Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-10-12
IA GOOD TURN.


It was not intended in the Magilvray
family that Miss Alice of that name
should marry Eugene Descamps. Not
that young Eugene was not good enough
for the said Miss Alice, but that, being
exceedingly pretty, bright and attractive,
she might do better, as the phrase goes,
and the Magilvrays were greatly in need
of her doing better. In their old days
they used to be somebodies; now, owing
to disaster, poverty, ill-luck and lack of
enterprise, they were nobodics. If Alice,
the flower of the family, should have a
success matrimonially, it would bring
her much less lovely sisters into connec-
tions where they comparatively speak
ing, might do well, and her brothers
where some sort of business chance might
meet them. Mrs. Magilvray beguiled
many tedious hour in speculations on
the advantages that would follow brill.
liant marriage on Alice's part; she saw
her other girls in the splendid dresses
and jewels that their wealthy brother.in.
law would give them; she saw her own
home made yearly more delightful by
the delicate but expensive little atten-
ness chances absolutely throwing them
selves at the boys feet. 1t all depended
upon Alice's yet meeting this millionaire
of lover in posse before she became fa
tally entangled with anybody else; and
here she was now fancying herself in
love with that Eugene Descamps, who,
having nothing but profession, would
probably never be able to give her
anything but a living. And every time
she saw them parting at the gate, or
glancing across the aisle in church, down
would go all of Mrs. Magilvray's dreams,
like Alnaschar's tray of glasses.
II don't know why should be ex-
pected to bring up the family" Miss
Alice would cry. of the girls want to
marry well, Pm willing. Let them mar
ry themselves. To marry Eugene would
be marrying well enough for me. If
you'd told me about it before, ma, I'd
have tried never to look at Eugene; but
it's too late now"
"How is it possible" Mrs. Magilvray
would exclaim, rolling up her eyes, and
in her most tragic manner, " for my
daughter to talk to me in such an un-
maidenly style as that?"
81 don't know anything unmaidenly
in saying it's too late to think of one hus-
band when I've given my promise to an
other" Alice cried, as well as tears and
anger would allow. "Maybe never can
marry him; but Inever, never, neverwill
marry anybody else. So there, mai"
You unnatural, undutiful girl"
81 should think it was reproach to
be girl" cried the sauce.boX.
You had better call to mind that
whose mocketh his mother" said Mrs.
Magilvray, in hollow tones, "the ravens
shall pick out his eyes, and the young
eagles shall eat them"
Then the naughty girl laughed. "I
don't believe you have it right, ma" she
answered. maybe it's the eagles come
first. Anyway, Eugene will never let
any ravens get at my eyes. l love him.
And you'd love him too, ma, if you knew
him." And the little minx's tears being
gone, she kissed the severe and awful
matron, bending her head back under
her arm to reach her mouth, with a gay
sweet impudence that none of the other
children would have dared use, and
skipped from the room in a happy peal
of laughter, presently to be heard warb.
ling out,
"oh, shall marry my ain love-"
as if that settled the business.
Youknow perfectly well ma, " she said,
when they were talking over the same un-
firing theme again, "that if Eugene's uncle
had left his money to him instead of
that Institution for the Blind Feejeeans
as he always had said he meant to do
after he found Eugene, and as he edu-
Gated him to suppose he would-you'G
have never said word"
Possibly not" replied Mrs. Magil-
vray, with dignity. "But he didn't.
And the circumstance remains to be con-
sidered that we are all poor, and that
Eugene is poor too, and that your good
looks and good manners are the only
hope we have of improving our condi-
tion; for what" said Mrs. Magilvray,
will Maria do, with her sauint, or Ella,
with her teeth like row of gravestonesY
And so it is the very depth of selfishness
in you to think for moment of merely
gratifying yourself, and marrying so as
never to be able to help your family"
1.-THE very depth of selishness for me
not to sacrifice my whole life!" And
then there were tears again; for, in fact,
little Alice's whole life, between her
naturally joyous temperament and her
daily reverses, was quite resolved into
April weather of sunshine and showers.
"lt is enough TO ruin anybody, to
turn anybody's head completely, being
told that she is sufficiently good looking
to lift her family by her face. should
think you would be afraid, ma, of such
Injurious treatment. If wasn't an an
gel anyway" she cried, with her merri- !
est laugh, between you and Eugene
together, should be fit for nothing but
TO throw away"
1t was only that afternoon that, as
Alice was parting from Eugene, just be-
tween daylight and dark, he added diff
ferent class Of remark to some other OBJ |
servations. "By-the-way," said he,
- the greatest joke of the season hap
penened at our house last night; the
house was broken into"
Oh, Eugenel burglarsl Oh, Eugenel
did they attack your"
Attack mef-nO; they attacked
uncle's old desk there, burst open
drawers and compartments, found
secret places that / never knew be.
fore, and left them open, and cleared out
much as they came, / fancy, except for
Lhe old silver tankard that the directors
lad overlooked. Battered up the house
httlei but as that belongs now to the
Blind Feejeeans, don't feel the active
interest which / might if it were mine.
was just going TO move out, though,
anyway"
Oh, its wonder they didn't kill you,
ieArP she cried, still dwelling on the
LANCER.
rKilIme slept beautifully through
he wh0lei and / should never have
'nown but for Bridgets cries this morn
ng, and ran down to find her bowling