The Russellville Democrat., 1880-01-01

I though of awkward shape. N
 "Not many fashionable fol de rols here at all events" stephen thought; "ant there is no doubt of her being modes 1 enough. wonder if she will prove tC be all the rest I want?"
 He could not help having few doubts as to her intellectual powers, however till after supper, when they were sitting around the fire, and Stephen had ths latest news of his sister, he thought il was time to address some conversation to their visitor.
 Are you fond of reading, Miss Annie?' was his commonplace beginning Extremely so," she replied, with brevity. 9
 What kind of books do you prefer?' 1 he asked.
 q think the study of geology is the most interesting" was the unexpected reply; "but astronomy is very elevating to the mind" M
 Do you read nothing but works oi this kind?' asked Stephen :.
 "Oh, yes; my father says some kind of reading is indispensable, so am now reading 'Hume's History of England, and have got as far as the sixth vol ume,"
 Stephen was considerably taken aback at this, but made up his mind to test his memory; so, as if seeking for informal tion, he asked her questions and dis cussed points with her on these different subjects and was fain to confess to him self that her scholarship was of high order.
 And evidently she was no novice in domestic matters, for a day or two after her return home, Mrs. Gray was taken sick, and Annie immediately took her place in superint ending the house, and everything went on in the same beanti- ful order as ever, while the daintiest ] specimens of invalid cooking were man. ufactured for Mrs. Gray by the skill of her young friend.
 Two months passed away, and then Mrs. Gray, who was still convalescent, called her son to her one day.
 My dear Stephen" said she, "I want to ask you a few questions, if you will set down by me little while.n
 e sVery well, mother mine;as many as 1 you please,p said he.
 "Well, how is it, in the first place, that you have lately become so silent, you, who always had so much to say?"
 "Why, mother, said Stephen, look ing up into her face frankly, "what is q { fellow to do, wonder, when, no matter what subject of conversation he starts, a young lady knows all about it, has read up the whole question, and is fully pre- pared with all the pros and cons? am conceited enough to like to bring news home. and to occasionally impart an idea, instead of finding everything read up beforehand"
 But, my dear boy you like to have ladies well informe q. aTd able to take an interest in what interests you"
 "Oh. certainly; but mother, there must be different ways of doing things you must admit, and-well, don't you ever get tyery tird of Annie's calm, su- perior ways? You can't call her con- ceited-that is not at all the word for one who is so shut up in her habit of improving herself in every way at once, and yet" -as
 14 "Oh,i you unaccountable boyn ex- 4lclaimed his mother, laughing. s"You once condescended to tell mo in full the kind of wife you desired. She was to be able to talk oyer the news of the day with you; she was not to care for I running out to gossip with her neigh bors; she was to be modest and care nothing for fashionable clothes, and il she was all these, you did not care how homely she was, Am not right? And now tell me frankly does not Annie Barlows come up to your ideal?"
 stephen colored up aud laughed as he walked to the window and back to his mother. m a
 I sPll tell you what it is, mother" said he; "she has shown me very plainly my I foolishness in thinking could ever be happy with such woman as my imag. ination created. She comes up to my l imagination in every respect, as you say; yet should be the most miserable man under the sun if were condemned to listen to her perfectly correct, per. fectly grammatical talk all my life, and to see her appearing every day in that hideous old gown, and with her hail dragged back in those plain uncom promising braids all the time,'
 ''0h, inconsistency, thy name is man, said Mrs. Gray. Well, then, tell me is if because of the want of vanity il Annie's toilet, and because she doel not talk bad grammer and slang, tha you have given us so little of your so ciety in the evening""
 Partly SOL said stephen, land also Dccauht---Wtil, you. sec, ETt0. AnurcW' has several times asked me to spend the evening at his house, and they hay, visiting them a cousin, Alice Frazer by name, and-and-I tell you what, moth CT, she's regular fine girl, and no hum bug about her." And Shepherds fac, was as red as the fire itself us he burs ont with this confession" I Il "Indep lp exclaimed Mrs. Gray, in as tonishment; land is this the way matter are going?"
 "Wcll, mother, now don't you go an, think she is one of those frivolous little butterflies, because she is not" said Ste phen, earnestly. But l have learn that it is no use to rush to extremet and also that girl may be pretty an, lively, and still posses common sense and have quite as good an education a will enable her to make charming
 companion for lifetiEe." Have you spoken to her yet of you feelings?" asked Mrs. Gray. "No, mother, for 1 wished you to mak her acquaintance first May bring he , this evening, as you are not stron enough to call upon herr Mrs. Gray could not refuse this simpl request, and when Stephen had left he she sent for Annie, intending to tell he
 of Miss Alice's probable call that even ing, and SO gradually open he eyes about stephen. She thought 5 highly of this son of hers, that she nes CT imagined but that Annie's affection