The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-06-12
ALICE.

was beautiful, in that fair and delicate
style in which we generally see angels
| represented, but for her sweetness, her
unseltishness, her affectiOnate dispo-
sition, and ready warm-hearted inter.
est in sympathy with others. And
such being her disposition, it was a
matter OF surprise to me that she
should have been two whole months
with US In HRgerstown, and remain
still fancy.free and insensible to the at
| fractions and devotion of two OF our
most irresistible beaux-Mr. Arthur
| Flint the rich lawyer, and young Doc
tor Somers, whose practice was already
80 extensive, and whose person and
manners so fascinating. But Alice,
though gentle and courteous to all, had
| never yet manifested Il moments pre-
| ference for either OF these desirable
suitors,' and Marion Moore had even
declared her belief that she had no
heart, and was destined to be an old
maid Alice smiled at this-a soft
dreamy smile, while just perceptible
blush would tinge her pale cheek-yet
she never made any reply.
II There was one person OF Alice &C
quaintance who did not love her, 1t
was Marion, the niece OF my uncle
Johns wife, at whose invitation we
| three girls were spending the winter in
Hagerstown. Marion was a tall, hand
| some, dashing girl, of that style gener.
ally called by young men 'sPiendld,
and she was, moreover, reputed
heiress. She was fond of conquest, and
had tried her powers first upon Doctor
SOmers, and then upon Mr.. Flint; and
fancied that she felt somewhat cha
grined at seeing herself eclipsed by
Alice-Alice who was so quiet and re-
firing, and who had not penny ex-
cept what was given her by Aunt Dor
Othy, and what she could herself earn
by giving music-lessons. Aunt Dor
Othy's gift did not amount TO much,
for the old lady was somewhat miser-
ly; though Alice, all her life an orphan,
had been good and dutiful child to
her. Consequently my cousin had but
little to expend on her wardrobe, and
this made the contrast between herself
and the richly attired Miss Moore, still
more striking. Yet to my taste, Alice
looked far lOvelier In her simple white
muslin dress and rose-buds, than did
Marion in her silks and Jewels.
One day Alice came to me flushed,
and with soft and radiant light in her
blue eyes.
Josie she said, 4 want to tell you
something: something that has been my
secret for long time
Then she told mo how she had been
for four years, not exactly engaged, but
but almost so, to a certain Mr.. Fran
els Ludlow-a lawyer OF M, the
large town near which Aunt Dorothy
resided; and that he was coming to
HAgerstown next week.
Engaged for four years, Alice?' l
exclaimed. what a long time!'
blushing. But we lked-that Is, we
knew that we loved each other, and so
1t was almost an engagement
She spoke gravely and with a sort OF
reverential sOftnees in her voice and
eye.
you to marry him-to promise to be his
wife?'
He is poor > she said, alphabetically.
butt she added, with the soft light
again in her eye and upon her cheek. rs
she took letter from her pocket, He
has asked me-"
And you will accept him?'
Yes
Ibid not question her much, but re-
solved to wait and judge for myself of
this Mr.. Francis Ludlow, curious to see
what manner of man 1t was who had
had power to win heart such as that
OF my cousin Alice.
He came day or two aher-s tall,
handsome, elegant looking man or APP
parently thirty years OF age. such. at
least was my first impression OF MIN,
though before the close OF the evening
l liked his face less than ut first sight.
His features were regularly handsome,
but there was sometimes furtive
glance from under the dark lashes that
1 did not much like. Then his manners
were wanting in genuine frankness and
ease. In short, l felt that he had not
that manly openness and nobility OF
character which had instinctively fam
cied in Allce's accepted lover, and 1
was on the whole disappointed.
Not so Marion Moore.
Your friend is splendid, Alice
heard her say, Il don't wonder now
that you were so Indifferent to Messrs.
Flint, Somers 81 Co. Mr.. Ludlow is
lust the sort of a man that could fam
Cyl
CHANGING from one to another OF the
girls, could not help an intuttfve feel
ing that Marion was the kind or Wo-
man more suited to MIR. Ludlow than
my gentle and modest cousin.
This conviction grew upon me more
and more, as day by day saw them
together, and had opportunity OF stu
diving the gentleman's character. He
was clever, witty, somewhat satiracal;
and as 1 could perceive, OF q quick and
passionate temperament. Yet In the
nobler qualities of manhood, the per-
feet truth and honor and tender chival-
rio devotion, which formed my ideal OF
manly character, he seemed deficient;
a deficiency evinced in no direct and
plaring manner, but betrayed In hun
dred almost unnoticeable ways, tri-
fling word, a slight curl of the NOUS.
tached lip, furtive glance OF the black
eveS-all indicative of levity, scep-
ticism, want of genuine depth OF feel
ing which no one but myself suspected,
and which was the reverse OF Alice's
nature. Even in their tastes aud opin-
ions they differed, and In these 1t was
very evident, to others besides myself,
that there was more congenialtty be.
tween Marion and Mr.. Ludlow. The
latter preferred Marion's brilliant
songs to the sweet ballads in which
Alice excelled, and very soon saw
that Alice perceived this, and that 1t
panied her.
4 wish could sing as Marion does,'
she said to me one evening, watching
the two at the piano.
Nonsense, your singing is thou
sand times sWeeter than Marion's.'
But he likes her style, you KNOW
she replied, in perfect simplicity and
without q tinge of JEALOUSY.
Alice did not ride. Miss Moore and
Mr., Ludlow were both accomplished
equestrians, and thus 1t soon came to
pass that the two took long excursions
together which the lady declared to be
superb
Mr.. Ludlow say to her once, as the two
stood at the parIor window watching
Miss Moore and her attendant cavalier
mounting their horses before the door.
Il wish I could but am such
coward
And 1 don'tlike cowards,' he answer
ed, playfully.
He IA MT soaro IN haar the proposal.