The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-07
II Never Will"

81 never will ~ said Madge Roper, her
beautiful brown eyes flashing with indigna-
ton.
Forgive me, Miss Roper" said Mr..
Schenck. 81 said it IN sort of dsspera-
ton, for cannot--I could not think such
passion as mine could fail to call out a
a response sooner or later"
"You are mistaken" she answered,
haughtily;" land as you know, this is not
the first time have assured you of the fact.
| trust it is the last.
81 withdraw my plea and myself finally,
Miss Roper. "Good-morning.
He said it with such dignity that Madge
respected him more than che had ever done,
aud her face soitened. But Mr.. Schenck
did not see it he took himself and his trou-
bles out of sight, if not out of mind. But
as Madge turned to leave the parlor, she
heard boysh voice from some hiding
place singing loudly, with mischief in ev-
cry infection
"Hear what Highland Nora sale:
The Earlie's son will not We'd"
"Little wretch? muttered Madge, biting
her pretty red lips; 'he must be all this
time in the conservatory. And now Aunt
Phemy will know all about it. | may as
well tell her"
SO she traled the folds of her deep blue
dress slowly up the stairs to Aunt Phemy's
room. Miss Euphemia was sitting in her
armchair by the window, tiny old lady,
with soft silver white hair, and a quaint
black satin wrapper, illustrated with deli
cate laces, anc the sparkle Of one great da-
mond on her little hand. She was Grip
pie, whose sole change was from her bed
10 her great chair but, for all that, she was
the heart of the house, and her keen and
kindly eyes saw everything that was to be
seen, but her tongue kept charitable ST.
lence.
Madge's mother had died young, and
Aunt Phemy had come to her brothers
house to take care of him and his child till
his wifes place might be filled; but that
had never happened. Mr.. Roper was
grave, reticent man, and when the one love
of his life tluttered away from him like a
weary and storm-spent moth, his heart shut
itself for all time he even seemed to have
little fatherly love for the wailng baby,
whose biith he resented in his secret soul,
as one resents a murder.
But now he WAS proud of his beautiful
and graceful daughter, proud of her spir-
tied character, her good. breeding, her crowd
of admirers and Madge was equally proud
of her handsome, hgh-minded father,
though there was little of the diviner ele-
ment of love lost between them.
Many and many an admirer fell al
Madge's feet and no wonder. The girl was
young, fresh, lovely, and intelligent, and
every charm she had was illumined by the
tlttest results of wealth and taste. A beau
tiful girl is beautiful in spite of calico she
is enchanting IN lace and pearls. Madge's
profuse, red-brown hair, dazzling yet ten
derly tinted complexion, her soft, proud
eyes, her slender and exquisitely moulded
figure, her feet, her hands, were all perfect
and the insipidity of perfection was remov-
ed by the vivid and varied expression of the
eoul within.
AS she entered Aunt Phemy's room this
morning, with the dark blue folds of her
fine wool dress falling from her delicate
waist, and her face heightened by a color
that shamed the carnations which fastened
the abundant lace scarf about her throat,
the dear old lady looked at her with ador-
ing eyes, for Madge was her aunty'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 to meddle with the mignonette and
pinch the rose geraniums. Aunt Phemy
waited-she was woman who could wait
and presently Madgs fitted suddenly
across the floor, and dropped softly as a lit
tie bird folds up into its nest, on to the bri-
oche beside her aunps chair, and laid her
head on its arm.
~ 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 like benev-
olent old fairy. She knew when Msdge
called her "Aunty Fee" that 1t was propit-
iatory something had been done or said
that this wayward young woman was not
quite at ease about.
"And aunty," Madge went on slowly,
picking carnation TO pieces as she spoke,
"I-refused him."
IL thought you had done that long ago,
Madge," said the kind old lady, with Ger,
tain trouble in her kind eyes.
$50 have, over and over, but he wouldn't
stay refused. think he will now." Here
her voice rose and rang, and her eyes flash.
ed. The indignation returned. 81 never
will marry him. Aunt Phemy-never
And think he understands it at last"
Miss Ropers eyes spaIkled now she was
old and wise.
"Don't be troubled about 1t, Madge, dear.
ANupOuJ Ndu huliaoo JOu Oh tuC uiat'Cts ~
you don't love man don't marry him, If
he be king or kaiser. Jacob Schenck is a
good man and gentleman, but think he
is far too old for rosebud like you."
Oh, Aunt Euphemia you too had been
girl, and remembered 1t. A little spark
entered Madge's cool eye.
"He's not so very old, aunty; fifty isn't
really old for man."
"No, it's not decrepit, but it's something
more than nineteen besides, Mr. Schenck
is only forty-flve. However, we can af-
ford to drop him now, since Miss Positive
never will marry him.
Madge laughed, but there was an uncer-
tain ring in her laughter, and Miss Phemy
went on.
"Are you going to Boston, my dear?"
81 don't quite know, auniy. rather
hate Boston, but l love Polly"
Then you'll have to take your choice
between the love and hate, mademolselle,
and that directly, for you know Polly is
clamorous for an answer"