The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-03-17

lhem. 1 MS WAS TedlIy lHe CASE Dut
the last few years a great sorrow had
gained on Mrs. Ashley This was that
her daughter W as unmarried Her only
daughter, her eldest child, so hand
some, so wel-educated, SO popular, and
an heiress (through her godmother,
Mrs Ashley's sister,, that she should
be unmarried seemed dreadful! There
was no reason for this, save that Caro-
line, with heart untouched, and very
happy at home, saw no reason to accept
any one Of her numerous suitofs. Sun
dry hints had been given to Mrs. Ash
ley by Lady Dashwood of her willing
ness to consent to a marriage between
the heiress and Sir Stephen, but Mrs.
Ashley had never mentioned the sub
ject to her daughter. However, this
morning, Mrs. Dudley Harewood, who
was well aware how much her friend,
Lady Dashwood, desired the match,
had said i'll her letter of invitation that
she expected Sir Stephen Dashwood
would join their party, and consequent
ly, as she had hoped, Mrs. Ashley was
all eagerness to accept the invitation.
"John," she said, and Mr. Ashley
looked up rather annoyed by the In
terrupton, for he was a man Of one
idea, and breakfast was now occupying
his thoughts, s,-"J there is nothing,
l hope, TO prevent our going to the
Dudley Harewoods on the 18th. p" 49,,
Il have meetings on Tuesday and
Friday"
ooh! you can manage to get back
in time on Friday, and you must send
an excuse for Tuesday" .,a a..a
"What's the good of going ! We've
just got home" -.a -. .,7aa
"They are going to have dance and
of course you will have some excellent
y@ amas .a@ Esp
"I'm quite content with my own"
go nonsense, my dearm this good
humOredly andcoaxingly such a nice
house to stay in. Carrie will like s9lhe
dancing, and it is so good Of Mrs
Hardwood to ask Jack and Willie too"
glancing at two tall youths who made
up the bleakfast-party, ~. ~
"Well, well, ! suppose | must 60, 50
you can write and accept Come along,
boys; I'm going to the farm" .a
Left alone with her daughter, Mrs,
Ashley felt nervous. If Carrie was to
marry Sir Stephen it was perhaps time
to speak to her on the subject and
with much trepidation she gave her the
letter, hoping for some remark that
might serve to introduce the idea ...g
Carrie, however, handed back the
letter in silence, and Mrs. Ashley
into her subject. I'll a '
Carrie, my dear, | hope Sir Stephen
Dashwood will be there" ..
Carrie opened her large eyes little
wider, and raised her well-marked eye
brows, "Do you, mammal | always
think he is heavy" .r
80 nos it is his way to be rather
SILENT much better than the rattle
of the young men Of the present day,
A long pause followed then, -
Carrie, did you never think Sir
Stephen admired youf" ,,-aZ sH
''Not more than most people" 4" This
was said so prettily that it did not
sound pert and she added sadly, y,"Ah,
mother! fortune lisa great beautifer."
Don't talk such nonsense, my dear.
So much admired as you have always
been! But | do wish you would mar
ry; you are SO difficult TO please, ! am
afraid you will end by being an old
maid" . ....
Carrie flushed angrily, but she an
swered in her usual low voice, spray
do not speak as if that were any deg
radiation, am very happy as | am,
and | do not intend to marry unless /
am, what people call, in loye3 The
world thinks men so fascinating it can
not believe a girl can have reached
twenty-six without falling IN lore with
some one of them. 1t makes me furi-
GUS the way people talk! A girl who
marries the first man who asks her is
allowed to live in peace. A girl who
does not wish to marry, who has re-
fused dozen offers, and might with a
little trouble have refused another dcz-
en-, is worried till she is almost ready
to marry the next person that asks her
Is. the disgrace Of old maidism in the
mere fact of not being married, ,y,or in
being supposed not to have been asRl
ed? for in the latter case | might get a
certificate. "'iaia ..rs III .aa ai~ aaa. I'll
Mrs. Ashley was rather bewidered,
and answered, ,"CertainIy, my dear,
Caroline began to laugh, and Mrs.
Ashley'returned to the charge = - d.
"Well, my dear, !, like Sir Stephen
very much, h,and so does your papa; and
| have good reason to believe" Sir Ste
phen is deyotedly attached to you"
This romantic sentiment was uttered
in all good faith. Lady Dashwood, in
talking to Mrs. Ashley, had, perhaps
unintentionaly, allowed her to imply q
great deal more than was really the case.
Carrie flushed again, but not this time
with anger. Sir Stephen was man
whose love girl might well be proud
of, even though she could notretnrnit.
A pause followed. Then Mrs, Ashley
said, as she rose to leave the room, 81
beg, Caroline, ,thatyou will not be rude
to Sir Stephen. ] am sure you would
easily learn to like him; and it would