The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-09-05
1 NEVER WILL.
from Harper's Bazaar

L NEVER WILL.
From Harper's BazarI
Il aerer will" said Madge Roper, heI
beautiful brown eyes flashing with indigna.
ton.
Forgive me. Miss Roper" said Mr.,
Schcnck. Il said it in a sort Of despera-
ton, for can mott could not think such
passion as mine could fail to call out
response sooner or later.
You are mistaken" she answered,
haughtily; -and, as you know, this Is moi
the first time have informed you Of the
fact. trust it is the last"
WITHDRAW my plea and myself finally,
Miss Roper. Good mOrningi"
He said it with such dignity that Madge
respected him more than sh3 had ever
done, and her face sOftened. But Mr..
Schenck did not see it; he took himself
and his troubles out OF sight, IL not out OF
mind. But as Madge turned to leave the
parlor, she heard a bOyish voice from some
hiding place singing loudly, with mischief
in every infection:
Hear what Highland Nora said:
The Earlie's son will not we'd
Little wretch" muttered Madge, biting
her pretty red lips; che must be all this
time in the conservatory. And now Aunt
Phemy will know all about 1t. may as
well tell her.
So she traiIed the folds OF her deep blue
dress slowly up the stairs to Aunt Phemy's
room. Miss Euphemia was sitting in her
arm chair by the window, tiny old lady,
with soft silver white hair, and quaint
black satin wrapper. illustrated with deli
cate Iaces, and the sparkle of one great
diamond on her little hand. She was a
cripple, whose sole change was from her
bed to 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 char
itably silent.
Madge's mother had died young, and
Aunt Phemy had come To her brothers
house 10 take care of him and his child till
his wife's place might he filled; but that
had never happened. Mr.. Roper was a
grave. reticent man, and when the one
love of his life fluttered away from him
like a weary and storm-spent moth, his
heart shat Itself for all time; he even
seemed to have little fatherly love for the
waiiing baby, whose birth he resented In
his secret soul, as one resents murder.
But now he was proud of his beautiful
and graceful daughter, proud Of her spirit
ed 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 ele-
ment of love lost between them.
MANY and manv an admirer fell at
Madge's feet, and no wonder. A bcaud-
full girl is beautiful in spite of calico; she is
enchanting in lace and pearls. Madge's
profuse red-brown hair, dazzling yet
tenderly tinted complexion, her soft proud
eyes, her slender and exquisitely moulded
figure, her feet, her hands, were all per-
feet, and the insipidity OF perfection was
removed by the vivid and variant express
SION OF 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 delicate waist,
and her face heightened by color that
shamed the carnations which fastened the
abundant lace scarf about her throat, the
dear old lady looked at her with adoring
ewes, for Madge was her aunty's idol. But
.he 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 NEEDLE with the mignonette and
pinch the rose gcraniums. Aunt Phemy
waited-she was a woman who could wait
and presently Madge fitted suddenly
across the floor, and dropped softly, as
little bird folds up into its nest, on to the
brioche beside her aunts chair, and laid
her head on its arm.
Il 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 benevo-
lent old fairy. She knew when Madge
called her "Aunty Fee" that 1t was pro-
pitiatory: something had been done or
said that this Maynard young woman was
not quite at ease about.
"And-apnty, Madge went on, slowly,
picking n carnation TO pieces as she spoke,
"I-refused him."
Il thought YOU had done that long ago.
Madse," said the old lady, with n certain
trouble in her kind eyes.
so l 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.
L never will marry him, Aunt Phemy-
aerer, And think he understands 1t at
last"
Miss Roper's eyes sparkled now; she was
old and wise.
Don't be troubled about 1t, Madge
dear; nobody can harass you on the mat
ter. If you don't love a man, don't marry
him, II he be king or kaiser. Jacob Schenck
is a good man and gentleman, but l
think he is far too old for rosebud Ike
you"
oh, Aunt Euphemia, youtoo had been
girl, and remembered II. A little spark
entered Madge's cool eve.
IL ftx-- -ra'f