The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-04-26
a NEVER WILT"

a never will" SAID Madge Roper,
her beautiful brown eyes flashing with
Indignation.
Forgive me, Miss Roper said Mr..
Schenck. Il said il III a sort Cf dcSpera-
uon, for can mott could not think
such . passion As mine could fal L. call
out q response sooner OF later.
"You are mistaken, she answered.
EaGghuly; 'ani, as YOU know, tins Is
no, the first time l have assured yuu Of
this fact / trust Il Is the last.
Il withdraw my plea and myself
finally, Miss Roper. Good morning !"
lie said il with such dignity that
Majse respected him more than she had
ever done, and her face softeneL But
Mr. Schenck did not see II; he took HIM
sell and his troubles on. OF sight. II not
ont az mind But as NajEe turned u
leave the parlor, she heard boYish voice
from some hidiug-place singing loudly,
with mischief IN every infection;
.'Hear wlAi Highlaad Nora sid:
The EArGe's son I al.l nag wed.
'Llttle wretch 2" muttered Afadge, bit
ing her pretty red lips; "Ae must be all
tins time IN tie conservatory. And now
Aunt Phemy viii know all about il l
may Is well tell her.
So she tra,lei the folds Of her deep
blue dress slowly up the stairs 10 Aunt
Phemy's roula. Miss Euphenia Was st
ting IN her arm chalr by the window. u
tiny old lady, with soft silver white hair,
AMI quaint black satin wrapper, illus
tratei with delicate laces, and the sparkle
of one great diamond on her little hand.
She WAS a cripple, whose sole change WAS
from her bed - her great chair; but, for
all that, she was the heart of the house.
and her keen and kindly ewes saw every
thing that was - be seen. but her tongue
kept charitable silence.
Madge's mother had died young, and
Aunt Phemy had come - her brother s
house 10 take care ot him and his child
till his wife's place might be filled; but
tina: had never happened. Mr.. Roper
was q grave, rebcent man, and when the
one love OF his life huttered away from
him Ike a weary and storm-spent moth.
his heart shut itself for all time; he even
seemed TO have little fatheriy lovefor the
wailmg baby, whose birth he resented IN
his secret soul, as one resents a murder.
Bat now he was proud OF his beautiful
and graceful daughter, proud Of her
spirited character. her good breeding.
her crowd OF admirers: and Madge was
equally proud Of her handsome, high
minded father. though there was little OF
the diviner element OF love lost between
them.
Many and many an admirer fell at
Malge's feet, and no wonder The girl
was young, fresh, lovely, and intelh-
gent, and every charm she had was illu-
mined by the tit;est results Of wealth
and taste. 4 beautiful girl Is beautiful
II spite Of cahce; she i enchanting in
lace aud paris Madge's Proiuse red
brown hair, dazzling vet tenGerly tinted
complexion, her soft proud ewes, her
slender and eXgUisitely nodded figure,
her feet, her hands, we're all perfect. aud
the insipiaIty of perfection was removed
by the vivid anI variant expression uf
the soul within.
As she entered Aunt Phemy's room
this morning, with the dark blue folds Of
her fine wool dress falling from her deli
cate waist. and her face heightened bv a
color that shamei the carnations which
fastened the abundant lace scarf about
her throat, the dear old lady looked at
her with aioring ewes, for Madge was
her auuty's idol. But the girl did not
come at once for her daily kiss; she
smiled, and then she walked across the
room to the other window, and began 10
meldle with the mignonette and pinch
ed-she was woman who could wait
aud presently Madge fitted suddenly
across the floor, and dropped softly, a. q
little bird folds up into its nest, on 70
the brioche beside her aunt's chair, and
laid her head on its arm.
81 could not come up before, Aunty
Fee. Mr.. Schenck was down stairs. "
Miss Roper said nothing, but laid her
hand tenderly on the rich folds Of hair.
and looked at that beautiful head hike a
benevolent old fairy. She knew when
Madge called her "Aunty Fee that it
was propitiatory: something had been
done or said that this wayward young
woman was not quite at ease about.
And-aunty, Madge went on, slow
II, picking a carnatiOn to pieces as she
spoke, "I-refused him
81 thought you had done that long
ago. Madge, " said the old laly, with a
certain trouble in her kind eyes.
80 / have, over and over, but he
wouldn't stay refused. think he will
now" Here her voice rose and rang.
and her eyes flashed. The indignation
returned. 81 never will marry him,
Aunt Phemy-never ! And / think he
understands it at last"
Miss Rpper's eyes sparkled now she
was old and wise.
Don't be troubled about it, Madge
dear nobody can harass you on the
matter. If you don't love man, don't
marry him, if he be king or kaiser
Jacob Schenck is a good man and gen
tIeman, but think he is far too old for a
rosebud like you"
Oh, Aunt Euphemia You too had
been q girl, and remembered it. a little
spark entered hedges cool eye.
"He's not so very old, aunty fifty
isn't really old for a man.
"No, it's not decrepit, but it is some
thing more than nineteen besides, Mr.
Schenck is only forty-fve However,
we can afford to drop him now, since
Miss Positive never will marry him. -
Madge laughed, but there was an un-
certain ring about her laughter, and Miss
Phemy went on:
care you going to Boston, dear?"
81 don't quite know, aunty. l rather
hate Boston but / love Polly"
"Then you'll have to take your choice
between the love and hate, mademoiselle,
and that directly, for you know Polly is
clamorous for an answer.
81 believe I will go perhaps Boston
may be nicer than L think. 1t is awfully
slow, am sure.
"Madge !"
"I can't help it, aunty I don't know
what else to call it. Shall say triste p
Foreign affectation is quite as bad as
slang. and not half as natural"
"Oh, aunty, what a two-edged sword
you nre Imust go to Boston to purify
my English, see. "