The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-10-30

ing check, "but am afraid that we are
both some what dc tr0p."
"0l, no." said Aiioe, family, "come
in."
Mrs. Ravensham saw in moment how |
matters stood.
"Now, Alice" said she, "there is no
use in denying that you have had pro-
posal from Harvey Edwards only
hope that you have not been foolish
enough to refuse him"
The silence that followed was answer
enough.
~ do think" continued her sister,
"that you are the most provoking girl
Here was family, fortune. intellect, APP
pearance, everything! What more could
you possibly wantp
Goodness" said Alice in low tone.
ga saint, you mean," replied her sis
ter; land let me tell you, that you will
never find"
There was silence tor some time, and
| then Mrs. RaVensham continued:
81 don't believe. Alice, that you ever
will marry-you are entirely too fastid-
ious."
IL hope," said Alice, smiling, "tbat
| you are not anxious to get rid OF me.'
To conceal her embarrassment she be-
gan to fondle Willie; but that unappre-
eiating baby setup such a cry OF distress
that his mamma Immediately bore him
off to her own apartments.
Alice could plainly see that her sister
was both disappointed and hurt; and
very much disposed to consider herself
miserable, she sat with her head bowed
on her hands until tears slowly trickled
through the slender fugers.
| Miss Edwards, on entering her broth
er's room somewhat suddenly, found him
in rather depiorable condition, He
was leaning on the table in a state of
silent misery; and in the open letter be-
side him his sister recognized Alice's
handwriting.
"Has that little witch then refused
your she asked.
"Do notspeak So" replied her brother.
81 don't wonder at it, Pm sure"
"But l wonder at it," returned his
sister. Il have no patience with peo-
pie who set themselves up for saints,
and frown at all VINO do not reach their
standard OF goodnessl And for Miss
Alice Carrington to refuse Harvey Ed
wards is, let me tell you, very imperJi-
nent thing"
81 ain afraid, my dear sister," said
her brother, with sad kind of Il smile.
"that you will find a great many Peter
Bells in the world who will see nothing
more in me than a plain yellow prim.
rose, in spite of your own tlattering
opinions"
"But what's the cause of her retusal?p
continued her sister; ''was there auv
thing that she could possibly want which
you have notr
Her brother smiled as he told her to
read the letter.
"'Dare not marry youv So then she
considers you a sort of monster VINO
| nt,tc % min q M oh Io,,
, enough for the undertakIng!'
Don't fly in a passion, Kate" said
Harvey, Tor his sisters eyes were fash
ing ominously; "Alice has PROBABLY
heard of my former iollies, and she is
SO pure and perfect that can well i'm.
aglne the horror with which she must
regard one like me-"
"BuG you have not touched q card in
how IongT' said his sister; "and you
frequent no more clubs, and spend near.
| ly every evening az home"
"Harvey," said Miss L twards, after a
short pause, ''tuis girl really loves YOU.
; and If you are SO foolish as to care any
, thing ABOUT her you snail have her yeLv'
"My dear Kate" said her brOtner, with
an incredulous smile, "has Aladdin's old
lamp been discovered among the kitchen
rubbish? Or has The benevolent fairy
taken another lease Of Ii e, and come to
offer you three wis19sY Don't you re.
member that when we were both Gull.
dreu, l wanted Mrs. Awnings India
shawl for an awning to my boat, and
you, perfectly unaoashed, stepped up to
that lady and requested the loan OF it?
Depend upon il, you will find this a
much more difficult undertaking."
Leave it all to me-" said Kate: and.
with knowing toss of the head she
went in searcn Of Mrs. RAvensham.
Now there is 80 much IN that peculiar
+ way of saying "Leave 1T all TO me" the
it inspires hope even when hope IS gone
Harvey Edwards knew his sisters dis.
position OF old, and he felt certain that
she woulu do something.
! Mrs. RaVensham was soon found: and.
being quite or the young lady's manner
, VI thIhKlng, lne Two soon Game to an un.
n derstandTng. Here were a couple really
+ attached to each other, and actually
. rendered unhappy by Alice's absurd
notions. 1t was concluded that an
, attempt to toucn her feelings might pos.
! sIbly succeed; and under the auspices
OF Miss Edwards it was soon nOIsed
about in the house that some particu.
,, Iarly magnificent tableaux We're in
, preparation for the evening.
Then began scene OF preparation
forthwith. Qleens and prIncesses thai
, were W Ue, GuSHeu through the house III
IA state Of excitement, collecting all the
. jewelry that they courd lay hands on for
the royal crowns-tiowers were in de
, mand-and white dresses rose fitty pel
cent. But these festivities were con.
fined entirely to the young people; and
spinsters and dowagers resolved to crit
icise most numerically.
: Alice was walking demurely through
one Of the shaded paLhs from the springs,
her sun hat hanging to her arm by It's
blue ribbon strings, and her eyes bent
, pensively upon the ground, when a
whole bevy Of eager performers inter-
cepted her walk.
: 'Oh, Alicer' exclaimed one of them.
"you really must be an ahgei-there is
not another in the house"
"Be an angely" repeated Alice, corY.
siderably perplexed.
yes" pursued her companion, ''you
, are just the very one. We are 10 have
some tableauX this evening, and the
whole community have elected you toI
the character OF an angel"
II believe that you must excuse me. y
replied Alice, somewhat coldly; 81 have
no desire to mingie in these gayeties."
"Ot course not, "said one Of the young
! | q onhs in a to,,o =, ~ ~