical experience is what anyone needs. ”