The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-12-25

'oo> aeE IoequsACy OF POSITION. Mr.
Ashley was sensible man, so he uade
the best Of it, and now got accustomed
to his bnrdcn: while, for bis sake part.
ly,: partly for her own real kindliness of
disposition, bis wife was always we'll r.
oeiVed BY hie friends AS they now
sat at their luxurious breakfast table
they looked as if they hsd always lived
prosperous lives, with plenty round
them. This was z,sally tho case; but
the last few years . great sorrow had
gained on Mrs. Ashley. Tbs was
that her daughter WAS unmarried. Her
only daughter, bsr eldest child, 90
handsome, 10 we'll sdac.ted, 90 popular.
aud IN heiress (throueh her sodmotbe r,
Mr.. 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 40.
eept aoy one Of her numerous su,tors,
Suadry hints had been gwen to Mrs.
Ashley BY Lady Dash~ood of her will
ingness to consent to . marriage be.
tween the hsiress and Sir Stephen, but
Mrs. Ashley Lsd never mentioned the
subject to her daughter. However,
this morning Mrs. Dudley H.rewood,
Who was we'll aware how much her
friend Lady Dashwood desired the
match. had said in her letter of invita-.
ton that she expected eir Stephen
Dash~ood would join their party, aod
consequently, as she had hoped, Mrs.
Ashley was ali eageruess to accept the
invitation.
"John" she said-and Mr.. Ashley
looked up, rather annoyed by the ,u.
terruption, for he was a man Of one
idea, and breakfast was now occupy,og
bis thoughls-"John, there is moth :
'ng, / hope, to prevent our going to
dudley Harewood On the 18th p
II have meetings on Tuesday aud
Friday"
"Oh you can manage to get back
in time on Friday, aud you must send
an excuse for Tuesday,"
"What's the good Of going? We've
just get home"
"They are going to have a dance,
and of course you will have some ex.
oellert shooting"
"pm quite content with my owu."
"Oh, Donsense, my dear - this good
humoredly and coaxiogly "sucb a
nice house to stay in. Carrie will like
some dancing, and 1t is 50 good Of Mrs.
Hsrewood to ask Jack snd Willie too -
glaucing at two tall youths who made
up the breakfast party.
"Well, well, I suppose I must 90, 20
you can write and accept Come along,
boys; I'm going to the farm"
Left alone With her daughter, Mrs
Ashley felt nervous. II Carrie was to
marry Sir Stephen It was perhaps time
to speak to her on the subject; and
with much trepidstion she gave he,
the letter, hoping for some remark 'ba,
mil eht serve to introduce the idea.
Carrie, however, handed back tbt
letter in silence, aud Mrs. ASHLEY
plunged into her subject.
"Carrie, my dear, hope Sir stephe,
Dash wood will be there"
Carrie opened her largo eyes i. littl'
wider. and raised her vell.marked eye
brows. "Do you, mammal l alway,
think he is heavy"
"Oh no; it is his way to be ratbe
sileot-eo much better than the r.ttl
of the young neu Of the present day.
| A loug pause followed. Thea
"Carrie, did you never think 81
Stephen admired you p
"Not more thso most people," Th,
was said so pre,tlly that it did no
sound pert; aud abe added, sadly, "Ah
mother, fortune is a great beautifi
er -
"Dou't talk such nonsense, my dea,
So much admired as you have AWAY
been But do wish you would marr,
you are SO difficult to please, 1 81
afraid you will cod by being an oil
maid."
| Carrie flushed angrily, but she an
swered in her uaual low voice, "Prs
do not speak a. if that we're any desra
d.tiou. am very happy ss I am, au'
I do not intend to marry unless I ar
what people call IN love- The worl
thinks men 90 fascinating It can not be
lieve girl can have reached twenty
six without falling in love with som
ODE Of them. It makes me furious th
way people talk ! A girl who m.rrie
the FIRST man who asks her is allowe
to live 10 peace. A girl who does oe
wish to marry. who has refused . dexe
offers, and might, with little trouble
have refused another dozen, is worrie
till she is almost ready to marry Ii
next persoa who axis her. Is the di'
! grace Of old maidism in the mere fa,
Of not being married, or iu being 50,
posed not to have been asked1 for I
the latter case might get = esrtii