The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-13
THE DAILY STAR
"Never-- That Is, Hardly Ever

dexterous in their swift motions, and
her head occasionally set to one side
TO watch more efftctually and critically
the result of her skill.
A very piquant face, shaded by vel
Vety brown hair, that she has knack Of
arranging most becomingly; and shin
ing, saucy eyes, the same color, that are
all the more charming from their luxur-
tous eurvifig lashes and straight brows;
and q complexion that is warm and rich
u q sun-ripened peach. 4ta
=. A very lovely girl; and so Mr.. Mat
thew Benson tells himself and Mrs. Mil
bnrne, his married sister, with whom Die
Is now making her home for few
months. Certainly as nice girl as ever
won mans heart; but, all the same,
Mr.. Matthew Benson does not hesitate
10 freely yentilate his peculiar views on
the subject of love and marriage to Die
and Mrs. Milburne, as they sit in the cozy
drawing-room, Die with her trifle of lace
and satin ribbons, and the matron busy
over pile of juvenile stockings, whose
apertures are fearfully and wonderfully
made.
''But you surely never are in serious
earnest, Natw Mrs. MAburne says with
q little shocked accent in her tones.
"But l never was in more serious
earnest in my life, Jane. I certainly
look upon love as a-well a sort of sickly
sentiment, that very few people of intel
igence indulge in; whereas marriage is
decidedly one of the worst mistakes of
the times"
"Oh, Mr.. Benson, that is terrible
declaration!"
And Die flashes him a reproachful
look from her shining, saucy eyes.
at is terrible? | can't see how or why.
how me one happy marriage, and I'll
show you ten thousand that are miser-
able failures, in which the contracting
parties feel like slaves in the galley,
and would give half their lives never to
have put their heads inside the yoke.
Granted there are some that result differ
ently-Jane's here, for I'll do her the
justice to say believe her marriage was
based on the true foundation Of esteem
and friendship"
"And love, Mat? Now you know 1
love Jack with all my heart"
Mr.. Benson gives little frown, and
Die finas ct him one of her characteris-
tic looks.
"Oh, so you do believe Id esteem and
friendship, Mr.. BensonY' :,
"Oh, yes; but certainly not in love and
marriage. I have remained firm adv
cate of my views for many years, and |
think that | am happier than the majori-
ty of men to-day. In my opinion" n"-and
he. marked off his words deliberately
with his finger on the palm of his other
hand-"in my opinion, the man is fool
who will barter his freedom aud inde-
pendence for a pretty face and we'd
ding-r!ng. | never shall be guilty Of such
[mbeeility."
Die fushes just a little, for away down |
d her heart she has more than once
thought what a fine handsome gentle
man Mr.. Benson is, and wondered if-if |
= whether = we'll, whatever vague !
thoughts She has had are dispelled for
The moment at least by that gefltfemanfs
on love and matrimony.
For one second the peachy cheek
Aushes, then pales, and the lovely, dusky
head dfoops nearer the work than is
necessary; and then Frank Grey comes
ip-a CHEEKY, happy young fellow, who
always, brings sunshine with him, and
who admires Die Werner more than any
other girl he has ever seen-a handsome
young fellow, with laughing blue eyes, a
heavy fair moustache, and close-cut,
euEI!;ssss fair hair.
who'll let me take them for drive
In the park this afternoon? Mrs. Mil
burne2 Miss Die9- VIII you make one OF
the quartette, Mr.. Bensonw'.
It;so. happens that. Mrs: Milburne can
not leave home; Mr.. Benson politely de-
clines, and the two young people have
the drive and the exquisite afternoon to
themselves, while Mr.. Benson goes off
I'd his smoking room, and dons his cap
and gown, and congratulates himself he
is not ladies' man.
"And 1 gave 'em neat little hint
:his afternoon" he chuckles to himself,
under the genial influence of the frag-
rant weed. James cute, and I'd suit her
to T il I'd marry her friend. Nice,
pleasant, pretty girl enough, and All
that sort of thing, and l dare say the
little thing herself has had her eye on
me; but | Aatter myself dropped a neat
little hint as to my view in the matter"
While Mrs. Milburne, amid her pile of
darning, wonders what can possess her
brother, who with his wealth and DO
sition and leisure, is so admirably adapt.
ed to take good care Of a wife, and Just
such wife as pretty little Die Werner
would make.
A fortnight later, instead Of blue skies
and balmy breezes, several days Of east
eriy winds aud driving rain vet in, and
instead of Mr.. Matthew Benson, smiling,
independent and in the full flush Of
health and strength, there is that same
gentleman, cross and irritable to sIch a
degree that little Mrs. Milburne cries
every day about it-and a prisoner on
the drawing-room sofa, with sprained
ankle and a broken arm, the result of an
accident several days before.
81 never, never, shall have the patience