Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-12-05
Romance of q Dish-TOwel.

Romance OF q DlSh-TOWel.
"How happens it, Tom, that you
never married ?" asked Harry Stanhope,
OF his friend, Tom Meredith, as the two
sauntered along Broadway one fine
spring morning.
Because l could never find any
woman who would have me, l suppose"
answered Tom, laughingly.
No use to tell me that, old fellow"
lejoined Harry. "Girls are not so fool
ish as to decline taking good looking
man like you, with plenty of money !;
yet here you are, nearly thirty years
old, and no more prospect of settling
than you had ten years ago. Now, if it
we're me. why, the case is very different.
A doctor, just struggling into practice.
is scarcely considered eligible by the
match making mammas, to say nothing
Of their worldly-wise daughters : but
they are all ready and eager to smile
upon you, and you might as well make
your choice"
"Thank you" answered Tom, still
laughing. "When l can find young
lady who can come up to my grand.
mothers standard of domestic virtues,
will invite her to become Mrs. Thomas
Meredith"
"And what was your grandmother's
peculiar doctrine on the subject ?"
asked Harry.
1 presume she had more than one,"
said Tom {" but this she particularly
impressed upon my mind. "Always
look at woman's dish-towels,' she
would remark. with much solemnity.
No matter how we'll she plays the
piano, or sings, or how many languages
abe can speak, never marry her unless
You see that she uses soft, dry towels,
and plenty of them, when she wipes her
dishes. Be sure that girl who uses
soiled or wet dish-towels does not know
enough to be the wife Of any honest
man."
Harry laughed at this definition of
housewifely knowledge, but presently
said, in serious tone,-
There is considerable truth in the
old lady's ideas after all, but I don't
quite understand how, in these DAYS.
you can apply the test, most young Ia.
dies that we know have perhaps never
seen dish.towel. Now I think of it,
l promised to introduce you to my
cousins. There are three of them, all
bright pretty girls, though I think it
doubtful whether they would fulfill
your grandmother's requirements as a
wife. Still, you may find them pleas.
ant acquaintance, and if you like We
will 60 there now"
Agreed" responded Tom, and the
two friends soon found themselves in
the parlor of Mrs. Renshaw, Harry's
aunt.
The young ladies were all at home.
and, as Harry had said, were bright
pretty girls. Ida, the eldest, was tall
queenly brunette, whose magnificent
dark eyes and Abundant raven tresses
seemed to compel universal admiration,
though she had powerful rival in
Adele, the second daughter, whose del
1cate blonde beauty showed to fresh ad-
vantage beside her more brilliant sister.
Inc TWO were acknowledged bellies in
thelr own circle, and few who knew
them ever paused to give a second
glance at their younger sister, little
Violet. As shy and shrinking as her
horal namesake, she avoided the gay
assemblages in which her sisters loved
to shine, and passed her time pleasant
~ and peacefully with her books, her
music and her flowers. She was not
present when Harry and his friend en-.
tered but when her cousin, with whom
she seemed great favorite, asked ex.
pressly for her, Miss Adele desired the
servant to call her. Tom, who was
converslng with Ida, did not notice her
entrance till aroused by Harry's voice
saying,-
"Mr. Meredith, let me introduce Won
TO my cousin, Miss Violet Renshaw."
And turning quickly, he was sur.
prlsed at the sight Of the tiny creature,
30 unlike her elder sisters. There was
nothing magnificent, and little that
could be strictly termed beautiful. in
the almost childish figure, but there
vas something indescribably winning
IN the clear, gray eyes, and in the rich
chestnut curls that clustered about the
broad, low brow.
Iom had little time for observation,
however, as Ida and Adele claimed ali
ms attention, while Harry monopolized
'ioiet IN frank, brotherly way, quite
unlike his more formal and ceremoni.
Gus manner with the elder sisters.
Well. what do you think of nv
thfee cousins was Harry's natural
question, when he and Tom we're once
more in the street.
1 can only express nv admiration
by saying that ! wish it were possible