The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-11-24

clare1 were her delight; she chatiel
with Ifo in the long. iire-lighted dusks
she sa,S dashing ballads to the piano
for his especial deleclation-ballads
that were widely different from pool
Madeline's dreamy noctu,nes and sof
sonatas; she openly declared that ''ht
was the very incest fellow she had me
since she crossed the Big River
Poor Mrs. DashwOOd's maternal
heart sank within her.
s.Felix," she said. on one of the rare
twiliehts during which Mr.. Dashwooo
was not tmonopolized by his loud voiced
cousin. II do hope you won't become
interested in Tbespia Clifton"
He smiled.
Mother" said he. .yonr counsel
comes too late. l am already inter.
ested.' as you call it, in my cousin
Thespia."
"Felix." she almost screamed, 'you
are not-engagedP"
''Yes. mother. am engaged. Was
not that tho very thing for which you
wished?'
Mrs. Dashwood burst into tears.
"A girl who laughs like plow-b boy, 4"
go on tho stage-n girl who suggests
improvements in ones very stables, and
calls u> Eastern ladies 'an awful sight
too slowp Felix, Felix! you will break
my hearth
lit seems to me, mother" said the
Young man, with a shrug of his shoul-
ders. THAT you are very difficult to
please. Madeline Westford did not suit
you. and this young lady from the
Mrs. Dashwood lifted her hand dep
recatingly. and began to shed a few fee
BILE tears.
Felix ~ she sobbed; "oh. Felix! l
have been so foolish! If this girl were
only gone-if you were only re-engaged
to Madeline-I think should be quite,
quite happy again! For indeed l did
not know how sweet, and womanly and
perfect dear Madeline was until
Until it was too late,n quietly ut
tered her son. "But here is Thespia
Let her speak for herself"
Miss Thespia Clifton came in like a
gust of wind, dragging one of the house
dogs by the collar.
"Hc's lame, I think" said she nois-
lily. II brought him in to look at his
foot by the lamplight. Eth? What!
Mrs. Eastwood crying! Why. what
the dickens is the matter with you
all?"
Thespia." said Felix gravely; "my
mother wishes TO ask you few ques-
tons"
1.-The catechism. ehP'' said Miss Cliff
ton. comfortably seating herself "Well,
drive on. cousin Dashwood. A fair
Il. Id and no favor, eh?''
'Is-is it true," whimpered the old
lady. THAT you are engaged?"
.'Of course Pm engaged" nodded
the fair Amazon. "And, what's more,
we are to bo married in April"
Married p gasped the poor old la
dy. ''Oh. Thrspia, Thespia. give up
the mad idea! You are not suited to
him. Your tastes do not agree; you
never. mover would make him happy"
':How do you >know?" hlurted out
Thespia. ''You never saw him in your
life."
Never saw himr' echoed Mrs.
Dashwood. '.Never saw my own son"
''But it isn't your own son ~ said
Thespia. indiflerently. '.It's Major
Miles Keatly, of Leadville, Colorado,
that I'm engaged to. Your Eastern
men cant hold candle to linn J"
''rhank heavenr' cried poor Mrs.
Dashwood; ''thank heaven"
~ Il SNNs Ictutlkcu MISS ucSpld,
who was now busted in examining the
setter-dog's foot.
'.And now." faitered Mrs. Dashwood,
with ayerted face, ''if Madeline would
only forgive you, dear Felix"
Il am engaged TO Madeline as close
ly as ever" said Dashwood. Il loved
her 100 dearly ever to give her up"
''BuL-but = will she ever pardon
meT'
"Try her and see." said Felix, laugh
ing.
Madeline came back the next day, all
smiles and sunshine, and ran into the
old lady's wide-open arms.
''Dear, dear mother" said she, II
shall be so glad if ou will only love me
with all your heart"
''Indecd, indeed willr' said the old
lady, joyously. ''Of all daughters in
the world, you shall be dearest TO me-"
For Mrs. Dashwood had arrived at
the conclusion that it is disastrous
thing to meddle with the current of true
love.