The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-04-08
ROMANCE OF A DIsH-TowEL.
A STORY FOR GIRLS.


way one fine spring afternoon.
Because could never find any wo-
man who would have me, suppose"
answered Tom laughinglys
No use to tell me that, old fellow"
rejoined 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 1t were
me, why the case is very different. A
doctor, just struggling into practice, is
scarcely considered eligible by the
match h-making mammas, to say moth
ing of their worldly wise daughters; but
they are all ready and eager to smile
upon you, and you might as we'll make
your choice"
Thank YOU" answered Tom, still
laughing. "When find young lady
who can come up to my grandmother's
standard of domestic virtues, i will in
vite her to become Mrs. Thomas Mere
dith."
And what was your grandmother's
peculiar doctrine on the subjectY" in
quired Harry.
presume she had more than one,"
said Tom, q" but this she particularly
impressed upon my mind Always
look at a 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
she can speak, never marry her, unless
you see that she uses soft, dry towels,
plenty of them, when she wiped dishes
Be sure that girl who uses soiled or
wet dlsh-towels does not know enough
to be the wife of any honest man,"
Harry laughed at this definition of
house wifely knowledge, but presently
said in serious tone.-
"There is considerable truth in the
old lady's ideas after all, but L don't
quite understand how, in these days,
you can apply the test; most young
ladies that we know, have perhaps never
seen dish-towel. Now think of it,
L promised to Introduce you to my
cousins. There are three of them, all
bright, pretty girls, though / think it
doubtful whether they would fulfill your
grandmother's requirements as wife.
still you may find them pleasant ac-
quaintances, and if you like L will go
there with you 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 ut 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 ocompel universal admiration,
though she had powerful rival in
Adele, the second daughter, whose deli
cate blonde beauty showed to fresh ad-
vantage beside her more brilliant sister.
The two were acknowledged bellies in
their own circle, and few, who knew
them, ever paused to give glance at
their youngest sister,-little Violet. AS
shy and shrinking as her floral name-
sake, she avoided the gay assemblages
in which her sisters loved to shine, and
passed her hours pleasantly and peace
fully with her books, her music, and
her flowers. She was not present when
Harry and his sisters entered; but when
her cousin, with whom she seemed a
great favorite, asked expressly for her,
Miss Adele carelessly desired the SER
want to call her. Tom, who was con-
versing with Ida, did not notice her en-
trance, till aroused by Harry's voice
saying
Mr.. Meredith, let me introduce you
to my cousin, Miss Violet Renshaw."
And turning quickly he was surprised
at the sight of the tiny creature, SO un-
like her elder sisters. There was moth
ing magnificent and little that could be
strictly termed beautiful in the almost
childish figure, but something indes-
cribably winning in the clear, gray eyes,
and the rich chestnut cuIls that cluster
ed about the broad, low brow.
Tom had little time for observation
however, as Ida and Adele claimed all
his attention, while Harry monopolized
Violet in frank, brotherly way, quite
unlike his more formal and dceremonious
manner with the elder sisters.
Well, what do you think of my
three cousins?" was Harry's natural
question, when he and Tom were once
more in the street.