The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-12
ANNIE BARLOWiS LOVE.

Eyes, mother, that is one thing that !
am quite certain about. When marry
am not going TO choose one of those
pretty little dolls who cry for everything
they want, and care for nothing but
dressing and aderning themselves the
whole day long. Ny wife must be a
good, wel[behayed, modest girl, who will
be content with one good warm gown,
fer the winter, and a couple OF calico
ones for the summer. Then she must
have education enough to sit down of an
evening and read q newspaper, and talk
il over with me, and to understand the
Kind Of books like to read from the
library. But for all that she must not
be too. learned, for then she surely
would be one of the stroug-minded sort,
s and turning the house out OF windows
With her ideas Of weman's rights, and all
sNch trash; and as for looks, l do not
!, care if she is as homeIy as a squaw."
So spoke Stephen Graye winding up a
talk he and his mother had been having
on Mrs Slows book "Pink and White
Tyranny"
sThis kind Of a wife it shall be or
none" said this young sage; and so far
he had seen no girl approaching his para
,gon of excellence. at-
) Mrs. Gray had one other child, a
daughter who was married and lived in
Vermont, and SOON after Stephen, had so
plainly spoken his views on the matri-
monial question, 'she was sent for to
make her visit. Of course the house
was lonely for Stephen, when mother
was gone, and although Biddy was too
we'll trained to neglect her duties, yet
there was a something wanting in the
household arrangements all the time,
which made him hail with delight the
news that after three weeks absence
she was coming home.
"And," wrote the old lady, "1 am
going to bring with me, just for company
through the winter, young girl, whose
acquaintance l have lately made, and OF
whom think very highly. Her father
is poor but well-educated, and has giver
his daughter the best kind ofinheritance
well-stored mind"
"Ah, mother thinks she has found {
wife for me-" though Stephen smiling
as he read the letter, "and so maybe sht
has,"
~ He went up to the depot in good time
to meet the train, and his mother looked
proudly happy to see him standing On tn
platform, saluting him with heart.
smack. She was followed by girl o
medium height, and somewhat sturdy
build, with a complexion Of pinkisl
shade Of drab, hair Of sandy color, neat
ly braided, and bright blue eyes, set Of
by no perceptile eyebrows.
'"This is Miss Annie Barlow, said Mrs
Gray, "and this, my dear, is my SOL
Stephen"
Miss Annie blushed up to the roots o
her hair (Which is saying good deal, 70
her forehead was so high that it appeare'
to occupy half her face and could fin'
nothing to say, as she stiff1y acknowl
edged Stephens bow, and the thre
walked along in silence towards tn
house, only broken when Stephen dis
covered the lady was carrying along
clumsy carpet-bag, which she was endeav
oring. meanwhile, to screen from obser
walton behind her dress. Of course h
Immediately offered to relieve her Of he
burden, upon which she blusbed again
and thanked him. The bag proved t
be of light weight, though Of awkwar
shape. =,
"Not many fashionable. fol-de-rol
here, at all events" Stephen thought
"and there is no doubt aboat he
being modest enough. + wonder if sh
will prove to be all the rest 1 want?"
He could not help having fe,
doubts as to her intellectual powers, til
after supper, when they were sfttin
around the fire, and Stephen had hear
all the latest news from his sister, h
thought it was time to address some cor
versation to the visitor. .--
AAre you fond Of reading, Mis-
AnnieT was his commonplace beginning
Extremely so," she replied, wit
Srevity.
"What kind of books do you prefer?
"I think the study Of geology is tn
most interesting" wss the unexpecte
reply; "but astronomy is very elevatin
10 the mind"
.sDo you read nothing but works of th
kindY' asked Stephen. =
ooh yes. My father says some kind (
lightreading is sindispensable,so 80 | ana mo-
reading Hume's History Of England
and have got as far asthe sixth volume.
Stephen was considerably taken abac
At this, but made up his mind to test b
memory; SO, as if seeking information, b
asked her questions and discussed poin
with her on these different subjects, an
was fain to confess himself that he
scholarship was Of a high order.
And evidently she was no novice j
domestic matters, for q day or two aftt
her return home, Mrs Gray was take
sick, and Annie Immediately took ht
place in superihtending the house, an
everything went On in the same beaut
L. f,.l n.Iar 90 ovnr vuhiln the dAintia